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By Scott Mims | Community Columnist

Chilton County has a good number of places to walk, when you consider our municipal parks, sports complexes and scenic trails. I visit these places frequently, and I especially like the connector trail that links the city of Clanton’s parks. The scenic trail at Confederate Memorial Park is also good for a short hike.

Our county’s proximity to more challenging trails is also something I have come to appreciate. For those who crave great views but don’t want to drive a long distance, Oak Mountain State Park is just a county away. If the weather is good, however, don’t expect to escape the crowd there.

In 2022, my entire perspective on hiking changed. It all started when I was browsing YouTube, watching videos about the Great Smoky Mountains and recalling childhood trips there. In my mind, I was planning an itinerary for a future trip to share with my family. Then, I happened upon a video about the Appalachian Trail. A guy had set out to hike the nearly 2,200-mile trail from Georgia to Maine and was able to accomplish this feat within about six months.

While I was captivated by the long-distance hiker’s journey, that video wasn’t what changed my perspective. Hiking the AT was fascinating, but for most people, it isn’t feasible unless you have six months of income at your disposal. But soon thereafter, I started seeing videos by other hikers about “Alabama’s Pinhoti Trail.” But I had never heard of the Pinhoti Trail.

Further research revealed that the Pinhoti Trail starts in bordering Coosa County at Flagg Mountain, which is the southernmost peak of the Appalachians reaching 1,000 feet or more. The trail continues for at least 335 miles, crosses into Georgia and intersects with the Benton-MacKaye Trail, which leads to the southern terminus of the AT at Springer Mountain. So, one could conceivably hike a continuous footpath from Central Alabama all the way to Maine.

After watching several videos of hikers chronicle their way along the entire Pinhoti, I decided to try it out for myself. In the summer of 2022, I drove to the trailhead and hiked to the Flagg Mountain tower. Coincidentally, that summer Gov. Ivey dedicated the newly-refurbished tower, which had been in disrepair for years. On my return trip, we ascended the tower steps and enjoyed the view. Somehow, I don’t think that was an accident.

Flagg Mountain is an amazing place, and the wilderness of the Pinhoti is accessible from a number of trailheads throughout the state. To learn more about the trail and the community surrounding it, visit the Pinhoti Trail Alliance page on Facebook.