Clay County: Hiking Trails, Scenery and History

Clay County offers a range of reasons to visit: natural attractions and hiking trails, scenic drives, and places with local history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Clay County, it can help to first decide what you’d like to focus on during your trip. Would you like to spend time at Cheaha State Park, plan a drive through the county, or visit museums and historic sites? The destinations below give you practical ideas for planning your days.

Nature and Hiking Trails

Clay County includes parts of Cheaha State Park in the Talladega National Forest. The park recommends taking the Talladega Scenic Drive via Alabama Highway 281 as an access route. When planning your visit, note that trails in Cheaha State Park close at sunset. The Mountain Laurel Trail follows a stream through a laurel grove to Rock Garden Outlook. Two routes lead to Bald Rock Outlook: a boardwalk and an unpaved path.

The trails at Lake Chinnabee also offer a variety of routes. The Lake Shore Trail in the Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area is a two-mile loop around the lake. The Chinnabee Silent Trail connects the Lake Chinnabee campground with the Cheaha Wilderness. Turnipseed is a USFS trailhead for the Pinhoti Hiking Trail. Turnipseed Campground has eight primitive campsites.

Lakes, Parks and Wildlife Watching

The Clay County Lakes consist of three lakes covering 13, 23 and 38 acres. Canada geese and mallards live at the Clay County Public Fishing Lakes. Wood ducks nest nearby and are regularly seen there. Restrooms are available at these lakes, and small boats can be rented. Check whether boat rentals are available on your visit date.

In Lineville, City Park provides access to two lakes, one of which is used for fishing. Flat Rock Park has a short nature trail; the day-use park also offers fishing. Ashland City Park has a well-maintained walking trail. Its 27 acres of mixed hardwood and pine forest stretch along a tributary of Horsetrough Creek. The parks offer distinct amenities, from walking trails and wooded scenery to lakes and fishing opportunities.

Scenic Drives and Routes Through Clay County

The TSALAGI trail system includes four driving routes through Clay County. The Gana Trail is 58 miles long and consists mostly of unpaved roads; features include stream fords. Since road conditions can change, check conditions before setting out. The A WI Trail is a 76.5-mile motorcycle route with 242 curves. The Shoal Creek Horse Trail System has nearly 37 miles of trails. These details show different ways to plan your trip: a choice of driving routes, a route with unpaved sections and stream fords, and a designated motorcycle route.

Local History and Culture

The Clay County Courthouse was built in 1906 and has been listed on the Historical Registry since 1976. The Clay County Museum displays Native American projectile points, historic clothing and textiles, photographs, and musical instruments. The historic Ashland Theatre was originally built in 1914 and opened as the New Ashland Theatre after an expansion in 1943. These sites offer different perspectives: the courthouse and theater tell the story of the area’s architecture, while the museum’s collections showcase a variety of objects from the region’s past.

In Lineville, the City of Lineville Museum displays documents, artifacts, clothing and other objects related to the city’s history. Clay County Veterans Memorial Park has a pavilion for events involving larger groups and a playground. The park also features historic military vehicles, including a World War II tank and a fighter aircraft. The Clay County Arts League offers numerous activities throughout the year. If a specific event is important to your trip, check the date in advance.

Events in Lineville

Alabama Heritage Day is held annually in the fall in Lineville, with food vendors at the festival. The Alcarzar Car Show and Swap Meet is also held there annually, in November. If you’d like to plan your trip around either event, check the dates for your travel year before making plans.

Explore more destinations: Delta, Lineville, Macon, Chilton County, Cullman County, Covington County, Dale County, Limestone County

For the main travel overview: Alabama.