Those initial nominations included place
names familiar to many people in Alabama:
the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, Sipsey River Swamp,
Lillian Swamp, Grand Bay Savannah, the Red
Hills, Hurricane Creek, Escatawpa River, Town
Creek, Pisgah Gorge, Sipsey Wilderness, Horse
Pens 40 . . . and the Walls of Jericho. Years
passed. Progress was made with some of the
Red Salamander
more promising nominations, but word of a
willing seller at the Walls of Jericho remained
elusive. At times, rumors surfaced that an
opportunity might be around the corner, but a
concrete sale never materialized. Fast forward to
the new millennium.
New Opportunities
After decades of land purchasing and consoli-
dation by most large timber companies, a shift
in business practices resulted in several global
corporations initiating land sales that had never
been imagined. In a matter of years, new oppor-
tunities materialized to acquire large, significant
Native Azalea parcels of forest land throughout Alabama. The
first was 47,000 acres in the Mobile-Tensaw
Delta, offered by Kimberly-Clark. Next was the
32,000 acres made available by Southern Timber
Venture in Colbert and Lauderdale counties.
Both opportunities were purchased through
Forever Wild between 1999 and 2001. Then, in
2002, word came that the Mead Corporation was
A waterfall at the selling all of its land holdings in Tennessee and
beginning of The Walls Alabama. The land and the company’s mills were
quickly acquired by the Smurfit-Stone Corpo-
ration. One year later, a rumor was heard that
Coastal Lumber Corporation was considering
ERIC SOEHREN
the purchase of select Smurfit-Stone Corpora-
Bear Den Hollow tion holdings in Tennessee and Alabama.
Enter The Nature Conservancy. For years,
Alabama’s Chapter of The Nature Conservancy
�a�s of JERICHO
had watched for an opportunity to secure the
land surrounding the Walls of Jericho. Alabama’s
TNC had long been a supporter of Forever Wild,
and had given $1 million toward the purchase
of the 11,685-acre Clearwater Tract in the
Mobile-Tensaw Delta. As land changed hands
in Tennessee and north Alabama, Alabama’s
TNC approached Coastal Lumber about the
A Long Awaited Expectation Made Forever Wild possibility of purchasing the 21,453-acre Walls
of Jericho Tract spanning the Alabama-Tennes-
see state line. The initial inquiry by The Nature
By Gregory M. Lein, Alabama State Lands Division Conservancy was well received within Coastal
Lumber, and appraisals were initiated during the
summer of 2003.
The Forever Wild Program opened its doors to land nominations in 1993, shortly after As Coastal Lumber’s acquisition from the
Smurfit-Stone Corporation approached its
creation of Alabama’s first and only state operated land trust in 1992. The Forever Wild conclusion, Jeff Danter, Executive Director of the
program had been enacted by a vote of the people as an amendment to the Alabama Constitution, passing by Alabama Chapter of The Nature Conservancy,
pitched the opportunity to Forever Wild’s Board
an overwhelming margin of 83 percent, the largest for any such program in the eastern United States. Once the of Trustees in September 2003. The Forever Wild
program went through an initial period of developing the administrative procedures that would govern Forever Board responded with their unanimous support.
In December 2003, The Nature Conservancy
Wild, the call went out for nominations of land. Conservationists throughout the state submitted their wish list of (TNC) closed on the purchase of the 21,453-
special places worthy of protection through Forever Wild. acre Walls of Jericho Tract from Coastal Lumber.
16 OutdoorAlabama | OCTOBER 2005
Two months later, Alabama’s
Forever Wild Land Trust closed
on the purchase of the 12,510-
acre Walls of Jericho Tract in
Alabama. The transaction closed
at $9.4 million, the same price
paid by TNC for the Alabama
portion of the 21,453-acre tract.
The State of Tennessee hopes to
purchase the remainder of the tract,
north of Alabama’s border, from
The Nature Conservancy before the
end of 2005.
Ecological
Importance
Many people have asked why the
Walls of Jericho acquisition was such
an important opportunity. Aside
from its large size and the aesthetic
beauty of the tract’s limestone
canyon, what makes the Walls of
Jericho more unique than a compa-
rable gem located at Little River
Canyon? The answer lies at the heart
of a special watershed.
The Paint Rock River water-
shed begins a few miles north
of the Alabama State line at the
headwaters of Estill Fork, Larkin
Fork, and Hurricane Creek.
Hurricane Creek’s watershed is
located almost entirely within
the 21,453-acre Walls of Jeri-
cho Tract. The watershed also
comprises a large percentage of
the Paint Rock River’s headwater
area. It is remote and entirely
forested, producing a stream
of the highest water quality
in Alabama. As testament to
this fact, several species of
federally endangered mussels
and fish are found within
Hurricane Creek, but no
other locations in Alabama.
Two of the species of mussels
are found nowhere else in
the world. Of equal impor-
tance is the fact that the
Paint Rock River hosts more
species of fish than any river
of comparable size in the
United States! Consequently,
the importance of protect-
ing the headwaters of the
river through projects like the
Walls of Jericho cannot be
understated. This protection
provides tremendous gains in
water quality and aquatic habi-
tat protection. No other tribu-
tary watershed to the Tennessee
Continued on Page 18 444
���a�s of
JERICHO
�and of
Wood, Rock,
�Water
By Gregory M. Lein,
Alabama State Lands Division
The following account is one of many
tales that have been shared with our
staff since Forever Wild’s acquisition of
the 12,510-acre Walls of Jericho Tract
in February 2004. The story relates the
significance of this land acquisition to
many people. The Walls of Jericho was
once open to everyone during the years
when it was owned by the Carter family.
When the land changed hands in the late
1970s, it became closed to the public, and
a great part of Alabama’s natural heritage
appeared to be lost. Today, the land is once
again open to the public and is fulfilling
a promise made through Forever Wild, to
protect Alabama’s most special places.
It was the late1970s. He said that it was his
first backpacking experience. The Boy Scout Troop
had been dropped off at the end of a remote
county road along Hurricane Creek for a weekend
hike to the Walls of Jericho. The name suggested
a place of biblical significance, and throughout the
day, the scouts questioned each other about where
these “walls” might be. The questions were constantly
sidelined by one mini-drama after another . . . blis-
ters erupted, straps broke, water became a precious
commodity, the scouts eyed old bottles in a decrepit
cabin-like shack beside the road. Had anyone seen Chip?
To make the hike more tenuous, it was clouding up
in a way that suggested the wet stuff that falls from
the sky when you least want it to (you never speak the
word rain when you’re out in the wilderness, surviving
on nothing more than your wits and a recent merit
badge). The scouts trudged on, trying to appreciate the
wildflowers that were being repeatedly pointed out by
their scoutmaster. They were all suspicious about these
flower stops, as their leader had recently hurt his knee
playing rugby. “Look at this one over here,” he would
say, as he was massaging his leg. The scouts didn’t
complain, taking advantage of the breaks to swap
Snickers for someone’s water. “Are there mountain
lions around here?” one of the scouts asked. The
march continued.
Continued on Page 19 444
OCTOBER 2005 | OutdoorAlabama 17
 Those initial nominations included place
names familiar to many people in Alabama:
the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, Sipsey River Swamp,
Lillian Swamp, Grand Bay Savannah, the Red
Hills, Hurricane Creek, Escatawpa River, Town
Creek, Pisgah Gorge, Sipsey Wilderness, Horse
Pens 40 . . . and the Walls of Jericho. Years
passed. Progress was made with some of the
Red Salamander
more promising nominations, but word of a
willing seller at the Walls of Jericho remained
elusive. At times, rumors surfaced that an
opportunity might be around the corner, but a
concrete sale never materialized. Fast forward to
the new millennium.
New Opportunities
After decades of land purchasing and consoli-
dation by most large timber companies, a shift
in business practices resulted in several global
corporations initiating land sales that had never
been imagined. In a matter of years, new oppor-
tunities materialized to acquire large, significant
Native Azalea parcels of forest land throughout Alabama. The
first was 47,000 acres in the Mobile-Tensaw
Delta, offered by Kimberly-Clark. Next was the
32,000 acres made available by Southern Timber
Venture in Colbert and Lauderdale counties.
Both opportunities were purchased through
Forever Wild between 1999 and 2001. Then, in
2002, word came that the Mead Corporation was
A waterfall at the selling all of its land holdings in Tennessee and
beginning of The Walls Alabama. The land and the company’s mills were
quickly acquired by the Smurfit-Stone Corpo-
ration. One year later, a rumor was heard that
Coastal Lumber Corporation was considering
ERIC SOEHREN
the purchase of select Smurfit-Stone Corpora-
Bear Den Hollow tion holdings in Tennessee and Alabama.
Enter The Nature Conservancy. For years,
Alabama’s Chapter of The Nature Conservancy
�a�s of JERICHO
had watched for an opportunity to secure the
land surrounding the Walls of Jericho. Alabama’s
TNC had long been a supporter of Forever Wild,
and had given $1 million toward the purchase
of the 11,685-acre Clearwater Tract in the
Mobile-Tensaw Delta. As land changed hands
in Tennessee and north Alabama, Alabama’s
TNC approached Coastal Lumber about the
A Long Awaited Expectation Made Forever Wild possibility of purchasing the 21,453-acre Walls
of Jericho Tract spanning the Alabama-Tennes-
see state line. The initial inquiry by The Nature
By Gregory M. Lein, Alabama State Lands Division Conservancy was well received within Coastal
Lumber, and appraisals were initiated during the
summer of 2003.
The Forever Wild Program opened its doors to land nominations in 1993, shortly after As Coastal Lumber’s acquisition from the
Smurfit-Stone Corporation approached its
creation of Alabama’s first and only state operated land trust in 1992. The Forever Wild conclusion, Jeff Danter, Executive Director of the
program had been enacted by a vote of the people as an amendment to the Alabama Constitution, passing by Alabama Chapter of The Nature Conservancy,
pitched the opportunity to Forever Wild’s Board
an overwhelming margin of 83 percent, the largest for any such program in the eastern United States. Once the of Trustees in September 2003. The Forever Wild
program went through an initial period of developing the administrative procedures that would govern Forever Board responded with their unanimous support.
In December 2003, The Nature Conservancy
Wild, the call went out for nominations of land. Conservationists throughout the state submitted their wish list of (TNC) closed on the purchase of the 21,453-
special places worthy of protection through Forever Wild. acre Walls of Jericho Tract from Coastal Lumber.
16 OutdoorAlabama | OCTOBER 2005
Two months later, Alabama’s
Forever Wild Land Trust closed
on the purchase of the 12,510-
acre Walls of Jericho Tract in
Alabama. The transaction closed
at $9.4 million, the same price
paid by TNC for the Alabama
portion of the 21,453-acre tract.
The State of Tennessee hopes to
purchase the remainder of the tract,
north of Alabama’s border, from
The Nature Conservancy before the
end of 2005.
Ecological
Importance
Many people have asked why the
Walls of Jericho acquisition was such
an important opportunity. Aside
from its large size and the aesthetic
beauty of the tract’s limestone
canyon, what makes the Walls of
Jericho more unique than a compa-
rable gem located at Little River
Canyon? The answer lies at the heart
of a special watershed.
The Paint Rock River water-
shed begins a few miles north
of the Alabama State line at the
headwaters of Estill Fork, Larkin
Fork, and Hurricane Creek.
Hurricane Creek’s watershed is
located almost entirely within
the 21,453-acre Walls of Jeri-
cho Tract. The watershed also
comprises a large percentage of
the Paint Rock River’s headwater
area. It is remote and entirely
forested, producing a stream
of the highest water quality
in Alabama. As testament to
this fact, several species of
federally endangered mussels
and fish are found within
Hurricane Creek, but no
other locations in Alabama.
Two of the species of mussels
are found nowhere else in
the world. Of equal impor-
tance is the fact that the
Paint Rock River hosts more
species of fish than any river
of comparable size in the
United States! Consequently,
the importance of protect-
ing the headwaters of the
river through projects like the
Walls of Jericho cannot be
understated. This protection
provides tremendous gains in
water quality and aquatic habi-
tat protection. No other tribu-
tary watershed to the Tennessee
Continued on Page 18 444
���a�s of
JERICHO
�and of
Wood, Rock,
�Water
By Gregory M. Lein,
Alabama State Lands Division
The following account is one of many
tales that have been shared with our
staff since Forever Wild’s acquisition of
the 12,510-acre Walls of Jericho Tract
in February 2004. The story relates the
significance of this land acquisition to
many people. The Walls of Jericho was
once open to everyone during the years
when it was owned by the Carter family.
When the land changed hands in the late
1970s, it became closed to the public, and
a great part of Alabama’s natural heritage
appeared to be lost. Today, the land is once
again open to the public and is fulfilling
a promise made through Forever Wild, to
protect Alabama’s most special places.
It was the late1970s. He said that it was his
first backpacking experience. The Boy Scout Troop
had been dropped off at the end of a remote
county road along Hurricane Creek for a weekend
hike to the Walls of Jericho. The name suggested
a place of biblical significance, and throughout the
day, the scouts questioned each other about where
these “walls” might be. The questions were constantly
sidelined by one mini-drama after another . . . blis-
ters erupted, straps broke, water became a precious
commodity, the scouts eyed old bottles in a decrepit
cabin-like shack beside the road. Had anyone seen Chip?
To make the hike more tenuous, it was clouding up
in a way that suggested the wet stuff that falls from
the sky when you least want it to (you never speak the
word rain when you’re out in the wilderness, surviving
on nothing more than your wits and a recent merit
badge). The scouts trudged on, trying to appreciate the
wildflowers that were being repeatedly pointed out by
their scoutmaster. They were all suspicious about these
flower stops, as their leader had recently hurt his knee
playing rugby. “Look at this one over here,” he would
say, as he was massaging his leg. The scouts didn’t
complain, taking advantage of the breaks to swap
Snickers for someone’s water. “Are there mountain
lions around here?” one of the scouts asked. The
march continued.
Continued on Page 19 444
OCTOBER 2005 | OutdoorAlabama 17
 �a�s of JERICHO ruffed grouse, green salamander, four-toed
salamander, mountain chorus frogs, and
the Eastern milk snake are all known to be
A Long Awaited Expectation Made Forever Wild present on the tract. Among these, recent
discovery of cerulean warblers may be the
most significant find. This unique bird is
presently under consideration for listing
through the Endangered Species Act, and
was previously only known to still occur
within Bankhead National Forest.
Also of note are the numerous troglo-
bitic species—those found in caves—that
intersperse the limestone geology of the
tract. Grey bats, Indiana bats, Rafinesque’s
big-eared bat, Tennessee cave salamander
and the Alleghany woodrat are several of
the unique species occupying these unique
cave and bluff habitats.
Recreational
Opportunity
ERIC SOEHREN
summer of 2004. A 2.1 mile hiking trail was
constructed by hand, beginning at a new
parking area on Alabama Highway 79. The
trail leads to a small primitive campsite
adjacent to Clarke Cemetery at the mouth
of the small limestone canyon that forms
the Walls of Jericho. From there, visitors
can either follow Turkey Creek upstream
into the “walls,” or continue on a small trail
leading up the side of the canyon above
Turkey Creek. The marked trail ends at the
Alabama/Tennessee state line, but many
visitors elect to continue upstream above
a small waterfall and into an area known
as the amphitheater, where the limestone
geology has been eroded by the stream and
formed a bowl-like formation. The canyon
walls quickly close in beyond the bowl,
where one last cascading waterfall and pool
block the way to further exploration.
Trail construction efforts also included
remaining distance into the canyon. Both
trails have been well used this past year,
supporting the possibility of a 100-mile
trail system being created on the tract over
the next five years. Tennessee officials have
also expressed an interest in coordinating
their trail development such that it can be
linked with Alabama’s trail system. Those
plans will only be realized if volunteer
efforts can help with much of the trail’s
construction. Horse trails can often be
developed by using heavy equipment to link
the existing network of old woods roads.
Hiking and backpacking trails must be built
by hand, through manual labor.
Visitors should also keep in mind that
the entire 12,510-acre tract serves as an
addition to the already existing 28,167-
acre Skyline Wildlife Management Area
(WMA), creating a diverse block of 40,677
acres supporting fantastic public hunt-
opportunity for unique walk-in hunting
adventures. Some visitors might elect to
ride horses or mules into the primitive
campsite located adjacent to Clarke Ceme-
tery, and use that as a base from which
to hunt over several days. Areas east of
Highway 79 support an extensive network
of old and new roads that interconnect to
those previously in place on Skyline WMA.
Summary
The Walls of Jericho represents one of
Alabama’s crowning achievements in land
conservation. It was made possible through
the persistence, patience and dedication of
many conservation minded people; by the
opportunity and partnership made avail-
able through the Alabama Chapter of the
Nature Conservancy; and when Alabama’s

Columbine is common within the rock crevasses of The Walls.
River can rival the ecological significance of
the Paint Rock River.
In addition to the tract’s contribution to
protecting the aquatic diversity found in the
river, the land hosts numerous unique natu-
an 8.3 mile horse trail from a dedicated ing opportunities. Deer, turkey, quail and citizens voted approval of our land acquisi-
As with all Forever Wild acquisitions, tion program in 1992. Years ago, its conser-
the land protected serves as a base for tradi- horse trailer parking area to the mouth of other small game hunting opportunities
the “walls.” A small hitching area allows abound on the tract. Limited road access vation was our hope. Today, the Walls of
tional forms of conservation related recre-
ation, following the principles of multiple riders to rest their horses and walk the west of Alabama Highway 79 creates the Jericho is Forever Wild.
use. Bird watching, backpacking, hiking,
horseback riding, hunting, stream fishing,
and wildflower viewing are all accommo-
dutchman’s breeches, and yellow tree are dated on Alabama’s Walls of Jericho Tract.
but a few of the uncommon plants found All of these activities are best accommo-
on the tract. These unique plant species are dated through improved public access such
a small part of a tremendous diversity of
herbaceous plants that are sheltered by this
as the new parking areas and the county’s
resurfacing of Highway 79.
���a�s of JERICHO �and of Wood, Rock,�Water Continued from Page 17 444

ral communities that support an abundance
of rare Appalachian wildlife. White nodding
trillium, Cumberland rosinweed, limerock
arrowood, bloodroot, yellow lady’s slipper,
Directions to the
Walls of Jericho
rich deciduous forest. In an effort to improve public access
The animals present are equally diverse. to the land, State Lands Division person- Just when the scouts were approaching the none made a sound. Each was following the unspo- going back to the Walls. “Closed,” they were told.
Hooded warbler, Kentucky warbler, blue- nel developed the first of several recre- point of mutiny, the old gravel road ended and ken code of never challenging the voice of the man How could this be, a place so special, so full of
winged warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, ational trails conceived for the tract in the their scoutmaster declared that they had arrived. that provided these monthly excursions to freedom. what the great outdoors has to offer? They never
The scouts looked around with puzzled expressions. Suddenly, before he could say “pack it up, we’re made it back to Walls of Jericho, but it remained
Where were these mythical walls? The scoutmaster moving out,” thunder rumbled in the distance and in the mind of many a scout, a place of beauty,
� � � � � � � � �
�������
� ������
��
pointed over in the direction of a small cemetery, the wet stuff started falling from the sky. The scout- a promise of adventure. Today, that promise lies
and suggested that the scouts look for a campsite master limped over to one of the rainflys to study
� � � � � � � fulfilled, for scouts and any others who desire an
�����������

�����
adjacent to the rocky creek. The “walls” were this phenomena, as the sky grew grey and heavy

�
����
�� adventure to a special place, the Walls of Jericho, a
�

Located in Jackson County, Alabama supposed to be just upstream from there. Each with promise. The scouts made a last scramble
������

�
place made Forever Wild.
����

��� �� young tenderfoot dropped his pack and began a for firewood, and the scoutmaster conceded that

�
�

�� �
�

��
4From Huntsville, go north on ������� scramble up the creek, in search of a campsite. “it would have to do, but we will need to remain
�
����

����

���
��� Author’s note: Alabama State Lands has
�
��

����� �
����

Highway 72 Problem was, the lure of the “walls” kept drawing vigilant of flashflood conditions.” Yup, sure thing,
�

���������
� received several emails from Scoutmasters
the scouts farther and farther up the narrowing agreed the scouts. A flood would be cool. who have made a recent trip to the Walls.
��

4Take a left on Highway 79 to creek. About the time the limestone walls became The flood never came, but the creek did rise.
���

��
�

�
��

Many expressed their gratitude for the oppor-

���

��
��������
�

��

the Skyline/Hytop community

��

������� prominent, the scouts spotted a flat island area in The man recounting this trip commented that he
�

tunity to return, were complimentary of

the middle of the creek, and declared it the camp- remembers the woodsmoke, the large trees, a wild the trail, offered constructive suggestions on
4The Walls of Jericho Tract is just
��

site. They raced back for their packs and had soon clear creek that rolled through the small canyon,
���������

north of Hytop; Highway 79 improvements, and told some funny stories

begun the comical effort of erecting their tents. flowing through green pools, amidst boulders about their experience. The comment that
goes through the tract. Eventually, one of the older scouts (he was and rocky shallows. That night, they watched the
����� really sunk in was that several of the scouts
���� ������
4The first parking lot is for the ������ 12½), spoke up with a voice of experience and opaque white curtains of water cascading down a thanked one Scoutmaster at the end of the
���������� wisdom, and showed the others the “right way” of limestone canyon’s face that is the Walls of Jericho.
horseback riding trails. adventure, “for an amazing trip. It was in
putting up the tents. The scoutmaster wandered in, Most of all, he remembered the awakening of an the top three best trips they had ever taken.”
4The second parking lot is for
��

stopped massaging his knee, and began rubbing understanding that all trips were not created equal. Another Scouter commented , “I wish we had
��
��

the hiking trails. his chin. “Guys, we might not want to camp so Some places were different – special in the way more places to go like the Walls of Jericho.”
��
��
��

��
��
�
close to this creek,” he said. The scouts poked their that they capture your imagination. Better praise is hard to come by, but we’ll
heads out of their tents as they were unrolling their Each year, when their troop was planning its keep doing our part to make the special places
sleeping bags. Disagreement was on their faces, but monthly schedule of trips, the scouts asked about of Alabama, Forever Wild.

18 OutdoorAlabama | OCTOBER 2005 OCTOBER 2005 | OutdoorAlabama 19

 �a�s of JERICHO ruffed grouse, green salamander, four-toed
salamander, mountain chorus frogs, and
the Eastern milk snake are all known to be
A Long Awaited Expectation Made Forever Wild present on the tract. Among these, recent
discovery of cerulean warblers may be the
most significant find. This unique bird is
presently under consideration for listing
through the Endangered Species Act, and
was previously only known to still occur
within Bankhead National Forest.
Also of note are the numerous troglo-
bitic species—those found in caves—that
intersperse the limestone geology of the
tract. Grey bats, Indiana bats, Rafinesque’s
big-eared bat, Tennessee cave salamander
and the Alleghany woodrat are several of
the unique species occupying these unique
cave and bluff habitats.
Recreational
Opportunity
ERIC SOEHREN
summer of 2004. A 2.1 mile hiking trail was
constructed by hand, beginning at a new
parking area on Alabama Highway 79. The
trail leads to a small primitive campsite
adjacent to Clarke Cemetery at the mouth
of the small limestone canyon that forms
the Walls of Jericho. From there, visitors
can either follow Turkey Creek upstream
into the “walls,” or continue on a small trail
leading up the side of the canyon above
Turkey Creek. The marked trail ends at the
Alabama/Tennessee state line, but many
visitors elect to continue upstream above
a small waterfall and into an area known
as the amphitheater, where the limestone
geology has been eroded by the stream and
formed a bowl-like formation. The canyon
walls quickly close in beyond the bowl,
where one last cascading waterfall and pool
block the way to further exploration.
Trail construction efforts also included
remaining distance into the canyon. Both
trails have been well used this past year,
supporting the possibility of a 100-mile
trail system being created on the tract over
the next five years. Tennessee officials have
also expressed an interest in coordinating
their trail development such that it can be
linked with Alabama’s trail system. Those
plans will only be realized if volunteer
efforts can help with much of the trail’s
construction. Horse trails can often be
developed by using heavy equipment to link
the existing network of old woods roads.
Hiking and backpacking trails must be built
by hand, through manual labor.
Visitors should also keep in mind that
the entire 12,510-acre tract serves as an
addition to the already existing 28,167-
acre Skyline Wildlife Management Area
(WMA), creating a diverse block of 40,677
acres supporting fantastic public hunt-
opportunity for unique walk-in hunting
adventures. Some visitors might elect to
ride horses or mules into the primitive
campsite located adjacent to Clarke Ceme-
tery, and use that as a base from which
to hunt over several days. Areas east of
Highway 79 support an extensive network
of old and new roads that interconnect to
those previously in place on Skyline WMA.
Summary
The Walls of Jericho represents one of
Alabama’s crowning achievements in land
conservation. It was made possible through
the persistence, patience and dedication of
many conservation minded people; by the
opportunity and partnership made avail-
able through the Alabama Chapter of the
Nature Conservancy; and when Alabama’s

Columbine is common within the rock crevasses of The Walls.
River can rival the ecological significance of
the Paint Rock River.
In addition to the tract’s contribution to
protecting the aquatic diversity found in the
river, the land hosts numerous unique natu-
an 8.3 mile horse trail from a dedicated ing opportunities. Deer, turkey, quail and citizens voted approval of our land acquisi-
As with all Forever Wild acquisitions, tion program in 1992. Years ago, its conser-
the land protected serves as a base for tradi- horse trailer parking area to the mouth of other small game hunting opportunities
the “walls.” A small hitching area allows abound on the tract. Limited road access vation was our hope. Today, the Walls of
tional forms of conservation related recre-
ation, following the principles of multiple riders to rest their horses and walk the west of Alabama Highway 79 creates the Jericho is Forever Wild.
use. Bird watching, backpacking, hiking,
horseback riding, hunting, stream fishing,
and wildflower viewing are all accommo-
dutchman’s breeches, and yellow tree are dated on Alabama’s Walls of Jericho Tract.
but a few of the uncommon plants found All of these activities are best accommo-
on the tract. These unique plant species are dated through improved public access such
a small part of a tremendous diversity of
herbaceous plants that are sheltered by this
as the new parking areas and the county’s
resurfacing of Highway 79.
���a�s of JERICHO �and of Wood, Rock,�Water Continued from Page 17 444

ral communities that support an abundance
of rare Appalachian wildlife. White nodding
trillium, Cumberland rosinweed, limerock
arrowood, bloodroot, yellow lady’s slipper,
Directions to the
Walls of Jericho
rich deciduous forest. In an effort to improve public access
The animals present are equally diverse. to the land, State Lands Division person- Just when the scouts were approaching the none made a sound. Each was following the unspo- going back to the Walls. “Closed,” they were told.
Hooded warbler, Kentucky warbler, blue- nel developed the first of several recre- point of mutiny, the old gravel road ended and ken code of never challenging the voice of the man How could this be, a place so special, so full of
winged warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, ational trails conceived for the tract in the their scoutmaster declared that they had arrived. that provided these monthly excursions to freedom. what the great outdoors has to offer? They never
The scouts looked around with puzzled expressions. Suddenly, before he could say “pack it up, we’re made it back to Walls of Jericho, but it remained
Where were these mythical walls? The scoutmaster moving out,” thunder rumbled in the distance and in the mind of many a scout, a place of beauty,
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pointed over in the direction of a small cemetery, the wet stuff started falling from the sky. The scout- a promise of adventure. Today, that promise lies
and suggested that the scouts look for a campsite master limped over to one of the rainflys to study
� � � � � � � fulfilled, for scouts and any others who desire an
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adjacent to the rocky creek. The “walls” were this phenomena, as the sky grew grey and heavy

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Located in Jackson County, Alabama supposed to be just upstream from there. Each with promise. The scouts made a last scramble
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place made Forever Wild.
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4From Huntsville, go north on ������� scramble up the creek, in search of a campsite. “it would have to do, but we will need to remain
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Highway 72 Problem was, the lure of the “walls” kept drawing vigilant of flashflood conditions.” Yup, sure thing,
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� received several emails from Scoutmasters
the scouts farther and farther up the narrowing agreed the scouts. A flood would be cool. who have made a recent trip to the Walls.
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4Take a left on Highway 79 to creek. About the time the limestone walls became The flood never came, but the creek did rise.
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Many expressed their gratitude for the oppor-

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the Skyline/Hytop community

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������� prominent, the scouts spotted a flat island area in The man recounting this trip commented that he
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tunity to return, were complimentary of

the middle of the creek, and declared it the camp- remembers the woodsmoke, the large trees, a wild the trail, offered constructive suggestions on
4The Walls of Jericho Tract is just
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site. They raced back for their packs and had soon clear creek that rolled through the small canyon,
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north of Hytop; Highway 79 improvements, and told some funny stories

begun the comical effort of erecting their tents. flowing through green pools, amidst boulders about their experience. The comment that
goes through the tract. Eventually, one of the older scouts (he was and rocky shallows. That night, they watched the
����� really sunk in was that several of the scouts
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4The first parking lot is for the ������ 12½), spoke up with a voice of experience and opaque white curtains of water cascading down a thanked one Scoutmaster at the end of the
���������� wisdom, and showed the others the “right way” of limestone canyon’s face that is the Walls of Jericho.
horseback riding trails. adventure, “for an amazing trip. It was in
putting up the tents. The scoutmaster wandered in, Most of all, he remembered the awakening of an the top three best trips they had ever taken.”
4The second parking lot is for
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stopped massaging his knee, and began rubbing understanding that all trips were not created equal. Another Scouter commented , “I wish we had
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the hiking trails. his chin. “Guys, we might not want to camp so Some places were different – special in the way more places to go like the Walls of Jericho.”
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close to this creek,” he said. The scouts poked their that they capture your imagination. Better praise is hard to come by, but we’ll
heads out of their tents as they were unrolling their Each year, when their troop was planning its keep doing our part to make the special places
sleeping bags. Disagreement was on their faces, but monthly schedule of trips, the scouts asked about of Alabama, Forever Wild.

18 OutdoorAlabama | OCTOBER 2005 OCTOBER 2005 | OutdoorAlabama 19