Talladega National Forest

[gentle music] Chiha Mountain, often called Mount Chiha, is the highest natural point in Alabama at 2,407 feet above sea level.

It is located in north central Alabama in Chiha State Park, surrounded by the Talladega National Forest in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

This dramatic landscape gets its name from the Creek Indian name for the mountain, Chaha, meaning high place.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Um, not saying that they couldn't, but it, biologically if you turn, tried to get that many elk, you know...

I, I say if you ever had any elk getting loose in Alabama where you might could hunt 'em would be somewhere they got out of a facility and they got into Talladega National Forest.

Oh, we've had 'em on camera before.

A- a- and, and you-

Oh, boy.

Then we've got one outside of Talladega National Forest, closer to Atlanta-

Mm-hmm

Yep

So like Penhody was me knowing he's sitting on the front row watching, going to make him proud, right? So he creates a playlist for us.

And my boy Nathan, who crewed like 30 of the miles, carries his boom box and do, we're going through the woods in the Alabama, Talladega National Forest.

And you could hear the music from five miles away.

And I wish I knew the name of the speaker because y'all could get some sponsorships from me.

Lookout Mountain Parkway climbs along the ridge separating Alabama from Georgia, offering sweeping overlooks and access to some of the state's best waterfalls.

Talladega Scenic Drive winds through the Talladega National Forest, passing the highest point in Alabama along genuinely peaceful mountain roads most travelers never expect here.

And Coastal Route 182 hugs the Gulf shoreline between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, delivering ocean views for practically the entire drive.

Little River Canyon National Preserve carves through the mountains of northeast Alabama, offering waterfalls and swimming holes most visitors never expect to find in the Deep South.

For paid camping, Gulf State Park and Gulf Shores offers a well-maintained campground close to the beach with full hookups and easy access to hiking trails.

DeSoto State Park near Little River Canyon provides a scenic, wooded campground close to waterfalls and swimming holes for the whole family.

For free or low-cost camping, the Talladega National Forest allows dispersed camping across large sections of public land, a genuinely generous free camping option, though specific rules vary by district and should be confirmed ahead of time.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer a wide range of beachfront condos and resorts, a classic Gulf Coast vacation setup that draws families back year after year without fail.