Owl Creek Horseman's Camp in William Bankhead National Forrest
There are 3 areas where horses can be ridden in Bankhead. The Black Warrior Horse Trail System that can be accessed from 2 different trail heads, Owl Creek Horse Camp and Pine Torch Trail head. The Sipsey Wilderness Area which can be accessed from 6 different parking locations and the Flint Creek Mulit Use Trail that has 1 trail head.
The Black Warrior Horse Trail System has about 30 miles of trails and are all easy to moderate. The trails are marked regularly with colored metal diamonds.
The Pine Torch Loop is about 11 miles and marked with yellow diamonds. The Brushy loop is about 6 miles and marked with blue diamonds. The third loop is about 12 miles and is marked with orange diamonds.
The Owl Creek Horse Camp is the only area allowed to camp with your horses. It is $3.00 a day. The facilities at the camp are limited and include a chemical toilet, hitching rails and a pond to water your horses. You need to bring drinking water.
Camping spaces are not designated.
Owl Creek Horse Camp direction: Route 1 - Hwy 41 South from Danville, top of hill turn right next to Cave Spring Cemetery on Forest Service Rd 249. Follow this road for about 8 miles, stay left at the FS 249 and FS 265 intersection, there will be a tree in this intersection. Turn left on FS 262 the horse camp is about 2 miles on the left.
Route 2 - Hwy 36 West of intersection with Hwy 157 past Tack Store in Speake, Turn left at stop sign on county road 84, go about 4 miles turn right on FS 265 go about 6 miles turn right on FS 246 then turn left on FS 262.
Pine Torch Trail Head directions: Hwy 33 South from Moulton, top hill go about 2 to 3 miles you will see a brown sign Pine Torch Church. Turn left FS246 trail head is about 1 mile on left. No camping allowed, day use only.
You can get to Owl Creek Horse Camp by continuing past this trail head for 3 to 4 miles turn left on FS 245, go by the Brush Lake Rec. Area and left on FS 262 the horse camp is about 3 miles on the right.
Sipsey Wilderness Area has about 13000 acres to ride. These are old dirt roads that have not been maintained since sometime in the 50s. Most are still in good shape and usually covered with leaves. There is about 6 places to access this area, but no designated parking areas. You have to park on the side of the Forest Service road close to some metal gates. There is usually plenty of room for vehicles to pass after you park. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the Sipsey Wilderness Area.
Directions to one parking area Hwy 33 South from Moulton, after you get to the top of the hill go about 5 to 6 miles. Turn right on FS 208 go about 7 to 8 miles until you see a gate blocking an old forest road.
Another parking area is on FS 223, another one on FS 208, another one on Lawrence Co. Rd 6 next to the Sipsey River at the head of Trail 200, anther one is on Canal Rd at the head of Trail 201.
Flint Creek Multi Use Trail is open to horses, hikers, ORV and bicycles. It is closed to Wagons and 4 wheel drive vehicles. One the weekends there are a lot of 4 wheelers and motor cross vehicles, so I wouldn't recommend riding a horse then. During the week day it is probably OK. There is about 16 miles of trails.
Loop A has white signs and is about 11 miles.
Loop B has red signs and is about 5 miles.
Directions: Hwy 41 South from Danville, top of the hill turn right at Cave Spring Cemetery on FS 249, go 5 to 6 miles and pass the intersection with FS 268.
The parking area will be on the right.