Cheaha State Park

Cheaha State Park crowns Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in Alabama at 2,413 feet, in the rugged southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains in the east-central part of the state. Alabama’s oldest continuously operating state park, Cheaha sits atop the mountain surrounded by the vast Talladega National Forest, offering sweeping panoramic views across an ocean of forested ridges and valleys from its rocky overlooks and historic stone tower.

Developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the park preserves beautiful rustic stone structures — including the iconic Bunker Tower at the summit and a stone observation deck at Bald Rock — that lend it timeless charm. Trails lead to dramatic overlooks like Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock, with boardwalks and rocky paths through the mountain forest, while the surrounding national forest offers the long Pinhoti Trail and extensive backcountry. With its high summit, sweeping views, historic CCC craftsmanship and rugged trails, Cheaha is a treasured highland landmark and the rooftop of Alabama.

Cheaha State Park offers high-country recreation atop Alabama’s highest mountain — taking in sweeping views from the historic Bunker Tower and the Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock overlooks (Bald Rock reached by an accessible boardwalk), hiking rugged trails through the mountain forest and connecting to the long Pinhoti Trail in the surrounding Talladega National Forest, plus a lake for swimming, a lodge and cabins, camping, and birding. The combination of the highest summit in Alabama, the sweeping views, the historic CCC structures and the rugged trails makes Cheaha a premier and beloved destination.

Spring and fall are ideal — spring for wildflowers and mild hiking, and fall for spectacular color across the Talladega forest and crisp, clear views from the overlooks, a premier autumn time. Summer offers cooler high-country air and the lake for swimming, and winter clear, bare-ridge views and occasional snow. The summit views and overlooks reward visits year-round; fall color and the spring greenery are highlights. The park is busiest on warm-season and fall weekends, so arrive early to enjoy the summit and overlooks.

Cheaha State Park is Alabama’s oldest continuously operating state park, developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose crews built the iconic Bunker Tower at the summit, the stone observation structures, the lodge and other rustic stonework that define the park’s timeless character. The name ‘Cheaha’ comes from a Creek word meaning ‘high place.’ Set atop Alabama’s highest mountain in the Talladega National Forest, the park preserves the summit, the historic CCC structures and the rugged forest, a treasured and storied highland destination of east-central Alabama.

Cheaha Mountain rises 2,413 feet at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains, built of ancient, hard quartzite and other resistant metamorphic rock that has withstood erosion to leave the high summit standing above the surrounding ridges and valleys. The quartzite forms the rocky outcrops and overlooks — Bald Rock, Pulpit Rock — that offer the sweeping views. The ancient rock, uplifted during the building of the Appalachians and worn over immense time, created the highest summit in Alabama, a southern outpost of the great mountain chain in the rugged Talladega country.

The mountain forests of Cheaha State Park and the surrounding Talladega National Forest host white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, foxes, and a rich community of birds, including woodland species, hawks and the raptors that ride the air over the high overlooks, while the rocky outcrops shelter reptiles and the forest diverse wildlife. The biodiverse southern Appalachian forest supports abundant wildlife. The park is a fine place for wildlife watching and birding atop Alabama’s highest mountain, with the high overlooks offering vantage over the forested ridges and their wildlife.

Cheaha State Park, atop Alabama’s highest mountain in the vast Talladega National Forest, protects a biodiverse southern Appalachian forest ecosystem, where the high quartzite ridges, the rocky outcrops, the fire-influenced pine-and-oak forests and the varied terrain support diverse plant and animal life, including species of the rich Appalachian woodlands and hardy plants on the exposed rock. The high elevation and the surrounding national forest add ecological richness. Protecting the mountain forest, the outcrops and the surrounding wildlands sustains both the ecology and the scenic value of the rooftop of Alabama.

Cheaha State Park, crowning the highest point in Alabama with its sweeping views and historic CCC stonework, holds a cherished place as the state’s oldest continuously operating state park and a beloved highland landmark. The iconic Bunker Tower, the Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock overlooks, and the timeless rustic charm have drawn generations of visitors to the rooftop of Alabama. Set in the rugged Talladega country at the southern end of the Appalachians, Cheaha embodies the high, scenic beauty of Alabama’s mountains, a treasured and storied destination.

Cheaha State Park is in east-central Alabama atop Cheaha Mountain in the Talladega National Forest, near the towns of Delta and Lineville, off State Route 281 (the Talladega Scenic Drive) from US-431 or Interstate 20, about 90 minutes from Birmingham and two hours from Atlanta. A park admission fee applies. The park offers the Bunker Tower, Bald Rock (accessible boardwalk) and Pulpit Rock overlooks, a lodge, cabins, campgrounds, a lake, trailheads and the Pinhoti Trail. Check Alabama State Parks for fees, lodging, trail conditions and access before visiting.

Alabama State Parks, within the surrounding Talladega National Forest, protects Cheaha Mountain’s summit, forests, rocky outcrops and historic CCC structures. Visitors help by staying on trails and boardwalks to protect the fragile summit and outcrop vegetation, keeping back from cliff edges at the overlooks, packing out everything, protecting water quality, respecting wildlife, being bear-aware and storing food, and treating the historic structures with care. Protecting the mountain forest, the outcrops and the surrounding wildlands sustains both the ecology and the scenic and historic significance of the rooftop of Alabama.

Cheaha’s rocky overlooks — Bald Rock, Pulpit Rock — have steep, dangerous drop-offs, so stay on the trails, boardwalks and overlooks, keep back from the edges, and supervise children closely, as falls have been fatal. The trails are rugged in places with rocky footing; wear sturdy footwear and carry water. The high summit can be cooler and windier than the lowlands, and weather changes; bring a layer. This is bear country, so store food. Watch for storms and ice in the colder months, and respect the heights and the rugged terrain.

A park admission fee applies. Stay on trails, boardwalks and overlooks and back from the dangerous cliff edges. Camp only in designated areas; the lodge and cabins require reservations. Swim only in designated lake areas. Store food in bear country; pets must be leashed. Drones require authorization. Collecting is prohibited; treat historic structures with care. Follow Pinhoti Trail and national-forest rules in the surrounding forest. Pack out all trash. Check Alabama State Parks for current rules, lodging and conditions before visiting.

The vast Talladega National Forest surrounds the park, with the Talladega Scenic Drive, the long Pinhoti Trail, the towns of Delta, Lineville and Talladega, and the cities of Anniston and Birmingham within reach, and Atlanta about two hours east. The southern Appalachians and the Talladega country define the region. Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama, anchors a scenic high-country region of overlooks, forests and trails in east-central Alabama, a centerpiece of an outdoor getaway in the state’s mountains.

Take in the sweeping views from the historic Bunker Tower atop Alabama’s highest mountain, and walk to the Bald Rock (accessible boardwalk) and Pulpit Rock overlooks for dramatic vistas — spectacular in fall color or on crisp, clear days. Keep back from the dangerous cliff edges, wear sturdy footwear for the rugged trails, bring a layer for the cooler summit, and stay at the historic lodge or a cabin. Hike a stretch of the Pinhoti Trail in the surrounding Talladega National Forest, and store food in bear country.