On busy days, 30 to 50 cars line the steep gravel roads and bridge shoulders near Brushy Creek, all for a waterfall hike with no official trail. People walking it wore in the route along Brushy Creek to Sougahoagdee Falls, and the creek banks and parking areas show what that use has done over the years.
That history explains the grant announced in October. A $1.2 million award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to the Alabama Trails Foundation pays for repairs to the creek-bank path and the roadside parking around it. Those are the two things that make the Sougahoagdee hike harder than it should be.
A worn path, not a built trail
North Alabama's tourism listing for Sougahoagdee Falls describes the route as a worn path and says, "There are no official trails to Sougahoagdee." The Forest Service's own advisory group says much the same. According to the Decatur Daily, a March 2023 meeting of the U.S. Forest Service's Bankhead Liaison Panel found severe erosion along "the unofficial trail to Sougahoagdee Falls." The panel also flagged erosion on an unauthorized horse trail north of the Brushy Creek bridge on Forest Service Road 254.
A path like this has no designed drainage, no planned crossings, and no parking area sized for the people who use it. Each of those gaps shows up on the ground at Brushy Creek, and each one is a line item in the grant.
What heavy use did to Brushy Creek
The route runs right along Brushy Creek's banks. The Northwest Alabamian reported that the Alabama Trails Foundation describes the creek as both a popular hiking path and crucial habitat for several protected wildlife species. When a creek-side path erodes, the soil it loses ends up in the creek.
Some of what lives in that water is unusual. The Decatur Daily reported that at the same March 2023 panel meeting, Forest Service wildlife biologists documented the Black Warrior waterdog in Brushy Creek about a mile upstream from any previously known location. The waterdog is an aquatic salamander that is especially sensitive to poor water quality and sediment. The Forest Service also monitors the federally protected flattened musk turtle and rush darter in Bankhead.
The Sougahoagdee route is one of two project areas in the grant. Here is how they compare, based on the Alabama Trails Foundation press release as reported by the Northwest Alabamian and the Decatur Daily:
| Project area | What's wrong now | What the grant pays for |
|---|---|---|
| Sougahoagdee Waterfall and Brushy Creek trails | Erosion and hard footing along the Brushy Creek banks; 30 to 50 vehicles routinely crowding steep gravel roads and bridge shoulders | Erosion repair, trail improvements along the creek, habitat protection, and parking fixes |
| Owl Creek Non-Motorized Trail System | About 30 miles of trails and roads designated for horseback riding, with key segments badly worn after a decade of continuous traffic | Reroutes, upgrades, and heavy maintenance to improve safety and cut runoff into nearby streams |
The parking figure matters most to anyone who has made the drive on a busy day. AllTrails lists parking at the trailhead as room for about two or three cars. The press release counts 30 to 50 vehicles there routinely. Most visitors end up parked on the road and the bridge shoulders.
The money and the calendar
The grant is $1.2 million. The Alabama Trails Foundation has committed to raising at least $300,000 more in nonfederal matching contributions, so the potential total is at least $1.5 million, according to the Decatur Daily. The money covers the whole project, from planning and environmental review through contracting and construction.
Here is the timeline as reported so far:
- March 2023. The Bankhead Liaison Panel records severe erosion on the unofficial Sougahoagdee route and the unauthorized horse trail near the Forest Service Road 254 bridge.
- October 2026. The Northwest Alabamian reports the $1.2 million award on October 14.
- Through the rest of 2026. Planning.
- 2027. Work begins.
Joe Watts of the Alabama Trails Foundation gave the Northwest Alabamian that schedule: "There will be some planning in 2026, and the work will start in 2027." The foundation will work with the U.S. Forest Service, local communities, and trail organizations.
Alabama Trails Foundation President Paul DeMarco described the goal to the Decatur Daily:
"This grant will allow us to make a lasting, positive impact on Bankhead National Forest trails, while upholding the highest standards for our shared landscapes, and continuing to grow Alabama's recreation economy."
The Moulton Advertiser reported the same award, the same $300,000 minimum match, and the same two project areas.
What Owl Creek's last round of work looked like
Owl Creek has been through a major repair before, and that history shows what a trail looks like right after construction. The Decatur Daily recounts that in March 2015, the Forest Service temporarily closed the Owl Creek system to horseback riding after melting snow and rain saturated the ground. Then-Bankhead District Ranger Dave Casey explained the closure: "We have recently invested substantial funds to improve the Owl Creek trail system and need sufficient time for the work to stabilize before horses and motorized equipment impact it."
The Owl Creek system is reached from the Pine Torch Trailhead on Lawrence County Road 70. The same area includes the Owl Creek Horse Campground and Brushy Lake Campground. The Forest Service's Owl Creek Horse Camp page, last updated April 30, 2026, lists the site as open.
The hike as it stands this season
Until construction starts, the Sougahoagdee walk is the same informal route people have been using. In a December 2023 trip account, a visitor coming from US-278 gives these directions: "From US-278 heading west, turn right onto County Road 63. Travel 6.6 miles to Hickory Grove Road. Turn right onto Hickory Grove Road. The Trailhead is located 4.2 miles up the road on the left." North Alabama Hiking puts the start at the new bridge over Brushy Creek on Hickory Grove Road and estimates 1.9 miles each way. Round-trip estimates in published guides run from about 3.5 to 4.5 miles.
Alabama Waterfalls tells hikers to plan for creek crossings, deadfall, and some difficult terrain on this unmarked, unimproved route. Reviews posted on AllTrails in 2026 describe conditions that match the erosion problem in the grant:
- Roots and rocks underfoot
- Downed trees
- Slick areas close to the falls
- Some steep sections
The falls drop about 30 feet, according to Alabama Waterfalls. The same guide says smaller falls can appear along the way after rain or in the shoulder seasons, and that even after rain, the main falls carry less water than Alabama's larger waterfalls. Flow also drops considerably later in the year. AllTrails lists January through May as the best time to visit, which puts the coming months at the start of the strongest flow.
Wet months are also when the creek-side ground is softest. Those conditions are part of why the banks have eroded, and they're why the slick spots near the falls come up so often in reviews.
Brushy Lake and the Sipsey trailhead through the winter
The nearest developed Forest Service sites are a good fallback when the Sougahoagdee shoulders are full. The Forest Service lists Brushy Lake Recreation Area as open year-round, with a 33-acre lake and 13 campsites. Water and flush toilets are available only from March through November, so the water shuts off for the season after this month. The Sipsey River Picnic Area and Trailhead is also listed as open year-round. Brushy Lake, Owl Creek Horse Camp, and the Sipsey River site all appear as open on the Forest Service's Bankhead recreation listing, last updated May 29, 2026.
Being close to Bankhead's trails and creeks is part of the appeal of land and homes around Double Springs and the rest of Winston County. If you'd like to know which properties put Brushy Creek, Owl Creek, or the Sipsey trailheads within easy reach, Laurne Rhodes can help you compare them. Let's Connect.
