Hiking to Feather Hawk Falls plus Off Trail Exploring in the Sipsey Wilderness of Alabama
Channel: Southeastern Frontiers
Date: 2024-03-24

In this video, I hike to Feather Hawk Falls in the Sipsey Wilderness of North Alabama and then continue on for several miles of off trail bushwhacking adventure.

I started out on Trail 202 at the Randolph Wild Trailhead near the southwest corner of the wilderness. Trail 202 is an old forest road that passes a pair of old cemeteries and a large old oak tree that is now fallen before descending down into the Sipsey Fork canyon.
On the way down into the canyon, I passed by a tall but narrow unnamed waterfall before reaching the Sipsey Fork itself. At that point, I turned up the Feather Hawk Creek until I reached the beautiful Feather Hawk Falls. This provided a lovely spot for me to eat lunch and enjoy the sights and sounds.
After visiting the falls, I returned to the Sipsey Fork and turned upstream and off trail.  I bushwhacked my way up along the canyon following the route of an old logging road with the beautiful Sipsey Fork always at my side.
Eventually, I reached what on my map was marked as “Rock House” and exited the canyon here by climbing up along a small stream until I reached the top of the ridge and picked up another old forest road that I followed back to Trail 202. Finally, I followed Trail 202 back past the cemeteries and back to the trailhead and my car.

The Sipsey Wilderness (#sipseywilderness) lies within the Bankhead National Forest in northwestern Alabama. Sipsey was the first designated wilderness area in Alabama in 1975 and now encompasses about 24,922 acres (10,086 ha). Rivers and streams have carved canyons and valleys in the limestone and sandstone of the local plateau resulting in a wide range of micro-climates in a short hiking distance, some amazing natural features, a few historic sites, as well as endless nooks and crannies to explore. Wilderness camping, building campfires, hunting, and fishing are permitted. Drones are not allowed. Sipsey is a "Leave no Trace" area (https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/) with, despite appearances, no designated fire rings, camp sites or facilities.  Unfortunately, there are many traces of the hundreds who hike and camp here every year.  Please be considerate and do not add to the already extensive damage in this special place.

My custom maps of the Sipsey Wilderness: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eD0rMfe5MfF4lMiyd55A4o0KMjIsaIKW

My other videos of the Sipsey Wilderness:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLywQ2umzhEJm9Mn2CaWGVXXZQCkEJeYoQ

Link to Trail Info: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-february-7-2024-ab88b15

Equipment:
Camera: GoPro Hero12 Black: https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/cameras/hero12-black/CHDHX-121-master.html

Title card music by Lobo-Loco: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco/Welcome/Glueworm_Blues_ID_994

#hike 
#waterfall 
#bankhead