Cheaha State Park is a public recreation area located in Clay and Cleburne counties in Alabama, US. The park's 2799 acre include Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the state. The park adjoins Talladega National Forest and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It is Alabama's oldest continuously operating state park. Facilities include lodgings, a restaurant, campsites, and hiking trails.

History

The park opened to the public in 1933. From 1933 to 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps was active in the park creating Cheaha Lake and building numerous structures including a stone bathhouse, eleven stone cabins, two stone pavilions, Bunker Tower, the Bald Rock Group Lodge, and several hiking trails. A hotel, restaurant, and five chalets were added to the park in 1973. On January 4, 1944, a P-38 Lightning warplane, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Chester R. Gunkel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was flying from Love Field, Dallas, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia and crashed into Bald Rock. A machine gun was recovered from the crash site and was subsequently donated to the park museum in 2023. In 2020, the park's Doug Ghee Accessible Trail was named a National Recreation Trail.

Awards

In September 2020, Cheaha State Park was one of eleven Alabama State Parks awarded Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, which recognizes businesses and attractions that earn consistently high user reviews.

Activities and amenities