Renovated Flagg Mountain Tower Kicks Off Pinhoti Trail

By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Alabama’s Flagg Mountain was officially opened last week as the southern terminus of the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail, which features 171 miles of the trail in Alabama. It provides hikers access to the natural wonders of the state as it retraces the route taken by untold numbers of Native Americans and early settlers.

Last week’s opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the historic fire tower atop the mountain as members of the Alabama Trails Foundation, Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Alabama Tourism Department, state legislators and other dignitaries gathered to celebrate the renovations made to the facilities on Flagg Mountain’s 1,156-foot summit.

“We were celebrating the collaboration between the Alabama Trails Foundation and the Alabama Forestry Commission and all the work that was done on the tower at Flagg Mountain,” said Paul DeMarco, Alabama Trails Foundation President. “Also, we were kicking off the fact that the gateway to the Pinhoti Trail is at Flagg Mountain.”

Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship said the Pinhoti Trail is a true treasure for Alabama.

“From the beginning at Flagg Mountain, the Pinhoti traverses adjacent Forever Wild property, passes through Cheaha State Park, and continues through some breathtaking parts of Alabama to the Indian Mountain Forever Wild Property near the Georgia line,” Commissioner Blankenship said. “It is truly a special trail and the most recognizable long trail in Alabama.

“As the chairman of the Innovate Alabama Outdoor Recreation Council, I was glad to be a part of investing more than $1.5 million for upgrades to the trail infrastructure. The water line at Flagg and a new restroom facility at the Cheaha Trailhead are just two of the projects that will make the Pinhoti better for the thousands of through hikers who utilize the trail annually.”

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the Flagg Mountain stone tower used for fire lookout as well as several cabins in the 1930s. The tower construction included 3-foot-thick stone walls at the base and 2-foot walls all the way to the observation room. The tower was listed on the National Historic Lookout Register in 1998. The Forestry Commission has been renovating the tower and surrounding structures for the past several years, allowing visitors to climb the tower stairs to catch a panoramic view of Alabama’s beautiful Appalachian foothills.

Flagg Mountain, located in the Weogufka State Forest, is owned by the State of Alabama and managed by the Alabama Forestry Commission. Weogufka State Forest is home to some of the state’s few remaining old longleaf pine forests. Since 1989, Weogufka State Forest has been listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage by the Alabama Historical Commission. 

Including the Alabama segment, the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail covers some 350 miles in total and ends in northwest Georgia, where it connects to the Benton MacKaye Trail, which connects to the world famous Appalachian Trail. The Alabama segment of the Pinhoti is broken into 13 sections.

“Flagg Mountain is the starting point,” DeMarco said. “The exciting part is we’re celebrating the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains in Alabama. We consider it the gateway to the Appalachian Mountains, starting right there at Flagg Mountain in Coosa County, Alabama. The Alabama Pinhoti goes through Coosa, Talladega, Calhoun and Cleburne counties and ends just across the line in Georgia.

“We put a brass marker down (at Flagg Mountain) that reads 0.0. The Appalachian Trail officially starts at Springer Mountain in Georgia, but if you really want to hike all the way to Maine, you’ve got to start in Alabama, and that’s what we’re excited about.”

Another feature at Flagg Mountain that was added by the Forestry Commission was fresh water, a welcome feature to all who visit or start their hike on the mountain.

“To bring water to the top of Flagg is exciting as well,” DeMarco said. “It was a long project and a lot of hard work to install all the piping and bringing it up the mountain.”

Rick Oates, State Forester with the Alabama Forestry Commission added, “We celebrated the recognition of the historic Flagg Mountain Observation Tower as the southern terminus of the Pinhoti Trail, the official hiking gateway to Appalachia. We’re also proud to have water on top of the mountain, which will be a welcome sight to hikers as they begin or end their trek on Alabama’s premier trail, the Pinhoti.

“Great progress has been made at Flagg Mountain over the last few years, and we could not have accomplished any of it without the assistance of our partners. These partnerships are a treasured connection, illuminating the incredible successes that can be achieved when working together for a better Alabama. We encourage not only avid hikers, but also outdoor enthusiasts to embark on exciting adventures right here on the peak of beautiful Flagg Mountain. We are proud to help make this historic resource accessible to the public.”

In addition to the celebration of the opening of Flagg Mountain’s facilities, the Pinhoti Trail, the mile marker and gateway to the Appalachian Trail, DeMarco also pointed out the connection to the Alabama Tourism Department’s Year of Alabama Trails campaign.

“We’re partnering with Lee Sentell and Alabama Tourism to celebrate this opening, which is a part of the Year of Alabama Trails as well,” DeMarco said. “We have a lot to appreciate and a lot to celebrate right here in Alabama as far as the outdoors and outdoor recreation in our state.”

As the Flagg Mountain milestone is celebrated, DeMarco said the work is needed on the Pinhoti to reroute several miles of existing roadwalks into the surrounding forests.

“Of the 170 miles or so in Alabama, some of it is on county roads, and that’s part of what we’re working on as well,” he said. “We want to get as much of the trail in the woods as possible. Where people want to hike is in the woods. We’re working with folks to do that. All of us want to work with everybody else in the state to appreciate what we have with the Pinhoti.

“By preserving this historic structure on Flagg Mountain and formally linking it to the Pinhoti Trail, we are creating a world-class destination that will attract hikers and nature lovers from across the country while providing a better experience that all Alabamians can enjoy.”

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