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.
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
Christmas at the Berman Family Fun Night
Kick off the holiday season with the Berman Museum. Join us for dinner, cookies, and cocoa with Christmas carols, stories, and World War II-era games and crafts. It will be an evening of Christmas cheer for the entire family.
Christmas at the Berman is $10 per adult and $8 per child (ages 4-17). AM&G members receive a 50% discount. Pre-registration is required. Visit www.ExploreAMAG.org or call 256-237-6766 to register today. The last day to register is Friday, November 24.
Little Explorers A to Z Preschool Class
Children ages 3½ to 5, along with a parent or caregiver, are invited to join our Education team each Tuesday as we encourage curiosity, exploration, and learning through play with stories, activities, and crafts about the natural world. Following the program, parents and caregivers are encouraged to explore the museum with their child and learn more about the day’s topic in the exhibit halls. A new topic will be explored each week and animal ambassadors will drop in periodically to help out!
This program is included in museum admission and free for members.
*Younger siblings are welcome, but all activities are geared toward older preschool aged children.
