The Cheaha State Park reaches elevations of up to 2,407 feet above sea level; parts of the park are in Cleburne County. On the Mountain Laurel Trail, the path follows a stream through a thicket of mountain laurel to Rock Garden Outlook. The Lake Trail connects Cheaha Lake with Rock Garden, is one mile long, and has an elevation change of 1,000 feet. The Lake Trail can therefore be described in terms of its length and elevation change, while the Mountain Laurel Trail is characterized by its streamside setting, mountain laurel thicket, and destination.
Trails and Activities at Cheaha State Park
The park offers a lake, a dog park, accessible and challenging hiking trails, and museums. Individual facilities may have their own schedules. Pulpit Rock is a popular rappelling spot. Rappelling and rock climbing at Cheaha State Park are permitted only with a permit; check the applicable requirements if you plan to take part in either activity.
Hiking connections also extend beyond the park’s individual trails throughout Cleburne County. The final section of the 102-mile Pinhoti Trail ends in the county. In Heflin, the 3.5-mile Heflin Spur branches off the Pinhoti National Recreational Trail. Its trailheads are at Heflin City Hall and Forest Service Road 500. This gives you two different points of reference when choosing a trail: the Pinhoti Trail’s endpoint in the county and the named starting points of the Heflin Spur.
Hiking Trails and Road Connections
The Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway offers a different perspective. It runs through Cleburne County and connects Interstate 20 near Heflin with Interstate 59 at Fort Payne. This means hiking trails and a designated scenic road are different ways to explore the region, without constituting a shared route.
For large RVs, Cheaha State Park recommends taking the Talladega Scenic Drive via Alabama Highway 281. The route is wide, well maintained, and easy to drive. Check road conditions before setting out so you can plan your approach based on current conditions.
Heflin: Park Grounds and an Event
Cahulga Creek Park in Heflin covers 176 acres and includes a 100-acre watershed lake. The park is also home to the 18-hole Lake Point Disc Golf Course. Other amenities include hiking opportunities, a boat launch, an observation platform, picnic areas, and restrooms. The combination of trails, disc golf, and lakeside facilities gives the park several distinct attractions that you can plan to visit independently.
Heflin’s events calendar includes the Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Outdoor Jamboree, held in early fall. The program features live music, a beauty pageant, food, arts and crafts, an archery tournament, and a children’s carnival. If you would like to include the festival in your travel plans, check the dates for the year you plan to visit.
Forest Areas and Nature Experiences
The Shoal Creek Ranger District of Talladega National Forest extends across much of the western half of Cleburne County. Recreation opportunities there include scenic viewpoints, hiking, camping, and horseback riding. Choccolocco WMA is in Cleburne County near Heflin and covers 56,838 acres. Big and small game hunting are scheduled there for 2026/27.
The different landscapes and recreational offerings each have their own focus: Cheaha State Park features, among other things, named hiking trails and a scenic destination, while the Shoal Creek Ranger District combines hiking with camping and horseback riding. In Heflin, municipal park amenities and the annual Outdoor Jamboree round out the picture. This allows you to explore Cleburne according to your interests and prioritize the experiences you want when choosing where to stay.
Discover more destinations: Heflin, Madison, Tallapoosa County, Pickens County, Chilton County, Limestone County, Dale County, Coffee County
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