Campington Ridge Road is an excellent short trail located in the heart of Calhoun County. The trailhead is located minutes from both Oxford and Anniston and is easily accessible. The road can be traveled in a 2WD vehicle and is in great condition year-round. The road is located in the middle of the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge. The 9,000-acre mountain refuge features beautiful vistas and a varied landscape of pine and hardwood forests. The refuge was created in 2003 on property from the former military base Ft. McClellan. The refuge is largely untouched and is located along Choccolocco Mountain, one of the highest mountain ridges in Alabama. High elevation ridgelines provide great viewing of the fall colors and stunning views of the surrounding area. This is an excellent short trip and is an excellent area to explore with many outdoor activities available in the area. If you need a break from the busy surrounding metropolis, get out and explore the beautiful Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge.
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From Interstate 20: Take the Anniston Eastern Bypass west to Choccolocco Road. Turn right and continue on Choccolocco Road for 9.2 miles. Turn left onto Bains Gap Road and continue up the mountain for 2.2 miles. Turn left onto the trailhead.
From Anniston & Hwy 21: Turn into former Ft. McClellan from Hwy 21 N. Follow the signs for Bains Gap Road. Take Bains Gap Road up the mountain to the trailhead on your right.
Road is only accessible from 4:00 am until 10:00 pm. When traveling southwest along the trail, the left side is a wildlife management area and the right side is closed to the public. Do not travel beyond any of the posted signs, as there is a risk of un-exploded ordinance in the area.
We rode this trail to see some Fall colors and enjoyed the ride! Road was in good shape and we didn’t encounter any obstacles. It was a quiet ride and we only encountered one other vehicle. There is also a nice scenic overlook across from the trail.
Great trail but be warned...the western entrance is blocked off due to the bridge being out. You will have to make your way down to the eastern entrance to access the trail. Also, just passed the overlook (as of today) there is a downed tree in the way which has a very small area that can be accessed. Navigate around at your own risk or bring a hatchet to clear the downed tree (small tree)
The trail was a good ride. no issues and never had to use 4wd. There were several trees down due to the recent snow, but was able to maneuver around them. Was reall foggy because of rain. the road was closed about 4 miles in and I had to turn around.
Didn't have video capabilities at the time, so I won't be uploading a video. The trail is worth taking time to ride.
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Jake is an Alabama native, born and raised in Central Alabama. Jake has spent years exploring the back roads and off road parks around the Southeast. Jake enjoys exploring new areas and incorporating new technology and tools while doing so. As an avid enthusiast he utilizes two different rigs to explore and document new trails, a Toyota 4runner overland style rig, and a Jeep Tj built for the rocks. Jake is a long time Toyota enthusiast, with over one million miles driven between two rigs. When not on the trail you can usually find Jake flying,mountain biking and spending time with his family.
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