Meanwhile, on the other side of the lower 48, where daytime temps are well above 0 degrees (Celsius)… Looking for a New Year’s day adventure, I joined my son and a few of his scouts on a 11 mile hike in the Sipsey Wilderness Area of Bankhead National Forest, located in northwest Alabama.
This particular hike would include a visit to a large yellow poplar, named Big Tree (which it is). This big Poplar (aka tulip tree – Liriodendron tulipifera), rises some 150 feet with circumference at the base of approximately 25 feet. It is, hands down, the largest Poplar in the state of Alabama. Those who are anticipating something on the order of the California redwoods will, however, want to lower their expectations.
Sipsey wilderness consists of the low plateau of Brindlee Mountain which is dissected into a rough landscape by several creeks and rivers. Due to the layers of limestone and sandstone that make up the area, waterfalls are very common in the wilderness; which has earned the wilderness the nickname “Land of 1000 Waterfalls.”
The wilderness is in the Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests ecoregion. Much of the wilderness was once logged, but new growth forests have now taken hold in the logged areas. Some old-growth forests can also be found in the wilderness. The most significant are about 260 acres along Bee Branch Gorge.
Bee Branch Gorge is where we would be for part of the hike; a beautiful place, with flora, fauna, and tree varieties that are unique to this area of the wilderness. The gorge, being atypical to canyon fare of the west, is however bordered by large bluff lines – canyon like. Water runs through the gorge almost year round. And an optional 65’ waterfall rappel just before the big tree. (I dutifully brought a rope.)
On Christmas day, north Alabama received between 8-10 inches of rainfall in a 24 hour period. The Sipsey river peeked at 40′ from its normal 5′, for this time of year. Evidence of flooding and 60 mph wind gusts could be seen throughout the hike.
There are two main routes for visiting Big Tree via Borden Creek trail head, 14 miles, or Thompson Creek trail head, 11 miles, round trip. The boys and two of the leaders would be over-nighting; I chose to make it a day hike with one of the leaders and his 7 year old son. A good time was had by all.
Relentlesshiker
Very cool. We hike the Sipsey a lot. I was surprised when I saw this post here on the forum. I call this place my magical forest. You can find a new canyon, waterfall, rock face, etc. every time you hike there if you just get off trail. I’ve discovered quiet a few mysterious and freaky things there as well. The Sipsey has some very interesting history.
Kuenn
Welcome to the collective, Relentlesshiker!
Yes, it’s a real treasure!
As far as posting about it here? Well, it’s way different (as canyons go) compared to those out and about the Rockies region, but it’s a gorge nonetheless.
Considering the Appalachians are 480 million years old and the Rockies are 80 million, I can only imagine what the canyons woulda coulda been like here 400 million years ago… Arg, missed it by that much!
Relentlesshiker
The Appalachians have been my *drug* of choice for many, many years as they have always been in my backyard. The Blue Ridge Parkway of NC and VA were and still are my stomping grounds. I swore that I would never leave NC, then I married and moved to Northern AL. I found that the two state are very similar in geology and terrain. It didn’t take me long to adjust. I’ve been to Zion and the surrounding areas many times. I completed my first canyoneering trip last June. That trip included Keyhole, Pine Creek and Spry. Now I am addicted. We will be back this June to complete a few more. After the canyons we enjoy camping in the Barker Recreation area and exploring Escalante and the surrounding area. Utah is truly a wonderland but I am always ready to get back to the land of pines and hemlocks
…. and thanks for the Welcome, I’ve been kinda *hanging out* here for a long time just trying to learn as much as possible about the canyons and the area. Didn’t really feel that I could add anything but then I saw this post about the Sipsey and I do know a little about that area
Sandstone Addiction
I’ve admired the 2 Tulip Trees that framed the front of Monticello for many years now (may have been planted by Jefferson himself?), but was sad to see they had both died and been removed when we visited last summer. They weren’t nearly the size of that one though.
I did plant 2 Tulip Tree saplings in my front yard 5 years ago and 1 is now about 20′ tall and the other lagging a little at only 12′. The trees are beautiful and have no idea why they aren’t more poplar in the west.
Fantastic trip report, loved the pics.