This hike can prove to be strenuous fir some folks as it has a fairly gentle slope that descends... read more
This hike can prove to be strenuous fir some folks as it has a fairly gentle slope that descends... read more
It met the expectations as being a challenging hike. We went when it was a little dryer, so we... read more
This is one of our favorite spots to hike. Great hike any time of the year, but our favorite time to go is after a big rain as there are a couple of falls. Once you get to the bottom there are plenty of places explore! The sign at the beginning of the trail says to allot for 6 hours. The hike back up is certainly challenging, but nothing too difficult. Love this place!
We heard about a place to hike about an hour and a half north of our home a while back called "The Walls of Jericho". After some research, we knew that we needed to be able to set aside a full day to do the hike because of the drive to it and the length of the hike. Yesterday was the day.
We packed up plenty of snacks, lunches and Powerade for our hike and hit the road. Each of the boys got a new "Camelback" backpack this Spring so they could carry their own hydration and lunch on our hikes. This was their first time to try them out and they worked beautifully!
We searched and searched for good directions to The Walls of Jericho trailhead and never really found them online. The only directions we found were to go 25 miles past Scottsboro on Alabama Highway 79. Luckily, these directions worked out just fine for us. We drove straight to it without any problem. A better description, though, is that the trailhead is just a mile or two North of the town of Hytop, Alabama on Highway 79. As a matter of fact, the town of Hytop boasts that it is "The Gateway to The Walls of Jericho".
We entered the trail in perfect hiking weather. June 1st in Alabama is typically hot and balmy, but as luck would have it, it rained the night before our hike and cooled the air to a comfortbale 75 degrees. The weather was perfect throughout the hike. If it had been warmer, staying hydrated for our hike would have been a bigger issue.
I wrote all about our trip on my blog with photos. If you would like to read the rest of the story, visit www.mommymiles.blogspot.com.
http://mommymiles.blogspot.com/2012/06/hiking-walls-of-jericho.html
Take the hike, but takes plenty of water and snacks. Be prepared for a bit of a strenuous hike. Take time to enjoy the beauty. Enjoy your hike!
If you plan to hike the Walls of Jericho, you will need to be prepared. The terrain is rough & if you have any medical emergencies it could take hours for rescuers to get to you & get you to the nearest medical facility. Cellphones will not work. This is a popular day hike attraction for the area but do not take it lightly. The hike out of the gorge is a tough one! Perfect place to try a few survival skills. My family backpacked this trail & camped at the base. Great experience. Lots of flora & fauna to enjoy :)
We picked a cool spring day for the hike, which was easier than we had expected. At the end you'll find a set of stone walls shielding a waterfall to climb around (no ropes needed). Fairly primitive.
This "hike" is NOT for any inexperienced hiker. You will slip and slide down 2.5 miles of rocky terrain and getting back up...not an ounce of fun.
Make sure you know where you are going because once you get in the depths of the woods...it can get very confusing.
Take LOTS of water, snacks, dry socks/shoes, walking sticks and I would say your camera but I was honestly too busy holding on to trees to use mine.
Good luck.