Pinhoti Trail near Piedmont

The Pinhoti Trail is a ~335-mile Southern Appalachian long-distance trail stretching from Flagg Mountain in central Alabama to a junction with the Benton MacKaye Trail in Georgia. Much of the Alabama route passes through Talladega National Forest, including the Dugger Mountain and Cheaha Wilderness areas just outside Piedmont.

Trail history & highlights

Work on the Pinhoti Trail began in the 1970s and continued for decades as volunteers and agencies pieced together easements and footpaths through rugged public lands. The Alabama section was substantially completed in the early 2000s and has since been recognized as a Millennium Legacy Trail. Today, the Pinhoti connects with long-distance routes like the Eastern Continental Trail, making Piedmont a key resupply and rest town for thru-hikers.

North of town, the trail winds through the Dugger Mountain Wilderness, one of Alabama’s wildest and least roaded landscapes, with longleaf pine stands, rocky ridges, and big views. Southward, it continues toward Cheaha State Park and the highest elevations in the state.

Access from Piedmont

• Nearest access: trailheads in the Dugger Mountain / Talladega National Forest area
• Use Chief Ladiga Trail and forest roads for shuttle options
• Stop at the Chief Ladiga Trail Eubanks Welcome Center in Piedmont for local info

Where to eat after a hike

Refuel in downtown Piedmont before or after your section hike:

• Pinhoti Pizza Company – 107 S Main St, Piedmont, AL 36272 – wood-fired pizza at the trail intersection.
• Elevated Grounds Coffee Co. – 110 S Center Ave – coffee, breakfast, and baked goods.
• Dugger Mountain Fudge & Coffee Co. – 614 N Main St – sweets, coffee, and fudge.

Pinhoti Trail in the Talladega National Forest near Piedmont.