Sipsey Wilderness
The Sipsey Wilderness lies within Bankhead National Forest around the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River in northwestern Alabama, United States. Designated in 1975 and expanded in 1988, 24,922-acre (10,086 ha) Sipsey is the largest and most frequently visited Wilderness area in Alabama and contains dozens of waterfalls. It was also the first designated wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.
| Sipsey Wilderness | |
|---|---|
Sipsey River | |
| Location | Lawrence / Winston counties, Alabama, United States |
| Nearest city | Haleyville, Alabama |
| Coordinates | 34°19′30″N 87°27′05″W |
| Area | 24,922 acres (100.86 km2) |
| Established | January 3, 1975 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The wilderness consists of the low plateau of Brindlee Mountain which is dissected into a rough landscape by several creeks and rivers. Due to the layers of limestone and sandstone that make up the area, waterfalls are very common in the wilderness. This feature has earned the wilderness the nickname "Land of 1000 Waterfalls."
The wilderness is in the Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests ecoregion. Much of the wilderness was once logged, but new growth forests have now taken hold in the logged areas. Some old-growth forests can also be found in the wilderness. The most significant are about 260 acres (110 ha) along Bee Branch Gorge and Buck Rough Canyon, which include old Eastern Hemlock, American Beech, Sweet Birch, White Oak, and Tulip Poplar.
The Sipsey Wilderness Hiking Club promotes hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness.