Talladega Scenic Drive
Talladega National Forest, AL

The Talladega Scenic Byway winds approximately 26 miles along the backbone of the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The drive climbs to Cheaha Mountain and Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama. In fall, this drive bursts with color as the oak, maple, hickory, and persimmon change color. In spring, the dogwood and redbud are equally beautiful.

The forest is also rich in virtually every species of wildlife indigenous to the region, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, grouse, and bobcats. The pine forests of these hills have been specially managed to provide badly needed nesting areas for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

The waters are prime habitat for the Coosa redeye bass, a diminutive cousin of the smallmouth. To improve habitat, foresters have built dam-like structures out of small stones in the shallow portions of these creeks. Often referred to as the "brook trout" of warm-water species, redeye are great sport on light-spinning tackle.

A lush mixture of oak, hickory, redbud, maple, sweet gum, sycamore, dogwood, mountain laurel, and mature pines blankets the landscape. Muscadines, huckleberries, blueberries, blackberries, wild cherries, wild strawberries, gooseberries, black walnuts, and persimmons keep the wildlife, and hikers, well fed.