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Sipsey Wilderness Hiking
The Sipsey Wilderness is probably contains the best hiking and camping in the state trails ranging from fairly easy to you extremely difficult but always a guaranteed good time. Day Hike - My favorite day hike would have to be the 8 mile loop beginning and ending at the Randolf Trail Head. This loop encompasses trails 201, 209, and 202. I would rate this hike as a medium to difficult depending on the season. I begin the hike on 201 through the second growth forest for about 2 miles and the trail will junction with 209 headed east before entering the gulf, or you can continue about a 1/2 mile farther to the junction with 206 to the west and head down the west side of the gulf to the sipsey fork. Taking 209 will lead you down a small cascade (be careful in the spring) to the gulf and directly to the creek crossing. Both options are extremely scenic and trekking poles are recommended. The 206 option will lead you to a campground area with a trail that will take you west to the 209 crossing. After crossing the creek (always high in the spring but crossable) you will be on one of the prettiest sections of trail in the wilderness. There is a waterfall at the end of any watershed you desire to explore along with sandstone bluffs on your right and the virgin river to your left and the trail travels through old growth hardwood, pine forests and fern glades. The junction with 202 is the second creek crossing (shallow in all seasons). Keep your eyes peeled for the trail marker stump. 202 begins the steep climb out of the gulf past Feather Creek Falls a 100ft+ trickle. After reaching the top of the gulf the trail becomes thin and hard to see in the summer months until you reach the Johnson cemetaries. These are the graves of the share croppers and mountain men who used to live in the area. After the cemetaries the trail is an old road bed back to the trail head. Overnight - 200,209,204,Bunyan Hill trail. This loop starts and ends at the Borden Creek Trailhead. Begin by taking 200 down Borden Creek. This trail is a little hard to figure out, after about a mile you will be standing by the creek looking at a 15ft boulder wondering where the trail went to. It's through the cave, over the boulder, or through the creek, but it is waiting for you on the other side. After negotiating the boulder the trail becomes fairly easy and and a beautiful walk above the creek to your right and bluffs to you left. After a mile you will come to a campsite where the Borden Creek and the Sipsey Fork join to form the Sipsey River. This is the UNMARKED junction with trail 209. Cross Borden Creek on the north side of the Sipsey fork and you will see the trail. Continue upstream along 209 about 1 1/2 miles and you will pass Fall Creek Falls. A 20ft falls big in all seasons. For the next 4 miles you will cross numerous streams and watersheds most with waterfalls at the end of most of them. After four miles you will come to the junction with 204 or the Bee Branch trail. You wll probably choose to make camp at one of the many campsites along 209 as this is the halfway point and the end of campsites till your return to the trailhead. 204 contains the most popular sites in the Sipsey. The world's largest poplar tree (a sapling when Columbus bumped into America) and Bee Branch Falls. The largest falls in the park. Both are heavily trafficked and impossible to miss. The old growth forest in this section is gauranteed to sooth the soul. After about 4 miles you will meet the junction with Bunyan Hill trail. The junction is unmarked, but it is a large hiking and horse trail that is pretty hard to miss. I will admit this trail is a slog along the top of a nameless ridge offers little in the way of views and even less in the way of water. The only good thing is that it is mostly downhill after you pass the brair patch that will greet about a half mile from 204. Slog it out, crawl over the downed trees left from Hurricane Ivan and after 3 1/2 miles you will drop back down into the gulf and the Borden Creek trailhead before you now it. The Sipsey Wilderness offers many off trail, and rock climbing opportunities as well. Hope you enjoy it and remember Leave No Trace.
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