Hikers from around the country descended upon Sylacauga last month for the Second Annual Pinhoti Fest, a hiking season kick-off celebration and expo in the Pinhoti Trail town’s Noble Park. An estimated 2,000 hikers attended this year’s weekend-long event, with more than 200 camping overnight at the park, said Pinhoti Fest organizer Kimm Wright.

Wright is a founder of Pinhoti Experience Foundation and serves as the foundation’s executive director. She and her husband, Nathan, own Pinhoti Outdoor Center, a hiking hostel near State Route 150 on U.S. 280, where hikers, paddlers, cyclists and runners can spend the night and access a trail shuttle and find planning support for the area’s outdoor recreation destinations. Shortly after the couple opened the hostel center in 2019, local business leaders encouraged Wright to host an event that would draw outdoor tourism to the area.