Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, AL

As the short descriptive tag eludes to, this is, at least for me, a slightly haunting hike as you tread around a national battlefield. This battlefield is forever etched in our history as the mark that essential ended the Creek Indian wars. All around the trail as you hike, you can imagine the life of thise living there and the battle as it took place. (Note: Before taking up this hike, one MUST see the short video at the ranger station. It gives good detail of what happened here.)


With that said, lets start the hike. The hike begins at a lookout point overlooking the battlefield where General Andrew Jackson's army, augmented by Creek Indian loyalists clashed with Creek "redstick" warriors. It is a vast open prairie and marked is the stronghold defensive wall errected by the "redsticks". As you begin the hike, it takes a nice descent down toward a the river bottom. And here is where the fun begins. You encounter numerous switchbacks up and down as you wind your way through a hardwood forest. The trail is primarily soil, with some places augmented with gravel. Make no mistake though, this trail is not one designed for your average tourist. It does get steep! You cross many drainage ravines as you make your way up this hill and down, then onto the next. The hike stays close to the river for the most part. In some places along the way, there are points to stop and observe. You find yourself standing where Gen. Jackson fixed a flanking cannon battery, as well as a point overlooking the clearing where a Creek "redstick" village once stood. You make your way across the scenic drive around the park several times. (Most points of interest have a small pull off and short paved trail to allow easy access to each point, if you choose not to do the hike.) The trail continues to a flat prairie where it is an easy stroll until you near the end where you climb back up to the starting point.The hike was nice and peaceful. No one else but me and my son on the trail. We met NOONE!

Now is the eerie part. We managed to end up on the battlefield. Looking around, you can actually see what the combatants would have seen and the burial mound! Knowing that many had died where you stand is humbling. There are also some marked graves along the trail.

2013-07-16 satillayakker