Cheaha Falls

Cheaha Falls is located along the Chinnabee Silent Trail within the Talladega National Forest.  To get to it you just park at the Chinnabee Silent Trail Parking Lot (Google it) which is on the main road through the forest known as AL-281.  A nearby landmark is Turnipseed Camp which boasts additional parking for the trail.  From the parking lot you’ll head across the street to the west and a mile down the Chinnabee to eventually reach the falls.  Don’t expect the falls to be well labeled, but do know as you head along the trail that you’re going to eventually be at the top of the falls as you pass them, wherein the trail keeps going over a creek that provides the water.  You get to scramble down the creek and rocks for the best view of the falls.   Also you’ll know you’ve if screwed up and just missed it because immediately after going past the falls the trail heads strongly uphill to what is known as the Cheaha Falls Shelter, a landmark you can’t miss.  It exists there as a way station or overnight spot for backpackers.

As you can see from the picture, Cheaha Falls has a nice pool at the base and at least when I was there last looked beautiful.  This makes a round trip 2 mile hike well worthwhile.  If you keep going down the Chinnabee Silent Trail you’ll eventually reach Devil’s Den Falls and Lake Chinnabee.