2021 Map of Payne Lake

About this map

Payne Lake serves as a central landmark in this wooded landscape along the border of Hale and Bibb Counties. Most of the terrain is protected within the Talladega National Forest, where a network of forest roads and creek systems, including S Sandy Cr and the aptly named Troublesome Br, define the drainage patterns of the Oakmulgee District. Near the settlement of Mertz, the map reveals a history of local family and community burial grounds, such as Grimes Cem and Pisgah Cem. The road network is a mix of county routes and federal tracks like Nat'l Forest Road 708, showing the modern management of this timber-rich region. The area's character is defined by its numerous small tributaries like Elliotts Cr and Lainer Br that feed into the larger creek systems, illustrating the intricate hydrology of central Alabama.