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Inspired Southerner, Cherokee Rock Village — Cherokee Rock Village offer amazing views to hikers and campers

Just an hour and a half north of Birmingham, Alabama off I-59 lies a getaway with amazing views for anyone who enjoys getting outdoors. Cherokee Rock Village offers a scenic mecca for hikers and campers alike. It is a park you need to add to your list this year.

Little Rock City

Atop Lookout Mountain, Cherokee Rock Village is home to unique sandstone formations. Known to the locals as “Little Rock City”, it’s perfect for hikers and climbers of all skill levels.

For just $6 per car (more for passenger vehicles and overnighters), you get an all-access pass to the trail. If you follow the drive down to the lot you’ll be at the beginning on one of the park’s trails. Cherokee Rock Village has over 14 miles worth of trails for you to hike!

The trailhead is at an easy access point beside the parking lot. Be sure to have your map in hand and you’re ready to take off. Additionally, apps such as Alltrails have maps that are accessible through your phone! If you follow the trail to the left, you’ll almost immediately find the rock formation that will give you this amazing view.

Amazing Views

Most of the rocks are easy to climb and almost stair-like. Most noteworthy, the last major rock formation does require a bit of climbing, but it’s not hard, especially if you have a friend to lend a hand. Once you get to the top, you will have plenty of room to walk around or just sit to take in the amazing view From the top you will see Weiss Lake, a 50.19 square mile Lake known nationally for it’s Bass and Crappie fishing!

If you follow the trail and your map, you’ll be able to find a hidden cave that is hidden inside the sandstone formations.

Another sight to look out for at Cherokee Rock Village is the natural stone arch, formed from the erosion of the sandstone. It’s also a geocaching spot! Click here for more information!

Adventurous trailblazers can grab a map and follow the Diamond Trail, which is 7.1 miles long with an elevation of over 1000 feet. This trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. This elevation is why we call the Cherokee Rock Park a scenic mecca for hikers.

Secure Climbing Access

Furthermore, climbers also can find that some climbing routes have permanent anchors bolted into the rock, for easy and secure climbing access. So as long as you have your map, some good shoes, and bottled water, you will be set to explore all that Cherokee Rock Village has to offer.

Park Amenities

If you’re only staying for a day or overnight, the park offers amenities for campers and hikers. They include restrooms that double as storm shelters, showers, a picnic area, a camping area, a playground, a handicap accessible deck overlooking the mountain, and a designated camping area.

Cherokee Rock Village is a part of the Cherokee County Public Parks and Recreation system. For more info or to make reservations check out their website here.

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner — Glenn and Rachel Evans built their sustainable tiny home on 85 acres on their farm.

Nestled in the woods on the banks of the Locust Fork River north of Birmingham, Alabama, Glenn and Rachel Evans have put their love of the environment and sustainability into everyday practice with their Case Rock Cabin a modern tiny home they built earlier this year as an eco-retreat on their farm in Blount County.

Glenn and Rachel built their tiny home as an eco-retreat on the back-side of their 85-acre farm, a mile and a quarter off of the nearest paved road. The cabin is only accessible by an ATV or four-wheel drive vehicle. Glenn, an electrical engineer, built it himself by hauling materials on top of a Polaris down steep terrain.

“We designed the home together,” said Rachel Evans, an artist and an Alabama teacher who home schools her children. “We wanted the project to be an example and a teachable moment for our children about environmental sustainability.”

Tiny home design

The home was designed with a modern, industrial aesthetic look and feel. It was built out of reclaimed and recycled materials with solar panels, a back-up generator, a water tank, a wood heater and a composting toilet.

Going off-grid

After they built it, Rachel and Glenn listed their tiny-home retreat on AirBnB. It’s an off-grid experience for those who want to get away from it all and unplug. When you arrive at this eco-retreat you will park your car, the hosts will check you in and you will then be driven to the cabin by UTV. Once you’re dropped off, it will be up to you to figure out how to get back and forth to your car or the main house. If the hosts are available, they will give you a ride to your car. The hosts also will schedule a checkout and pick up time for you at the end of your stay.

The perfect place to unplug

It has no wifi or TV and cell phone reception is spotty. But don’t fret, there is radio communication in case of an emergency. You’ll also have access to a blue-tooth speaker to play your tunes or podcasts. Once you arrive, you’ll be taught how to use the cabin’s electrical system, water system, and composting toilet. For back-up, there are YouTube videos available to show you as well. One special note is that there is no refrigerator so you’ll have to bring a cooler and ice, or you can purchase ice on site.

A dog friendly retreat

Bring your dog to Case Rock! Glenn and Rachel even provide pet bowls, old towels and pooper scooper bags; all you have to do is bring your dog’s crate, toys and food.

Case Rock sleeps six and has a composting toilet

The cabin sleeps six with two bedrooms, three beds and one bath. It’s stocked with breakfast foods including fresh eggs from Case Rock’s chickens. There is a one burner propane stove, an Instant Pot and gas grill for cooking; however, there is no oven. Shower outside in a shower heated by a propane instant hot water heater. For cooler days and nights there is a wood stove inside and for warmer days there are DC attic fans.

Guests staying at Case Rock also can bring their boats or tubes to use on Locust Fork River. There is only biking and hiking on the trails around the cabin. Guests are not allowed to drive or use motorized vehicles on these trails.

CaseRock Inspired Southerner — Guests can try their hand at fly fishing on the river.

Enjoy fly fishing or the white water rapids on the river

The river is relatively is located at the upper eastern end of the Warrior River Basin. The river is one of three major tributaries of the Black Warrior River that stretches across Blount, Etowah and Marshall counties. The area is very scenic and popular because of its white water and the area is great for hiking. Canoers and kayakers from all over the Southeast flock to the area during the spring and summer to try out the river’s world-class rapids. As far as Case Rock’s availability, Rachel and Glenn say it’s booked all of May and most of June.

Book now on AirBnB

“There are projects ongoing at our farm and we complete them together as a family,” said Rachel. “We love animals, traveling and camping. We meet so many interesting people when we travel. Case Rock is a way for us to combine everything we love about our farm and share it with the world in hopes of teaching people about the environment, sustainability and how to “unplug,” if only for a moment.”

You can follow the story of Case Rock Cabin on Instagram @caserockcabin or book your stay on AirBnB.

Alabama’s Cherokee Rock Village is a scenic mecca for hikers