I just got back from a solo camping trek in the Sipsey Wilderness. It was a single night stay with about a 11 mile hike, shorter than I thought it would be. Although it rained early the first day, I had a great time, and the weather improved quickly. I even found a great, dry alcove under some rocks to pitch my tent. Here’s a pic.
For others hiking Sipsey, here’s a detail of my hike using trail numbers and trail map (PDF):
Starting at 6:50 am, I hiked from T2 Randolph trailhead up 202 (made it to Johnson cemetery by 7:20.)
From 202, I crossed the Sipsey River to 209. On this side, the Sipsey was about calf deep and I removed my shoes, socks and pants to get across.
From 209, I took 204 north half-way then went west to Big Tree, which I reached by 11:30. I went back south to 209 via the East Bee Branch Trail.
I had lunch at 12:00 in a large campsite where Bee Branch meets the Sipsey River.
I continued west on 209 until 2:00 when I camped directly next to 209. There were a ton of campsites along 209. However, many of them quickly filled up between 2:00 and 4:00.
I broke camp at 4:00 am the next morning and was hiking again by 5:00. It was still dark when I set out, so I hiked by headlamp. The trail was fairly easy to follow in the dark.
I took Trail 209 back across the Sipsey River. Crossing the river in the dark gave me pause, but this side was more shallow and had a good set of rocks that got me across dry.
I then took the remainder of 209 and in the dark missed the 209/201 junction. (I went about 15 minutes north when I realized my mistake and doubled back.) This northern trek takes you along a scenic part of the river with a campsite at the end. I hope I didn’t wake whoever was camped there. 
Shortly after crossing the Sipsey, 209 takes a steep climb to reach 201. I then traveled south on 201 reaching my car by 7:30.
September 5th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I am taking this exact route Sunday morning. What is the trail or a landmark or anything that marks the trail from 209 to big tree trail (East Bee Branch)? I looked at your better Pdf map and I think I follow the orange dotted line but I’m not sure. I could use a little help. And also do you know about the abandoned house somewhere around there?
September 5th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Hi Cody,
Yes, Big Tree is on the orange dotted line. That whole trail’s only purpose is to take you by Big Tree, so if you follow the trail, you’ll hit Big Tree. You can’t miss the tree itself. It’s in low lying area surrounded by rocks and the tree is huge.
The orange trail (Big Tree trail) starts on 209 and goes north ending on 204. It’s not an official trail, so I don’t think it’s marked with a sign, but you can’t miss it.
If you want to get to it from 209, it’s right at the junction of 209, the Sipsey river and Bee Branch. (All three meet at a campsite on the east side of the Sipsey river.) There’s a real clear northern trail that follows the Bee Branch up. That’s the Big Tree trail. You can’t mistake it for 204 because 204 is marked and further east out of sight of the Bee Branch.
However, I took 209 to 204, followed 204 northeast to the end of the Big Tree trail. Then, I came back down on that trail. You can’t miss the trail this way either. It’s not marked, but 204 leading to it is at a bit of an elevation and on the side of a hill. So, there’s no opportunity to miss it. I kept thinking I had gone too far, but I pushed on, and when I made it to the fork, it was abundantly clear.
On the abandoned house, I didn’t make it to it, but I’m fairly sure I know the location. There are square areas clearly marked by signs that are holdover private property. The trails keep going through the property, and there are plenty of signs that people use them. However, they aren’t named on the private property and the numbered trails do some fancy stuff to map around them. To get to the cabin, you just take 201 north of the 209 junction (on the west side of the Sipsey river.) It will be about a mile north on the east side overlooking the river.
Hope this helps and I’d love to hear how your trip goes.