Bankhead National Forest

“Tascaloosie or Sipsie River”

Sipsey Recreation Area is a widely known tourist spot. The Sipsey Fork flows under a bridge built in 1934 at the recreation area.

Sipsey Recreation Area is a widely known tourist spot. The Sipsey Fork flows under a bridge built in 1934 at the recreation area.
WINSTON COUNTY - One of the natural features of Winston County is the amount of water it has, from the “Wild and Scenic” Sipsey to Smith Lake and all the waterfalls located in the Sipsey Wilderness and Bankhead National Forest.

Experienced hiker offers practical advice on Bankhead trails

Thompson Creek trail bridge

Thompson Creek bridge is at the trailhead of the Thompson Creek trail, which passes by the headwaters of the Sipsey Fork.
WINSTON COUNTY - Hiking through trails in the woods provides extraordinary views, unusual places not seen elsewhere and brings the kinship between man and nature a little bit closer together. However, hiking can be dangerous, from accidents to becoming lost.

Public access to some portions of recreation areas in the Bankhead Forest temporarily closed

BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST - Effective immediately, public access to developed campgrounds, day use areas and dispersed recreation area restrooms in the following locations in the Bankhead National Forest are temporarily yet indefinitely suspended, for the health and safety of visitors and staff due to the Coronavirus-2019, or COVID-19 pandemic.

Areas affected are:

Houston Day Use Area;

Brushy Lake Campground;

Sipsey Trailhead (restroom only);

Natural Bridge Day Use Area (located near Moreland);

Hiker rescued after three days in Bankhead Forest

Sid Burgess is reunited with family members as he is transported from ALEA helicopter to RPS ambulance for medical transport after being found in the Bankhead National Forest.

Sid Burgess is reunited with family members, as he is transported from ALEA helicopter to RPS ambulance for medical transport after being found in the Bankhead National Forest.
BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST - An experienced hiker, who had been in the Bankhead National Forest for three days, was found and rescued leading to an emotional moment when the man was reunited with family members before being transported for medical treatment at Princeton Hospital in Birmingham.
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