Mt. Cheaha Loop via the Lake Trail and Pulpit Rock Hiking Guide
Cheaha State Park sits on the highest point in Alabama, 2,407 feet above sea level, surrounded by the Talladega National Forest. Most visitors drive to the top. This 5.9-mile loop earns it instead, starting at Cheaha Lake and climbing the Lake Trail, which the park calls very steep and rugged, before circling to the observation tower and finishing with the view from Pulpit Rock.
Permit: Cheaha State Park charges day visitors per person: $5 ages 12+, $2 ages 4-11 and 62+, free for ages 3 and under and for veterans and active military with ID. Rappelling or climbing at Pulpit Rock needs a separate park permit.
The Loop
Hiking Project's map of this loop comes to 5.9 miles with about 1,296 feet of climbing. From the Cheaha Lake parking area, the Lake Trail starts gently and steepens steadily; the park lists it at 1 mile with about 1,000 feet of elevation difference. At the top, cross the parking area and follow the park road about three-quarters of a mile toward the entrance, then take the Cheha Express trail around the east side to the observation tower. Come down the Leave No Trace Bigfoot Trail, walk the road past the Rock Garden parking area to the Pulpit Rock Trail, then return to the top of the Lake Trail and descend. Starting at the Pulpit Rock parking area instead skips the Lake Trail and makes, by Hiking Project's estimate, an easier loop of about four miles.
Pulpit Rock and the Summit
The park describes the 0.3-mile Pulpit Rock Trail as steep in places, ending at a scenic outlook. Pulpit Rock is also a rappelling area, and rappelling or climbing anywhere in the park requires a permit from the park store. The 0.5-mile Bigfoot Trail links the motel to the highest point in Alabama and has Leave No Trace signs and Bigfoot cutouts along the way. The 0.3-mile Bald Rock trail and boardwalk is a short add-on for another view.
Fees and Hours
Day visitors pay by the head: children 4 to 11 and seniors 62 and up are $2, everyone else 12 and older is $5, and children 3 and under plus veterans and active military with ID get in free. One admission covers both the mountaintop area and the Cheaha Lake recreation area. Admission stops 30 minutes before sunset and all trails close at sunset. If the gate is closed, pay at the Mountain Store.
Mountain Bikes and Construction
The Cheha Express was built for mountain bikers, and hikers on it should yield to riders. The old Cheaha Hotel, which this route passes on the park road, has been torn down along with the pool and much of the restaurant building, and the park says a new hotel is being built, so expect construction activity near the top. The park has no restaurant at present. Paper trail maps cost $2 at the Mountain Store.
Getting There and Dogs
The park recommends reaching Cheaha on Alabama Highway 281, the Talladega Scenic Drive, from I-20 exit 191. Cheaha Road (County Road 42) from Munford is narrower and rougher and is not recommended for large RVs. Alabama's state park rules require dogs to be crated or kept on a leash of up to 6 feet, and the Mike Bosarge Memorial Dog Park sits across from Bunker Tower. The park address is 19644 Highway 281 in Delta.
Hiking tips for Mt. Cheaha Loop via the Lake Trail and Pulpit Rock
- Start early enough to finish well before the trails close at sunset.
- Wear boots with good grip for the steep, rocky Lake Trail.
- Step aside for mountain bikers on the Cheha Express.
- Start from the Pulpit Rock parking area for a shorter loop without the Lake Trail.
- Pick up a $2 trail map at the Mountain Store.
Nearby trails to explore
- Peavine Falls and Peavine Gorge (Oak Mountain State Park)
- Narrows Ridge Trail (Turkey Creek Nature Preserve)
- Maggie's Glen Loop (Oak Mountain State Park)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
A climb to Alabama's high point makes a good group day trip from Birmingham. Use TrailMates to find hikers for the Cheaha loop, settle carpools and a start time in the event's group chat, and meet at the Cheaha Lake parking area. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.