Alabama trails · Pine Torch Horse Loop
Pine Torch Horse Loop
A 10.7-mile network in Alabama, with 303 ft of climbing. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Elevation profile
The climbing leans toward the final third: 51% of the ascent falls between mile 7.1 and mile 10.7. It gives back about 808 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.
3-D terrain
USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5
Getting there
PINE TORCH TRAILHEAD — parking nearby, restroom, water, fee site. About 52 min drive (28 mi) from Hartselle. 34.35735, -87.31330 · directions
Daylight at the trailhead
On October 14, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:28 a.m., the sun rises at 6:53 a.m. and sets at 6:16 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 6:41 p.m. (CDT) — 11 h 23 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 10.7-mile route takes roughly 4 h 07 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 11:00 a.m. — 7 h 15 min before sunset.
Loop options
- PINE TORCH HORSE LOOP + BRUSHY CREEK HORSE LOOP — 5.6 mi loop, 691 ft gain
Nearby trails
- Sipsey Wild Hiking Trail — 6.7 mi
- Thompson Creek Wild Hiking — 9.1 mi