Talladega National Forest 600-1

4.8/5 (39 reviews)
Sylacauga, Alabama (Talladega County)
Last Updated: 01/29/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Camping
Forest
Overland
Scenic
Talladega National Forest 600-1 is a popular destination for enthusiasts across the Southeast. The 14-mile-long road follows the ridgeline of Horns Mountain located in the beautiful Talladega National Forest. When traveling north on the trail, the road climbs up the mountain from the White Gap valley and follows the peak of the ridge north. The road is passable by most vehicles and is only rough in a few short sections. The road winds through old-growth hardwood and pine forests with several excellent camping spots along the way. There are several overlooks along the trail offering stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. The road was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and passes by the original fire lookout tower constructed on the peak of the mountain. 600-1 has a lot to offer and there is something for every outdoor enthusiast to enjoy. From camping, hiking, overlanding, and exploring, this trail must be on everyone’s to do list.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Talladega National Forest 600-1 is a 14.0-mile-long gravel road. The road is partially maintained and is at least one lane wide throughout with adequate areas to pass. The first 4-5 miles (traveling north) have a few large ruts and rocks but nothing severe. The last 8-9 miles are gravel with a few shallow mud holes and washouts.
The road is open year-round but may be closed during wildfires or prescribed burns.

Trail Reviews

4.8/5 (39)
100
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/07/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Would recommend you go in a group.I brought my 08 2wd tundra and it wasn’t that bad. We had a few rough spots here and there, but other than that, it was good.
100
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 03/04/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

North end of the trail is in the same condition it has been for years, basically just a dirt road anything AWD could make up. South end of this trail has gotten a lot more rutted out and very slow going with all the rain and this trail has gotten more popular. Noticeable erosion compared to a few years ago. More exposed sharp rock that you could damage sidewall on. All-terrains are a must I would say. A mildly up-sized 32-inch tire should offer plenty of capability for most 4x4's. South entrance was too muddy, at the time, for anything stock to make it through without some help from traction boards and a winch. See attached photo. I came in from the north end so had to turn around here and go back, wasn't going to try it in my stock 4runner. Now that I have proper tires I would feel safe doing this portion of the trail again. The best part of this trail system is the overlook you have at the top, which is roughly the halfway point that separates the north from southern half of this trail. There are a handful of places to stop and explore on foot, mostly unmarked and some that are off the beaten path so you have to pay attention where you're at. Many people just use the north entrance to reach the overlook, which eliminates the need for 4x4 and lets you skip the slow going bumpy half of this trail.
Official Crew
39450
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 01/29/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

This was my favorite trail we did this weekend while visiting the Talladega National Forest. We stayed in the Cheaha State Park and had great access to the trails in this area. We took trail 600-1 from north to south and found no problems going in this direction. We found numerous great camping opportunities along this trail, some with a great view of the valley below. The mountains in this range are among the highest in Alabama and offer some nice views. The trail was in great shape. It is rocky in spots with some areas of ruts caused by erosion. There were also multiple water puddles along the trail that appear to hold water most of the year. This trail is a solid 3 that can be easily completed with a stock vehicle. The white Jeep in the photos is a stock Rubicon that was able to complete the trail without difficulty. I highly recommend this trail if you're in the Talladega vicinity.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/10/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Intermediate big bike off-road rider here. This trails is everything you want in an ADV ride. Running from south to north the first 5 miles are more technical than I was expecting, but nothing crazy. Engaging and flowing with lots of line options to choose your own difficulty. After some great overlooks the last few miles are mostly flowing gravel that’s a great cool down before hopping back on the road. For Adventure bikes I would call this Beginner+ or low level intermediate depending on your line.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/04/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

With all the rocks and washout ruts, I think the rating is closer to a minimum of 2. Took two 4Runners up the trail from the south. One was stock TRD OR with all terrains. Puddles were not very deep, though one was a little deeper than expected. The first couple of miles is really slow going. Great fun trail, though.

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