Cheaha Questions and Routes

[TearlessTom]

It is 4 days till time to leave and I am soooo excited.  Already getting my camping gear together and packing.

I will be meeting my brother in law around 8AM on Friday morning for the ride up at Exit 31 on I-65 at the service station. (Hwy 225) I work late Thursday night so not planning on heading out tooo early.

Anyone from the coastal area who would like to join us for an easy ride up is more than welcome. We will be stopping for fuel and butt brakes about every 120 miles give or take. Should arrive at the park around 4pm.

 Plan on taking I-65 north to Wetumpka then work our way up to Sylacaga, then up to the Talladaga Scenic Skyway.

Not the most direct route  but remember  the ride is as important as the destination.


Also, does anyone have a Garmin route of the actual ride that we are planning for Saturday or any other good roads we can take advantage of while there.

Thanks Looking forward to meeting you all and making lots of new friends.

Tom

[Chrisj CMA]

Hey Tom.........were coming from a bit east of you, but we hit Wetumka as well, then HWY 9 to Ashland where a group of Valk riders are meeting for lunch.  We should be in Wetumka around 1100 and Ashland by 1300 for lunch.  Hwy 9 is a great lazy scenic path

[RedValk]

email me for the GPS file for the group ride Saturday.

Jeff...i plan on being at the restaurant too...but more like 1230. I have to get back up top and get crackin'...ya' know. I told Steve i'd meet some of you there at 1230...hang around until about 130...then lead folks up some back roads to up top. Hopefully, i'll see you there ...even if you can't make it by 1230?

ANYONE wanting that GPS file for the Saturday ride...email me (k4tk AT arrl.net)

[Chrisj CMA]

ok shooting for 1230...........ealier the better, seems were always watching rain clouds roll in the longer we hang around anywhere up there

[RedValk]

shhhhhhhhhhh....don't say rain.............

they keep changing the forcast....no chance of rain...then 30%....so far, not too bad.....

[Strider]

Hey, 30% equates to 70% WITHOUT.  I will take those odds any day..... 

[TearlessTom]

I've got my rain gear packed so that lowers the chance of rain to near nothing

[stormrider]

Tom, like Jeff said, you want to take Hwy 9 from Wetumpka, to Ashland, to Lineville, then 49 out of Lineville to the Skyway. Coming up from the west, Talladega side, is no fun at all. Although the road has lots of twisties, it is loose gravel all the way from the main hwy. Plus 9 from Wetumpka is less traffic, nicer scenery, etc. We should already be up top or you could join us for lunch at Ashland.

[RedValk]

weather forcast EVEN BETTER NOW....only a 20% chance of any rain    And pretty warm 

[fudgie]

Anyone remember the web site that had the web cam up on Cheaha? Thought it was a news station.

[Willow]

Is this the one?  Cheaha Mountain Webcam

[Kaiser]

Tom, like Jeff said, you want to take Hwy 9 from Wetumpka, to Ashland, to Lineville, then 49 out of Lineville to the Skyway. Coming up from the west, Talladega side, is no fun at all. Although the road has lots of twisties, it is loose gravel all the way from the main hwy. Plus 9 from Wetumpka is less traffic, nicer scenery, etc. We should already be up top or you could join us for lunch at Ashland.

I've got to head over from Talladega - dropping the kid off with my parents before heading up the mountain.

Since you made the direct route from there sound not-so-fun - I'll probably catch I-20 East, then come down 281.  Would this be a better route than 21 out of Talladega?  I can ride gravel no problem, but prefer to avoid it when possible.

[RedValk]

Tom. Me personally, i think folks make a bit much of how bad the "back" way up the mountain is. Is it as nice as 281? well, NO. but, it is VERY doable. I recommend you DO go up the backway. it will be closer....and you'll get to see another side you wouldn't get to see otherwise (our group ride doesn't go that way this year).

to go the "back" way...the most direct way out of Dega'....do the following:

head NORTH on 21 out of Dega

go about 5-6 miles...roughly...until you see a BROWN informational sign saying "Cheaha State Park". Turn RIGHT onto county 398/McElderry Rd. there is a gas station right at that corner where you turn...and you'll almost immediately cross a rail road track.

go several miles until you see another BROWN informational sign saying "Cheaha State park". Turn right....onto county 385. This road goes a few miles before you start your trip up the actual mountain. This road becomes Cheaha Rd. It will be about 15-20 miles total as i recall from when you turned off hiway 21....till you get up to the top.

The road is not as wide as a major road...but it has been recently repaved...and...they even (finally) put a dividing yellow strip in the middle of the two lanes! it is quite curvey!

when the road dead ends...you are at hiway 281. turn LEFT...go a few miles...to the entrance to the State park (on your left). You are there (almost...depends on whether going to the hotel or the Baldrock Lodge...but you'll find em' from there!).

just keep following signs that say "cheaha State park".

If you feel you must, you can take 21 about 20 miles to Oxford, get on I-20 East...go several more miles...then get off at one of two places (hiway 78 or 431)...that can get you to 281...which would be another 20 miles or so up. NOT TAKING THAT BACK ROAD.......takes you a LONG way out of the way, and is NOT really necessary. In my mind, that back way....simply put....just aint no big deal.

there is a third way up, but i'll tell that way....another day  

[Kaiser]

Thanks Tim.  Just printed out your directions.  Looking forward to meeting you this weekend.

[fudgie]

Is this the one?  Cheaha Mountain Webcam

Yep