Alabama High Point Hike

Highpoint 31. Alabama, Cheaha Mountain, 2407 ft, 9/21/2003

Used Wingers' book for guidance. Zumwalt's book contains an area topographical/road map.

There are 3 roads up the mountain. (2 ways on State 281, plus a road that connects to 281) If you are coming from the south, (like from the Florida highpoint) you can save about 40 miles by taking a cut-off from State 21, north of Talladega. This route is not as easy to follow as the more commonly used route from I20 on the north.

The tower has an internal staircase, so you can climb to the top.

There are rest rooms near the gate area. Survey benchmarks are shown below.

Cheaha Mountain Tower
The station survey mark is the 'X' mark on the floor of the building, inside the stairwell. At the time the building was constructed, around 1939, the construction engineer recovered the original 1886 CGS mark. He plumbed the 'X' mark on the floor above the original mark. Benchmark Information from the NGS Data Sheet: Designation - CHEEHAHAW PID - DG3595 State/County - AL/CLEBURNE USGS QUAD - CHEAHA MOUNTAIN (1976) NAD 83(1992) Lat --- 33 29 07.84060(N) Long -- 085 48 31.18698(W) ADJUSTED Height - "2413" feet ADJUSTED
The following marker is in the stone walkway behind me in the picture above. Benchmark Information from the NGS Data Sheet: Designation - CHEEHAHAW 2 PID - DG1675 State/County - AL/CLEBURNE USGS QUAD - CHEAHA MOUNTAIN (1976) NAD 83(1992) - Lat --- 33 29 07.48213(N) Long -- 085 48 30.82064(W) ADJUSTED Height - 2405.52 feet ADJUSTED There are other benchmarks nearby.
The following marker is in a large stone on the left end of the building that extends under the building. Benchmark Information from the NGS Data Sheet: Designation - CHEEHAHAW 2 RM 2 PID - DG1676 State/County - AL/CLEBURNE USGS QUAD - CHEAHA MOUNTAIN (1976) NAD 83(1986) Lat --- 33 29 07. (N) Long -- 085 48 30. (W) SCALED Height - 2407.16 feet ADJUSTED
Note the motel and restaurant near the summit.
There was a $1 fee per person to get through the gate in 2003, if the ranger was present.
The ranger will give you a ticket like this.