William B. Bankhead National Forest

On the Cumberland Plateau of northwest Alabama, William B. Bankhead National Forest is best known for the Sipsey Wilderness, one of the largest national forest wilderness areas east of the Mississippi River at over 25,000 acres. Deep sandstone canyons carved by the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River create a labyrinth of towering bluffs, rock shelters, and over 50 cascading waterfalls that have earned the area the nickname "Land of a Thousand Waterfalls." Old-growth hardwood forests of tulip poplar, American beech, and eastern hemlock fill the canyon bottoms, while drier ridgetops support stands of oak and hickory. The forest's 181,000 acres provide habitat for an impressive diversity of wildlife including black bear, wild turkey, and numerous neotropical migratory songbirds that nest in the lush canyon ecosystems. Over 90 miles of hiking trails wind through the forest, with the Sipsey Wilderness trails especially popular for backpacking, spring wildflowers, and fall color. The Brushy Lake and Corinth recreation areas add developed camping, swimming, and fishing, all within an easy drive of Birmingham and Huntsville.