East Bee Branch Canyon
Magical. If one word could describe the feeling of entering the lush forest, steep canyons and clear streams of the Sipsey Wilderness for the first time, that’s it. There is just a special feeling about the place.
In early May, Reboot had the privilege of leading a group of guys on a 14-mile overnight backpacking/Bible study trip through the heart of the Sipsey Wilderness. The area, located in Bankhead National Forest in Lawrence and Winston counties, is named for the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River. The Sipsey is Alabama’s only designated Wild and Scenic River and the wilderness area more than lived up to its reputation of a wonderland of waterfalls, clear blue waters, old-growth forest and towering limestone cliffs.
After a three hour drive from Montgomery, we arrived at our starting point: the Sipsey Picnic Area trailhead along Cranal Road. Our hike was a there-and-back trip to the East Bee Branch Canyon and the “Big Tree,” one of the wilderness’s most famous highlights.
Our group in front of the Big Tree.
Our path set out from the Sipsey Picnic Area trailhead along Trail 200/209 and crossed the clear and cold waters of Borden Creek to reach Trail 209 which follows the Sipsey Fork and would be our main trail for the hike. The slow flow of the Sipsey bluish waters was our constant companion once we crossed Borden Creek. Fall Creek Falls was an early highlight along with the sight of dozens of butterflies attracted to something left behind in a fire pit near the falls. The hiking was smooth with very little elevation change. The biggest challenge was navigating several tree blowdowns and hopping over the numerous streams that feed into the Sipsey.
Reboot Wilderness Adventures 