Cheaha Falls Hike
Waterfall | Alabama
5.4 mi round trip
Cheaha Falls Hike at a Glance
The Cheaha Falls hike via the Chinnabee Silent Trail is 5.4 mi round trip.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 1,110 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Chinnabee Silent Trail |
| Distance | 5.4 mi round trip |
Your time: about 1 h 50 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,020 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 5.4 mi distance for this hike is verified (travelawaits.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Cheaha Falls
Cheaha Falls is a waterfall in Alabama, on land managed by Talladega National Forest (Talladega Ranger District).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Chinnabee Silent Trail: 5.4 miles round trip, from Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area. Distance from travelawaits.com.
Before You Go
- The recreation area is closed from November to the beginning of March. (travelawaits.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Talladega National Forest (Talladega Ranger District) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Cheaha Falls?
The Chinnabee Silent Trail to Cheaha Falls is 5.4 miles round trip.
Where does the Cheaha Falls hike start?
It starts from Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Cheaha Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- travelawaits.com
- Distance
- travelawaits.com
- Falls location
- worldwaterfalldatabase.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Cheaha Falls.