USFSR #523

Total Miles
2.1

Elevation

397.28 ft

Duration

0.17 Hours

Technical Rating

3

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Trail Overview

This route is most common to the local communities as a back way into the management area of the Talladega National Forest. It is not maintained often. It's common to see up to 6" ruts in the trail, along with an abundance of leaf litter covering the trail and brush growing into the trailway. It begins at the train tracks in the small community of Iron City, and is given right-of-way by private property. It ends at USFSR 500. This trail does have a gate on it, but is open 99% of the time. The local gas stations usually have paper maps and local postings of the prescribed burns in the area. Make sure to stay on trails clearly marked with a USFSR sign. Avoid driving over firebreaks and creating new trails.

Photos of USFSR #523

USFSR #523
USFSR #523
USFSR #523

Difficulty

This trail could have met technical rating 2, but there are large ledges that drop as far as 50 feet. High-clearance 2WDs will make it easily, but could have issues after heavy rain or during hunting season when roads are heavily traveled.

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

Jeremy Blazek
Jan 05, 2024
4x4
Temporarily Closed
Closed Gate
dry with a few small ruts. one small rock step. mostly dirt with a little bit of gravel. locked gate is on the south side of the trail 7/8 of the way up
Dustin Murphy
Dec 31, 2023
4x4
Permanently Closed
Locked Gate
TNF Gate blocking exit road.

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