Sipsey Wilderness

Infobox_protected_area | name = Sipsey Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib

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caption =
locator_x = 193
locator_y = 120
location = Alabama, USA
nearest_city = Birmingham, AL
lat_degrees = 34
lat_minutes = 10
lat_seconds = 0
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 87
long_minutes = 19
long_seconds = 0
long_direction = W
area = 24,992 acres (101 km²)
established = 1975
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = U.S. Forest ServiceThe Sipsey Wilderness lies within Bankhead National Forest around the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River in northwestern Alabama, USA. The Sipsey Wilderness is the third largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. Designated in 1975 and expanded in 1988, the 26,000 acre (105.2 km²) Sipsey is the largest and most frequently visited Wilderness area in Alabama and contains dozens of waterfalls. It was also the first designated wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. cite news|title=Amazing Alabama: Waterfalls, wildflowers and fantastic food beckon |last=Lister |first=Priscilla |date=June 30, 2006 |accessdate=2007-08-31 |work=Copley News Service ] The wilderness consists of the low plateau of Brindley Mountain which is dissected into a rough landscape by several creeks and rivers. Due to the layers of limestone and sandstone that make up the area, waterfalls are very common in the wilderness. cite book|title=Walking Sipsey |last=Manasco |first=Jim ] This feature has earned the wilderness the nickname "Land of 1000 Waterfalls."

Much of the wilderness was once logged, but new growth forests have now taken hold in the logged areas. Some old growth stands can also be found in the wilderness.

The Sipsey Wilderness helped to show that a smaller plot of restored land in the eastern US could be a wilderness just as much as a larger tract of virgin land in the west. This change in concept is reflected in the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act of 1975 that created the first federal wilderness areas in the east.

The [http://www.sipseywilderness.org/ Sipsey Wilderness Hiking Club] promotes hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness.

References

External links

* [http://www.fs.fed.us/air/technical/class_1/wilds.php?recordID=73 Sipsey Wilderness] - USDA Forest Service
* [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Sipsey Wilderness] - Wilderness.net
* [http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?z=16&n=3781937.00008538&e=470585.999999999&datum=nad83 TopoQuest map of region]
* [http://www.alatrails.com/forum/index.php?board=33.0 Alatrails.com] - Alatrails discussion section for Sipsey Wilderness