Cleburne: Hiking, Nature and Views

At Cheaha State Park, which lies partly in Cleburne County, elevations reach up to 2,407 feet above sea level. Trails, viewpoints and natural areas offer different ways to shape your stay, from individual trails and park facilities to the long Pinhoti Trail.

Cheaha State Park: Trails and Viewpoints

The Bald Rock Boardwalk ends at Alabama’s highest point, at an observation deck with a 180-degree view. Maintenance work may affect access to the deck; check its current status before your visit. Cheaha State Park also offers a lake, a dog park, accessible and challenging trails, and museums. Individual facilities may have their own schedules.

The Mountain Laurel Trail follows the creek through a laurel thicket to Rock Garden Outlook. Another route is the one-mile Lake Trail, which connects Cheaha Lake with Rock Garden and has an elevation change of 1,000 feet. The descriptions therefore differ both in route and in the trail details provided. A permit is required for rappelling and climbing at Cheaha State Park; Pulpit Rock is a popular rappelling spot.

The scale of the trails extends well beyond individual park routes. The 102-mile Pinhoti Trail ends with its final section in Cleburne County. In the western part of the county, the Shoal Creek Ranger District covers a large area, with viewpoints and opportunities for hiking, camping and horseback riding.

Outdoor Activities Around Heflin

The 3.5-mile Heflin Spur is a branch of the Pinhoti National Recreational Trail. Its trailheads are at Heflin City Hall and Forest Service Road 500. Heflin’s Cahulga Creek Park is also home to the 18-hole Lake Point Disc Golf Course. The 176-acre park includes a 100-acre watershed lake. Amenities include hiking opportunities, disc golf, a boat launch, an observation deck, picnic areas and restrooms.

Cahulga Creek runs through Talladega National Forest. Another natural area is the Choccolocco WMA in Cleburne County near Heflin. For 2026–2027, the Wildlife Management Area maps and permits list an area of 56,838 acres, where big and small game hunting is permitted.

Lakes, Roads and Events

You can reach the Coleman Lake Recreation Area from I-20 via Exit 199 near Heflin. From there, the route follows US 78 E to Edwardsville and continues along County Roads 61, 532 and 500. The area offers a boat launch, tent and RV camping, gravel and paved roads, picnic tables, restrooms and accessible access. Check road conditions and signage before setting out; the availability of individual amenities may also change.

For orientation on longer drives through the county, the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway offers another point of reference: it runs through Cleburne County and connects Interstate 20 near Heflin with Interstate 59 near Fort Payne. In Heflin, the Parks and Recreation Department holds the annual Outdoor Jamboree in early fall. The program includes live music, a beauty pageant, food, arts and crafts, an archery tournament and a children’s carnival. Check the dates for the year you plan to visit.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Cleburne, you can first decide which experiences you want to shape your stay: trails and views at Cheaha State Park, outdoor activities in Heflin or drives through the county. This lets you tailor your search to your planned activities.

Discover more destinations: Heflin, Lauderdale County, Cullman County, Fayette County, Macon, Pickens County, Colbert County, Coffee County.

For the broader travel overview: Alabama.