Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association
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LOOP TRAIL LENGTH OPTION GUIDES NOTE: All trails begin and end at Overlook Park area. All are easy to moderate difficulty. All descend from ridge to shoreline and back to Overlook Park. All are marked with white rectangular blazes on trees or rocks. 1 Mile Trail Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs and turn left at Emergency Trail to Parking Lot. 2 Mile Trail Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs, turning right at Kowaliga Bay Loop Trail for 1 mile. Then continue on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail, turning left at Emergency Trail to Parking Lot. 3 Miles North Trail Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” sign, turning right at Chimney Rock Loop Trail for 2 miles. Then continue on “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail”, turning left at Emergency Trail to Parking Lot. 3 Miles South Trail Follow “South Loop Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail”, turning left at “South Loop” sign on to Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail, continuing to end at south side of Overlook Park. 4 Mile Trail Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs all the way, ending at south side of Overlook Park. 5 Mile Trail Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs, turning right at Kowaliga Bay Loop Trail. Then continue on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail all the way, ending at south side of Overlook Park. 6 Mile Trail Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” sign, turning right onto Chimney Rock Loop Trail for 2 miles, then continue right on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail all the way, ending at south side of Overlook Park. 7 Mile Trail Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs, turning right onto Chimney Rock Loop Trail for 2 miles, then continue right on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail, turning right on Kowaliga Bay Loop Trail for 1 mile. Then continue right on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail all the way, ending at south side of Overlook Park. THE DEADENING ALPINE TRAIL “The Deadening” Alpine Trail is a 3.6 mile loop trail that is more challenging than the other trails created by CRATA, but also more rewarding. The cliffs of the Tallapoosa, the Needles Eye, and Jasmine Bluff are just a few of the unusual and unique rock formations that await the hiker. Spectacular vistas of Lake Martin, thickets of mountain laurel and rhododendron will delight the hiker. WARNING: We do not recommend children under 12 years of age hike this trail. We also recommend that children ages 12 to 14 years have strict adult supervision. There are cliffs and bluffs without safety barriers within 10 to 20 feet of the trail. A fall from these heights could result in critical injury or death. The trail is relatively safe as long as you stay on marked trail, but hiking by its very nature carries a certain amount of risk. The land owner or trail association is not responsible for any injury, accident, or adverse health event while on these premises or as a result thereof. Hike safely. NOTICE: Stay on marked trails; any pets must be on leash at all times. No motorized vehicles, bicycles, horses or other pack animals allowed on trail. No alcohol, drugs, firearms, open fires or camping allowed. Please do not litter, deface trees or disturb plants, rocks or wildlife. Enjoy your hike. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMITH MOUNTAIN ALPINE TRAIL Some twenty miles north of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail is the Smith Mountain Alpine Trail. The highest elevation around Lake Martin, Smith Mountain is a jagged peak mountain in the Sandy Creek area of the lake. The top of Smith Mountain is rugged. Gneiss boulders and outcroppings jut upward and outward from the ground in all directions. These jagged rock formations dissect the mountain top into a series of rough terraces that are for the most part disconnected. A house-sized crag consisting of numerous boulders stands out from and above the rest of the peak. Standing majestically atop Smith Mountain is the historic 90-foot fire lookout tower. Erected in 1939 as a cooperative agreement between Alabama Power Company, Tallapoosa County Forest Conservation Association, and the Alabama Forestry Commission, the tower was a sentinel for locating forest fires for 40 years. Decommissioned in 1980, the fire lookout tower fell into neglect and disrepair. The office building was dismantled along with other facilities. The property (10 acres) reverted back to Alabama Power Company and had been abused by dumping for the last 30 years. In November 2010, Smith Mountain was deeded to the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA). For the past 18 months, the tower has been restored and upgraded with new safety features and is now open to the public. Visiting time is daylight until 30 minutes after sunset, daily. A trail begins at the base of Smith Mountain and ascends the northern and western slope for about .4 mile. The trail descends the southern and eastern slope of the mountain for about .6 mile back to the parking lot. Additional trails are being designed and will be open by 2013. The view from the tower is nothing less than spectacular. There are rules for visiting the tower and they are strictly enforced. Alcohol, drugs, firearms and camping is prohibited. Picnicking is allowed but you must take all trash with you. Pets are not allowed on the tower but are allowed on the trail on leash. To reach Smith Mountain, go to Dadeville, AL. Take Lafayette Street West approximately 1 mile, turn left on Young's Ferry Road. Go approximately 4 miles and turn left on Smith Mountain Drive. Keep right to Tower Road and parking lot.
Located Near Beautiful Lake Martin, Alabama

Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association

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LOOP TRAIL LENGTH OPTION GUIDES

NOTE: All trails begin and end at Overlook Park area. All are easy to moderate

difficulty. All descend from ridge to shoreline and back to Overlook Park. All

are marked with white rectangular blazes on trees or rocks.

1 Mile Trail

Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs and turn left at Emergency

Trail to Parking Lot.

2 Mile Trail

Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs, turning right at Kowaliga

Bay Loop Trail for 1 mile. Then continue on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail, turning

left at Emergency Trail to Parking Lot.

3 Miles North Trail

Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” sign, turning right at

Chimney Rock Loop Trail for 2 miles. Then continue on “Cherokee Ridge Alpine

Trail”, turning left at Emergency Trail to Parking Lot.

3 Miles South Trail

Follow “South Loop Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail”, turning left

at “South Loop” sign on to Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail, continuing to end at south

side of Overlook Park.

4 Mile Trail

Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs all the way, ending at south

side of Overlook Park.

5 Mile Trail

Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs, turning right at Kowaliga

Bay Loop Trail. Then continue on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail all the way, ending

at south side of Overlook Park.

6 Mile Trail

Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” sign, turning right onto Chimney

Rock Loop Trail for 2 miles, then continue right on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail

all the way, ending at south side of Overlook Park.

7 Mile Trail

Follow “Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail” signs, turning right onto Chimney

Rock Loop Trail for 2 miles, then continue right on Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail,

turning right on Kowaliga Bay Loop Trail for 1 mile. Then continue right on

Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail all the way, ending at south side of Overlook Park.

THE DEADENING ALPINE TRAIL

“The Deadening” Alpine Trail is a 3.6 mile loop trail that is more challenging than the other trails created by CRATA, but also more rewarding. The cliffs of the Tallapoosa, the Needles Eye, and Jasmine Bluff are just a few of the unusual and unique rock formations that await the hiker. Spectacular vistas of Lake Martin, thickets of mountain laurel and rhododendron will delight the hiker.

WARNING: We do not recommend children under 12 years of age hike this trail. We also recommend that children ages 12 to 14 years have strict adult supervision. There are cliffs and bluffs without safety barriers within 10 to 20 feet of the trail. A fall from these heights could result in critical injury or death. The trail is relatively safe as long as you stay on marked trail, but hiking by its very nature carries a certain amount of risk. The land owner or trail association is not responsible for any injury, accident, or adverse health event while on these premises or as a result thereof. Hike safely.

NOTICE: Stay on marked trails; any pets must be on leash at all times. No motorized vehicles, bicycles, horses or other pack animals allowed on trail. No alcohol, drugs, firearms, open fires or camping allowed.

Please do not litter, deface trees or disturb plants, rocks or wildlife.

Enjoy your hike.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMITH MOUNTAIN ALPINE TRAIL

Some twenty miles north of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail is the Smith Mountain Alpine Trail. The highest elevation around Lake Martin, Smith Mountain is a jagged peak mountain in the Sandy Creek area of the lake. The top of Smith Mountain is rugged. Gneiss boulders and outcroppings jut upward and outward from the ground in all directions. These jagged rock formations dissect the mountain top into a series of rough terraces that are for the most part disconnected. A house-sized crag consisting of numerous boulders stands out from and above the rest of the peak.

Standing majestically atop Smith Mountain is the historic 90-foot fire lookout tower. Erected in 1939 as a cooperative agreement between Alabama Power Company, Tallapoosa County Forest Conservation Association, and the Alabama Forestry Commission, the tower was a sentinel for locating forest fires for 40 years.

Decommissioned in 1980, the fire lookout tower fell into neglect and disrepair. The office building was dismantled along with other facilities. The property (10 acres) reverted back to Alabama Power Company and had been abused by dumping for the last 30 years.

In November 2010, Smith Mountain was deeded to the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA). For the past 18 months, the tower has been restored and upgraded with new safety features and is now open to the public. Visiting time is daylight until 30 minutes after sunset, daily.

A trail begins at the base of Smith Mountain and ascends the northern and western slope for about .4 mile. The trail descends the southern and eastern slope of the mountain for about .6 mile back to the parking lot. Additional trails are being designed and will be open by 2013. The view from the tower is nothing less than spectacular. There are rules for visiting the tower and they are strictly enforced. Alcohol, drugs, firearms and camping is prohibited. Picnicking is allowed but you must take all trash with you. Pets are not allowed on the tower but are allowed on the trail on leash. To reach Smith Mountain, go to Dadeville, AL. Take Lafayette Street West approximately 1 mile, turn left on Young's Ferry Road. Go approximately 4 miles and turn left on Smith Mountain Drive. Keep right to Tower Road and parking lot.

Located Near Beautiful Lake Martin, Alabama