Sipsey Wilderness
Wild-flowing creeks in northwestern Alabama converge to become the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River, 61 miles of which has been designated Wild and Scenic. Running below sandstone bluffs that rise 30 to 100 feet above the water, through a forest of often imposing second-growth trees and occasional small stands of virgin timber (some of the last virgin timber in the state), the Sipsey Fork and its tributaries slice neatly through the Wilderness. Sinkholes, small caves, and scenic overlooks are plentiful. Less plentiful is the rare flattened musk turtle. Twelve established trails, all rated easy to moderate, crisscross the Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Alabama |
| Size | 25,809 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.33° N, 87.43° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 picnic area. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 3 miSipsey River Picnic Area and Trailhead ↗Picnic area · All year
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
12 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 49 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Ridge Trail ↗ | 7.1 | |
| Northwest Wild Horse ↗ | 7 | |
| Sipsey Wild Hiking Trail ↗ | 6.6 | |
| Bunyan Hill Wild Horse ↗ | 4.7 | |
| Lookout Wild Hiking Trail | 4.2 | |
| Braziel Creek Wild Hiking | 3.9 | |
| Thompson Creek Wild Hiking | 3.3 | |
| Randolph Wild Hiking Trail | 2.6 | |
| Borden Creek Wild Hiking | 2.5 | |
| Bunyan Hill Wild Hiking Trail | 2.4 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- WildfireLynx
4 mi from the center point · 43 acres
- PrescribedBnk Spear Rx
15 mi from the center point · 244 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 8.9 miFeldman's Department Store ↗Haleyville, AL
- 9.4 miWinston County Courthouse ↗Double Springs, AL
- 9.4 miIrwin, Dr. Robert Price, House ↗Moulton, AL
- 9.6 mi
- 9.6 miIce House ↗Moulton, AL
- 12.6 miHouston Jail ↗Houston, AL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Alabama and the South
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Sipsey Wilderness?
25,809 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sipsey Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sipsey Wilderness in?
Alabama.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sipsey Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sipsey Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Sipsey Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.328° N, 87.435° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Sipsey Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Lynx at 4 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Sipsey Wilderness?
The National Register has 6 listings within 15 miles, including Feldman's Department Store and Winston County Courthouse.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.