Anniston Outdoor Association Pinhoti Trail Day Hike
This will be a 6.4-mile hike between the Pinhoti Trail crossing at Cleburne County Road 61 and the
Pine Glenn Campground located on USFS 500. This is an “easy to moderate” portion of the trail in
Section 10 which passes by the Laurel Trail Shelter, Sweetwater Lake, and along Shoal Creek.
Participants should pack a lunch with something to drink and should dress appropriately for the
forecasted weather conditions. The departure time and location for this hike will be 8:00 am from
the Publix parking lot located at the Oxford Exchange adjacent to Exit 188 on I-20 and US Hwy 78.
The street address is 115 Commons Way, Oxford, AL. Participants are also welcome to meet directly
at the trail crossing by 8:45 am.
For more information and to register for this hike, please call/text
Keith Hudson by phone at 256-453-9527, or email him at anniston.outdoor.assn@gmail.com.
The registration deadline for this hike is Thursday, February 8.
2024 Shamrockin 5k Color Run/Walk
Shamrockin 5k Color Run/Walk is held in Downtown Anniston. Main Street Anniston brings this fun and exciting event to downtown. Please help support us in this continuous endeavor to the road of revitalization in our Downtown Anniston. Race will start and end at the City Market. The event is fun-filled for the entire family. This colorful walk/run will take you on a course that showcases our Historic Downtown Anniston. Proceeds benefit the beautification of Downtown Anniston.
Registration/Packet Pickup starts at 9 AM. The race begins at 10 AM
sign up here https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Anniston/Shamrockin5KColorRun
2024 Noble Street Festival & Sunny King Criterium! (04/13/24)
Noble Street Festival returns on Saturday, April 13, 2024 for the 22nd year!
The Sunny King Criterium brings a kaleidoscope of colors and whirl of action to Anniston with twenty exciting bicycle races in Downtown Anniston. Nine hours of live web streaming showcase the sights and sounds to cycling fans across the U.S., and around the globe. Racing action will be called by professional sports commentators Brad Sohner and Lauren Hall. It’s one of the best days of racing to watch in person, or online, providing valuable exposure for the hundreds of competitors and their teams as well as area tourism.
“There’s no better place to start up the criterium racing season for USA Cycling’s Pro Road Tour than in Anniston. It’s a fast, smooth course in downtown with plenty of spectators. Being close to Talladega, speed is the name of the game for the Sunny King Criterium,” said Sohner.
Sunny King Automotive Group continues as a longtime supporter of the Sunny King Criterium. Admission for spectators is free for all bicycle races, making it one of the most unique professional sporting events in the country. A portion of proceeds from all bicycle race registration fees are donated to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life chapter of Calhoun County. Since 2002, more than $200,000 has been raised for cancer research and patient support.
Day Hiking at Lake Yahou with Lunch to follow at the Cane Creek Grill
Beginning and ending at Lake Yahou, this will be about a 2.83 loop hike using the UXO trail (1- mile),
the Golden Buck Trail (.94 miles), and the Oscar Trail (.89 miles). There is an optional .79-mile path
around the lake for those desiring a shorter hike. Participants should pack snacks and water and
dress appropriately for the forecasted weather conditions. An optional stop at the nearby Cane Creek
Grill is planned for lunch. The Grill has a variety of great sandwiches and burgers. The meeting time
and location for this outing will be 9:00 am at Lake Yahou. Directions to the lake from Exit 188 on
I-20 are as follows: Go north on US 431 (also known as Golden Springs Road and Anniston’s Eastern
By-Pass) for about 4 miles, turn right on Iron Mountain Road, take an immediate left on Lake Yahou
Road, and follow the road to the lake. Click this link for Google Map directions: Lake Yahou Park Trail
Head. Please contact Keith Hudson by emailing him at anniston.outdoor.assn@gmail.com, or by
calling or texting him at 256-453-9527, to register for this outing. The registration deadline for this
trip is Thursday, January 25.
Loop Hike in the Dugger Mountain Wilderness
This will be a loop hike beginning and ending at the Burn’s trailhead located on Cleburne County
Road 55 (also known as the Rabbittown Road). Google directions are: Burns Trailhead. From the
trailhead, the hike will proceed up the access trail to the Pinhoti and will travel about 3 miles on the
trail before intersecting with the Jones Branch Road. The hike will then follow the road for another 3
miles before returning to the trailhead. Jones Branch Road offers several tranquil views of Jones
Branch and the surrounding valley. Pending group interest, there may also be a short side hike to the
“Indian Cave” a large rock overhang that archeological evidence suggests was used by aboriginal
cultures for several years. Participants should pack a lunch with something to drink and dress
appropriately for the forecasted weather conditions for the day. The meeting time for this hike will
be 9:00 am at the Burns Trailhead. To register for this hike, please call or text Keith Hudson at
256-453-9527, or email him at anniston.outdoor.assn@gmail.com. The registration deadline for this
trip is Thursday, January 11.
The 8th Annual Judkins Family Christmas BBQ
The Annual Judkins Family Christmas #BBQ will take place on December 25, from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at the Carver Community Center (720 W. 14th Street, Anniston, AL 36201)! There will be free food, fellowship, and music from acts such as N2 Christ & Mary Culpepper Community Choir! If you are interested in performing at this event, or would like to offer your support, please contact Ms. Jackie Judkins at: 256-591-5194!
Anniston Outdoor Association Cheaha State Park Hike on the Pinhoti & Bald Rock Connector Trail
This will be a moderately rated, 4-mile hike in Cheaha State Park beginning at the State Park Tailhead and ending at the Bald Rock Lodge Parking Lot. From the state park trailhead, the hike will begin at the Pinhoti/Hwy 281 crossing and will pass by the headwaters of Hillabee Creek and the Blue Mountain Trail Shelter before reaching the Bald Rock connector trail. Once on the connector trail, there will be a steep ascent to Bald Rock and then a level walk to the lodge using the boardwalk or the adjoining woods trail. Participants should meet by 9:00 am at the State Park trailhead located on Hwy 281 (scenic parkway) just before the park entrance. An adequate number of cars will be placed at the lodge parking lot to shuttle participants back to the trailhead. Please contact Keith Hudson by Thursday, December 14th to register for this hike. Keith may be reached by email at anniston.outdoor.assn@gmail.com, or by phone/text at 256-453-9527.
Anniston Outdoor Association Christmas Party
Our annual Christmas Party will be held at 6:30 pm at the Tucker Park Lodge. The lodge is located at 6514 Weaver Road in Anniston. The AOA will provide a ham and participants are asked to bring a side item. This party will include a meal, a short program to recognize our 2023 outing leaders, and a slide show highlighting pictures from our outings over the past year. It would be helpful to have some volunteers to assist with decorating the lodge beforehand and to help with the meal organization and preparation on the day of the party. If you plan to attend this party and/or would like to assist with it, please contact Keith Hudson by Monday, December 11th. Keith may be phone at 256-453-9527 or by email at anniston.outdoor.assn@gmail.com.
Anniston Outdoor Association Loop Hike in the Dugger Mountain Wilderness with Wild Alabama
This will be a 7-mile loop hike in the Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area beginning and ending on FS 500. From the Pinhoti Trail crossing at FS 500, plans are to hike up the trail for about 2.5 miles before traveling a short distance cross country to the old fire tower site. From this point, plans include traveling 3.5 miles down the old fire tower road (FS 539) back to FS 500 and then an additional 1-mile walk back down the road to the trail crossing where our cars will be parked. FS 539 offers splendid views of the countryside surrounding Piedmont. There is an option to shorten this hike by 1-mile by placing cars at both FS 500 and FS 539 (Tower Road). Participants should bring a lunch with something to drink and dress appropriately for the forecasted weather conditions. The departure time and location for this outing is 8:00 am from the Johnson’s Giant Foods parking lot located at 815 Pelham Road South (AL Hwy 21) in Jacksonville. Please register for this hike through Wild Alabama’s website once the event is published. In the meantime, you may contact Jonathan Kelly at Jonathan@wildal.org for additional details concerning this hike
The Anniston Police Department Annual Christmas Toy Drive!
The Anniston Police Department is excited to announce the kickoff of its annual Christmas Toy Drive!
We hope you can help us make some little ones smile this holiday season by dropping off toy donations at the Anniston Police Department (174 W 13th St, Anniston, AL 36201).
We will be accepting donations from November 17, 2023 until Friday, Dec. 19th! Afterwards, we will host the Toy Drive give-away at the Station near Christmas time!
Any one with questions may feel free to contact us anytime at: (256) 238-1800. Thank you!
