Save hundreds of dollars for yourself. Take advantage of members-only camping and other perks. Do good for others with an ASRT membership.
 
New for 2012: DISCOUNTS! Now your Alabama Scenic River Trail Membership buys you more than personal satisfaction of helping the state’s premiere recreational waterway organization. Now, your membership or renewal gets you rewards at most of the state’s outfitters, and a substantial discount off of ASRT events (you don’t even have to attend three events a year to see enough to make an individual membership FREE). Save on merchandise, launch fees and equipment rentals. Get river access exclusive to ASRT members. Just show your ASRT membership card to participating outfitters to save.  For example, you’ll receive
 

• FREE trip including gear and shuttle
• 30% off nighttime rentals
• 20% and more off boat and gear rentals

 
Click here for a list of participating outfitters and their discounts. See the Events Section of this website for discounts on Alabama Scenic River Trail Events.
 
Here are some of the discounts and savings that your ASRT membership gets you:
 

• FREE launch on Terrapin Creek
• Half Price for ASRT member camping and special ASRT group rates at Bay Springs Campground, Weiss Lake
• Free camping in the pines for ASRT members at Little River Marina & Lodge on Weiss Lake
• Discounted primitive camping for ASRT members $5.00 each or 2 for $8.00 at Driftwood Campground on Weiss Lake
• Coosa Outdoor Center (Dirt Farm), Wetumpka area offers free camping with 24-hour hot showers for ASRT through paddlers
• Fort Toulouse—free tent camping on the two rivers point. Save a mile of walking to the campground! With advance call, or see manager on site.
• Lots of free camping on private land open only to ASRT members and through paddlers. Inquire!

 
Savings extend to trips, gear and services. Add that to the money you could save on Alabama Scenic River Trail events, and you could save enough to buy a boat!
 
In addition to savings on gear and going, you’re helping yourself and fellow boaters when you join. You’re supporting the work that Alabama Scenic River Trail is doing: establishing access, opening new campsites, getting more rivers and streams on the Trail, and establishing quality events around the state.
 
Click here for a list of participating outfitters and their discounts.

Complete Guide to the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta

The map shown above can be downloaded in a much larger form for trip planning by clicking here. The Trail Description text near the bottom of this page contains 13 “trails” that the Bartram is divided into. The rectangles on the map above show the general area of these excursions. Much more information can be found by following the links in the Trail Descriptions, including printable maps of each trail.

About the Bartram Canoe Trail
The Bartram Canoe Trail provides the best way to see and explore the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, our nation’s second-largest river delta. It encompasses a vast wetland characterized by estuarine marsh, cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood ecosystems.

The Bartram Canoe Trail is essentially a series of land-based campsites and water-based floating platforms that provide overnight stops that support multi-day trips. Paddlecraft access points are provided that allow explorers to go on a number of day trips, too.

The Bartram Canoe Trail was created in the mid-2000s by the Alabama State Lands Division and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, utilizing mostly land secured by Alabama Forever Wild. The Trail is named for explorer William Bartram, who, on assignment from the King of England, explored Georgia, Florida and Alabama in the years just before the American Revolution in an effort to catalog every species of plant and animal he could find in the name of the Crown. The result of his journeys was the book The Travels of William Bartram, which became a best seller in a Europe hungry to know more about the wild American frontier. Bartram had a profound influence on the world beyond his scientific leanings. His work remains one of the best accounts of the various Indians he encountered, and his writing can still bring their lives back to us. His descriptions of the Alabama river country inspired the geographic references in Samuel Taylor Coleredge’s poem Kubla Khan. For many Europeans who could never travel to America, Bartrams’s studies became many an armchair explorer’s guide.

Bartram traveled the Delta near Stockton, Alabama, where he discovered the evening primrose. The path he followed became a part of the stage coach road from the land office in Milledgeville, Georgia and the territorial campital in Natchez. One of those stops, the Stage Coach Cafe in Stockton, still operates as a popular restaurant and is not to be missed by visitors to the area.

Inside the restaurant, the walls in the hallway where patrons wait in line to pay their tabs are almost papered with the area’s history. It was in this line that Greg Lein of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was standing when he had the opportunity to read an article pinned to the wall. The article outlined the dream of a local resident to create a canoe trail through the delta. Greg took this seed of an idea back to Montgomery with him and in following years made the local dream a state treasure.

Most of the information on this section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail website was taken from the poster developed by Mr. Lein and his office to support travelers on the trail. It has been slightly reorganized here because the freedom of the Internet allows it to be so. The thumbnail map above can be downloaded in a much larger size for study by clicking on it. The orange boxes on it contain references to the various trails that have been established through the Bartram. Below, on this page, you will find references to individual trail maps. Clicking on these links will take you to a page with a map (with detailed printable map available for download) and complete trip information.

Land-based campsites may be used at any time by anyone without reservations. Floating platforms hold a limited number of campers, and reservations are required. Regulations for the entire trail are as follows:

Floating Camping Platforms—Rules for use
The floating camping platforms on the Bartram Canoe Trail are limited to canoe and kayaking groups of eight or less. In the Dead Lake Island slough there are two separate platforms to accommodate larger groups. Below are Rules for Use specific to the floating Platform Campsites.

1. When camping on the floating platforms, group size is limited to eight.
2. Pets are not allowed on floating camping platforms.
3. Open fires are not allowed on open camping platforms.
4. Camp stoves are required for cooking on floating camping platforms.
5. Each party is required to have a compass, map, flashlight, and portable toilet with disposable bags.
6. The floating platforms can be reserved for only one night. A group can reserve the platforms at different locations when taking multiple night trips. A platform reservation is from 12 noon to 12 noon. For reservations, visit www.bartramcanoetrail.com.
7. Feeding or harassing wildlife is prohibited. Do not discard garbage or food on or near the floating platform.
8. The floating platforms will be inspected after each use. Damage to platforms will be assessed and will be the responsibility of the user.
9. Visitors may be held financially responsible for unnecessary rescues.

Trip Planning
Taking time to plan your trip can significantly enhance your experience. Be aware of the Rules for Use and take pride in what this region has to offer. Leave no trace of your presence so the experiences for those who follow are as pleasant as yours. Review the information provided for the trail you plan on using; obtain water level information to optimize your enjoyment and safety. While most trips are without mishap, be aware and prepared for potential hazards. For information about local outfitters, motels and restaurants, contact the area Chambers of Commerce: www.northbaldwinchamber.com, www.cbchamber.org and www.mobilechamber.com.

Significant factors relating to the Delta water levels
Public use of all water routes within the Delta is greatly influenced by water levels of the area’s rivers. Trail routes within the northern portion of the Delta are especially influenced by water levels on the Alabama River. The first upstream impoundment on the Alabama River from the Delta is Claiborne Reservoir. Operation of Claiborne Dame by the US Army Corps of Engineers is the single most influential factor affecting the water levels on the upper Delta. Review the information provided with the respective trail description for optimal water levels. This information is helpful in trip planning and trail selection. For water level information at Claiborne Dam, call 1-888-771-4601 and work through the menu options to select Claiborne Dam tailwater, or check the Army Corps of Engineers’ website at http://water.sam.usace.army.mil. Additional information can also be found at http://al.water.usgs.gov.

Leave no trace
Show respect by minimizing your presence and impact in all ways. Take pride in your ability to pass through an area without leaving any sign of your presence. Never discard garbage or food scraps in the swamp, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. Such items pollute the environment and attract unwanted animals. Avoid disturbing wildlife (and other visitors) by keeping quiet and not approaching them too closely. Avoid disturbing plants and other natural features by leaving them in place and building fires only at designated sites. Deposit all human waste in a toilet. Campers on overnight canoe trips are required to use portable toilets between facilities. For information about how to enjoy the outdoors while “leaving no trace,” visit www.lnt.org.

Trail Descriptions
Clicking the links in these descriptions will take you to a page with more detailed information about each trail segment, including a printable map of each trail.

Click on the red headline of any section to go to more detail and map.

1. Globe Creek Trail
Starting in the upper reaches of the Mobile-Tensaw Forever Wild Property, this trail begins in a small waterway that meanders through mature bottomland hardwood forests. This trail offers numerous opportunities to view the diverse wildlife and plants of this unique ecological region.

2. Red Hills/Proctor Creek Trail 
Crossing he open water of Tensaw Lake to these small feeder creeks offers an opportunity to explore the remote backwaters. Many limbs and sunken trees prohibit access to most motorboats, providing the perfect opportunity for the smaller canoes and kayaks to enjoy the solitude.

3. Douglas Lake Trail 
Traveling down Tensaw Lake and into Douglas Lake, this trail is characterized by its lake-like setting. This flatwater paddle into Douglas Lake provides an opportunity to witness the large cypress trees reminiscent of the old Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

4. Richardson Island Trail 
Departing from Rice Creek Landing, this simple trail follows Rice Creek, Briar Lake and Tensaw Lake around Richardson Island. Paddle this simple route and its several back sloughs that offer opportunities for fishing, bird-watching or just quiet solitude.

5. Fisher Island Trail 
After crossing Briar Lake and the Tensaw River, the trail follows Bayou Jessamine into what is locally known as Jug Lake. Paddling up this bayou allow for a unique experience of observing the wildlife and plants of an interior delta island.

6. Indian Mound Trail
After crossing briar Lake and Tensaw River, the trail follows the entire length of Bayou Jessamine into Bottle Creek. A short paddle downstream, a pullout on the west bank sandbar and a ten-minute hike allows one to gaze into the past at a collection of large mounds constructed by Indians of the Mississippian Era.

7. Two Rivers Point Trail
Departing from Rice Creek Landing, the trail runs the east side of Richardson Island and follows the entire length of the picturesque Bayou Tallapoosa into the Tensaw River. After an overnight stay at the land-based Two Rivers Point Campsite, the trail returns to Rice Creek Landing via Bayou Jessamine. The opportunity to visit Bottle Creek Indian Mounds should not be missed along the return leg of this journey.

8. Spoonbill Sandbar Trail
Launching from French’s Lake Coastal Access Kiosk, this overnight trip provides an interesting chance to witness the vast bottomland hardwood forest of the upper Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The land-based Spoonbill Sandbar Campsite on the Alabama River allow for an overnight experience in the style of William Bartram himself.

9. Spoonbill Sandbar/Two Rivers Point
TrailThis route is a combination of overnight routes #1 and #2, resulting in a three-day, two-night experience. Launch from French’s Lake, Holley Creek or Boatyard Landings.

10. Jug Lake Trail
Departing from Rice Creek Landing, this overnight trail follows Rice Creek, Briar Lake and the Tensaw River around Richardson Island, with a stopover at the Jug Lake camping platform. This trail offers a mixture of more secluded smaller water and open bigger water.

11. Canal Island Trail
Starting in the upper reaches of the Mobile-Tensaw Forever Wild Property, this trail begins in a small waterway that meanders through mature bottomland hardwood forests. After spending the night on the Canal Island Camping Platform you can enjoy Tensaw Lake and its backwater sloughs.

12. Dead Lake Island Trail
Traveling down Tensaw Lake this trail provides the opportunity to explore the backwater sloughs and tributaries of Tensaw Lake. This camping platform area has two platforms and can accommodate a larger group.

13. Canal Island/Dead Lake Island Trail
This two-night/three-day trail consists of a mixture of the small water of Globe Creek and Bayou Tallapoosa as well as the more open water of Stiggins Lake and the Tensaw River.

Campsite information
In addition to the campsite information on this page, the Alabama Scenic River Trail maintains informative information on these official campsites at the links below:

Hubbards Landing
Two Rivers Point – Land
Spoonbill Sandbar – Land
Canal Island Platform
Dead Lake Platform
Jug Lake Platform
Dead Lake Island Platform
Cloverleaf Camp
Blakeley Park
Meaher State Park

Cloverleaf Camp is near the official bounds of the Bartram Canoe Trail. Blakeley State Park and Meaher State Park, both farther away on Highway 225 to the south, provide full-service and primitive camping for those who need a base camp to access the Bartram Canoe Trail.

GPS Coordinates for Bartram Canoe Trail features
Boatyard Landing                                    N31.1768                                             W87.84068
Canal Island Platform Campsite              N31.08983                                            W87.89123
Champion Cypress Tree                         N31.001028                                           W87.911472
(200 yards @ 206 degrees from tree on bank marked “5” in blue)
Dead Lake Platform Campsite                N31.0439                                             W87.9155
French’s Lake                                       N31.13568                                            W87.84518
Holley Creek                                        N31.1824                                             W87.85417
Hubbard’s Landing                                 N31.0637                                             W87.87028
Jacintoport Campsite                             N30.82159705                                         W88.04618424
Jug Lake Platform Campsite                  N31.01173365                                         W87.90813999
Rice Creek Landing                                N31.01578                                            W87.8636
Spoonbill Sandbar Campsite                  N31.16797                                            W87.89384
Two Rivers Point Campsite                    N31.01968                                            W87.96262
Upper Bryant Landing                            N31.04437                                            W87.87635

An overview of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Experience
Claiborne Lock and Dam and the adjacent Isaac Creek Campground are the upstream gateways to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, the second-largest river delta in the nation. Launch from Isaac Creek Campground and paddle or motor straight for the locks to get downriver of the dam. Lock schedules and information are available from the lockmaster at 251 282 4575. If you arrive and need to pass the dam when the lock is not operating, or if you simply prefer to tote your boat, a takeout is available on the east bank just before the dam. The paved road will allow paddlers to portage past the lock and put in below the dam.

The following information with detailed maps and historical information can be purchased in a poster-style waterproof edition that folds to pocket size in our online store.

About thirteen miles downstream of the Highway 84 Bridge, Randons Creek comes into the nearly straight southwest leg of the river. This place was the site of what has come down to us as the Great Canoe Fight.

Gainestown Landing at Irvin Creek is just past the power lines, and Choctaw Bluff follows ten miles downriver.

Once you pass under the power lines at mile 7.5 you’re in the realm of Alabama’s Bartram Canoe Trail, a peaceful maze of Alabama jungle designed for the paddling naturalist and outdoor-seeker (see more Bartram Canoe Trail information on reverse side).  Floating platforms and land-based campsites have been established to accommodate canoe and kayak travelers. To use the floating platforms, reservations must be made online at www.bartramcanoetrail.com Land-based Bartram campsites do not require reservations. Excellent maps with detailed preparation and day trip information are available at no cost by calling or writing Five Rivers Delta Resource Center at 251 625 0814. This is a perfect spot to paddle just west of the main trail route and explore the Delta bayous.

The most direct route south through the delta without taking a side trip on the Bartram Canoe Trail is to follow the Alabama River to mile zero at its confluence with the Tombigbee and the beginning of the Mobile River.

From there, follow the Mobile River about 10 miles and guide east (left) onto the Tensaw and follow it due east to Two Rivers Point Campsite as shown on the map. The Two Rivers Campsite is part of the Bartram Canoe Trail, but is not one of the floating platform campsites and therefore does not require a reservation for use. Note that the campsite is beyond the point on the Tensaw side.

This area of the trail requires careful navigation but the rewards are great in terms of solitude, wildlife and waterfowl, and natural beauty.

From Two Rivers Campsite, continue in the Tensaw 1.3 miles to the next main fork, and steer right into Bottle Creek. A trail to several large Indian mounds can be found as the kink in Bottle Creek doubles back south. The trail can be seen on the right when first heading south, but a careful search may be in order because the appearance of the entrance changes with the seasons and water levels. These mounds are on the National Register of Historic Places and must be treated with the utmost respect.

The Trail follows Middle River under the twin spans of Interstate 65 and into the Tensaw. Soon after, look on the left bank for a primitive campground established by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The campsite is open to Trail travelers. About five miles south of this campsite is Cliff’s Landing, the first in a series of public landings and campsites.

Powerboaters may make their way off the Mobile River and up Dead Lake to the Mobile County River Delta Marina and Welcome Center.

Approximately seven miles below I-65 on the left is Cliff’s Landing followed in little over a mile by a railroad bridge. The first creek entering the river from the left offers Hurricane Landing situated about a mile off the river.  Just a mile past this point to the right is the sand-beach tip of Gravine Island, a busy place where camping is not tolerated. A shortcut to Hurricane Landing via a gas pipeline.

Just south of and in sight of Gravine Island is Cloverleaf Boat Launch and Landing. A grassy area there is available for camping by prior arrangement by calling 251 455 3992.  A small fee is asked for use of the ramp. About a mile south of this is Historic Blakeley State Park, immediately identifiable by the eco-tourboat Delta Explorer and the immense boardwalk that spans the front of the old town of Blakeley.

South of Blakeley Park, the trail hugs the east bank as it empties into Mobile Bay. Sardine Pass will appear on the right. Motorboaters should beware the sandbar that runs across the mouth of Sardine Pass. Go a bit south, then in toward shore. The Five Rivers Delta Resource Center’s impressive docks appear on the left with the lodge-like buildings and their unmistakable green roofs. A short paddle around the bend is Bartram Landing, the floating canoe and kayak dock connected by a walkway to a paved loading zone and public restrooms.

Across the Blakeley from Five Rivers to your left is the inlet to Bay Minette followed, heading south, by Scott’s Landing which appears just before the causeway.

Meaher State Park is an excellent stop within the city of Spanish Fort. Below Meaher, the opportunities to land or camp on public properties of campgrounds become more scarce. Meaher State Park has an outlying “beach” near the causeway that can provide a convenient place to overnight on the Alabama Scenic River Trail. Through-paddling campers may stop here and camp overnight, but there is a small fee for doing so. Walk west past the big boat ramp parking lot and into the campground (they now have hot showers and a bath house) and find the attendant on duty.
Paddlers planning to camp overnight on the eastern shore between Meaher State Park and Ft. Morgan are encouraged to contact the Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club or area outfitters. Information can be found at http://baykayaker.blogspot.com/.

Leaving the seclusion of the network of waterways in the lush delta, the trail ends under the wide-open skies and waters of Mobile Bay. To finish the trail at its terminus near Ft. Morgan (the Ft. Morgan public ramp appears before the Ft. Morgan Ferry) on the tip of the Ft. Morgan peninsula, paddlers will need another night or two of accommodation before making an end to a long trip.

New Delta Campsites and Access Points 
In 2011, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources broke ground on efforts to expand the original portion of the Bartram Canoe Trail to reach the lower Delta and terminate at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center. Two land-based campsites have already been cleared. The first is at the Jacintoport Forever Wild site in Saraland. The second is on the southern bank of the entrance to The Basin just off the Tensaw River.

The Jacintoport Campsite aims to be a crown jewel of the trail on its high perch on an oak ridge overlooking beautiful Bayou Sara. The campsite is easily accessed by launching at the Saraland Boat Ramp, Steele Creek in Satsuma, or even the Mobile County Marina and Welcome Center. The 5,000-acre Jacintoport site is worth a visit by land or water and includes extensive hiking opportunities. A night around the beautiful campfire rings at Jacintoport will prepare paddlers for the return trip the next morning.

Additional campsites, portage areas and routes are still being planned for the lower Delta. Visit  www.bartramcanoetrail.com for the latest trail updates.

Camp Site Sign Locations – as of September 2011
* = No Camping
Mileage is as measured from the State Line going South to Fort Morgan at 631 miles.
Site limitations are generally two tents / 6 people/ two days maximum – check with each.

 

COOSA RIVER

Weiss Lake Overflow Dam – Mile 44.0 — Portage Trail # 29.31 / Left
Lad Campground 
Riverside Campground 256-779-8365
Little River Campground and Marina
Driftwood Campground 256-526-8069
Bay Springs, Terry Hyatt, 256-927-3618
Pine Cove Marina

H. Neely Henry Lake Dam – Mile 129.6 — Portage Trail # 106.22 / Right
Nickie’s Landing
Gwin Campsite
City of Gadsden – under I-759 bridge
Greensport Marina

Logan Martin Dam – Mile 178.1
Hart’s Ferry / Ohatchee put-in
Riverside – City of
Alan Battles Riverside Marina
Lenn's Oasis
Love Island 
Lake Front Motel
General Lee
Logan Landing Campground & Cabins

Lay Dam – Mile 226.3
Lake Mitchell Fishing Camp – Mile 226.8
Cedar Cove – Mile 230 – cabins*

Mitchell Dam – Mile 240.3
Higgins Ferry Park

Lake Jordan Dam – Mile 258.7
Childersburg – north of city ramp
Sunset Marina

ALABAMA RIVER

R. F. Henry Lock & Dam – Mile 338.7
Woodruff Lake
Dirt Farm – Wetumpka – Lonnie Carden
Coosa River Adventures
Fort Toulouse
Montgomery Marina
Gunter Hill – Corps
Selma City Marina Campsite
Prairie Creek – Corps
 

Millers Ferry Dam – Mile 443.7
Dannelly Reservoir
Bender Plantation Campsite
Six Mile Creek – Corps
Till's Landing – Private
Elm Bluff – Corps
Chilatchee Creek – Corps
River Oaks Bed and Breakfast – no camping*
Gees Bend Park – Corps
Roland Cooper State Park
Jones Landing
Steele’s Landing – Corps
Millers Ferry – Corps

Claiborne Lock & Dam – Mile 503.7
Lake Claiborne
Clifton Ferry – Corps
Holley’s Ferry – Corps
Black Creek Park — Corps
Haines Island – Corps
Silver Creek – Corps
Isaac Creek Campground

Below Clairborne Dam on Alabama River
Clarke County – Sandbar #1
Clarke County – Sandbar #2
Clarke County – Sandbar #3

ALABAMA BARTRAM CANOE TRAIL
Tensaw River
Hubbards Landing
Two Rivers Point – Land
Spoonbill Sandbar – Land
Canal Island Platform
Dead Lake Platform
Jug Lake Platform
Dead Lake Island Platform
Cloverleaf Camp
Blakeley Park

Mobile Bay
Meaher Park – state
Bay Breeze Guest House
Away at the Bay B&B
Point of View Guest House Bed & Breakfast
American Legion Post  #199
Weeks Bay – Camp Beckwith
Bay Breeze RV – No Camping*
Fort Morgan

ADOPTED ASRT WATERWAYS
Cahaba River

Cahaba – Centreville

Participating Outfitters and Discounts for Alabama Scenic River Trial Members

Coosa Outdoor Center
One free single sit-on-top with rental of another solo boat, with reservations. Saturdays excluded.
334 272 0952
334 202 3050
107 river road
Wetumpka AL 36092

Coosa River Adventures
10% discount on any trip.
415 Company St
Wetumpka, AL
334 514 0279

Five Mile Creek Outfitters
10% off float prices Monday through Friday with reservation
205 74 9275
205 674 5550
5 Mile Creek Canoeing Company
Mike@canoe5mile.com
www.canoe5mile.com
P.O. Box 214
100 Park Rd.
Brookside, AL 35036

Southern Trails
(new outfitter located near Montgomery’s downtown RiverWalk run by  Forrest Carden)
12 West Jefferson Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
334 239 9438 Montgomery
334 821 6249 Auburn

Hatchet Creek Adventures
Five percent discount on services
For Information
256 377 1290
334 324 1576
Hatchett Creek Adventures is located approximately one mile north of the intersection of US Highway 231 and Alabama Highway 22, in Rockford, Alabama.  We are very convenient to Montgomery, Birmingham, Clanton, and Auburn.  If you call ahead we will be happy to meet you in downtown Rockford.

North Alabama Canoe and Kayak (NACK)
$25/person specials any boat, 6 pm to 10 pm evening paddles
256 529 0357
Highway 72, north of Huntsville

Southern Canoe Outfitters, Heflin
20% discount for canoe/kayak rentals for groups of 4 or more Monday-Thursday with reservations through Oct. 2012.
256 947 1508
1245 County Road 440
Heflin, AL 36264

Sunshine Canoe Rentals
Rent one, get one free weekdays with reservation
Mobile/Tensaw Delta area
Office 251 344 8664
Cell 251 367 4144

Terrapin Outdoor Center
10% off retail price on any merchandise in our store, including boats.
256 447 6666
4114 County road 175
Piedmont AL 36272

UAB (University of Alabama in Birmingham) Outdoor Center
Student Rate (average 20% discount) on everything.
1501 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294
205 996 4913
outdoor@uab.edu

Officials of the June 18, 2008 opened Alabama Scenic River Trail announced THE 631 PRIZE, including one thousand dollars, which was rewarded to the first paddler, Ardie Olson, a kayaker to complete the 631 mile Trail on October 22, 2008, which he completed in 12 days. The 631 Prize is named for the number of miles in the Trail’s length, the longest such river trail in a single state. The Trail begins in the Coosa River at the Georgia state line east of Cedar Bluff and ends 631 miles downstream at historic Fort Morgan where Mobile Bay joins the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to winning the prize, Ardie paddled and enjoyed a great variety of beautiful scenery from the mountains of northeastern Alabama to the tranquil waters of the Delta, the second largest river delta in the United States.

The Alabama Power Company and the US Army Corps of Engineers have worked with the Alabama Scenic River Trail Association to create portages around the Power Company’s six dams on the Coosa River and the Corps’ three dams on the Alabama River.  Marker buoys upstream at each dam indicate the portage trail location to use at that dam.

The basic rules of the competition for the 631 Prize were as follows:

Paddlers vying for the 631 Prize could not start down the Trail before 9:00 a.m. October 1, 2008. Each paddler had to register with the ASRT in advance of the trip and comply with any requirements of property owners and legal authorities along the route. As Ardie Olson was the first to register and first to finish he completed the challenge superbly.

Below are some links that the Alabama Scenic River Trail staff hopes you will find of interest and useful:

>Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel

>Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

>American Whitewater 

>Bama Backpaddlers

>Birmingham Canoe Club

>Coosa River Paddling Club

>Catoma Outdoor

>Huntsville Canoe Club

>Nomad Backcountry Adventures

>Mobile Canoe and Kayak Club

>Tuscaloosa Canoe and Kayak Club

>Queen City Cruise

>Encyclopedia of Alabama, an online guide to the state

>Meetup page on Richard Grove’s website for advanced southeastern paddlers

>Richard Grove, Green-way/Paddle-Trail Consultant

We support the good works of the Alabama Land Trust

 Outfitters Page

An outfitter is a place where you can rent or purchase canoes, kayaks, and related items such as paddles and safety equipment. In most cases, an outfitter will provide a shuttle service (and sometimes other transportation) between put-ins and take-outs along their respective river stretches. All are expert in the paddling opportunities in their areas and can warn of dangers where they exist. All can assist you on getting into the water at any level from beginner to expert. Outfitters are a good way to try a boat, even a different kind from the one you might already have, before you buy.

If you are traveling with no boat, want to add a person to your boat and need accessories, or just need transportation arrangements for your own equipment, call on our outstanding outfitters.

NOTE: there are many more places in Alabama that you can BUY paddling gear. The following is a list of the places that RENT gear and provide their customers with services—like shuttles—in most cases.

 

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Tennessee River Section
 

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Alabama Eco Edventures

Let Alabama Eco Adventures take care of the details. If you have any questions, give us a call or email. We will be glad to answer any questions and assist you. On the day of the trip you will meet at the put-in (starting point) which we will send directions to you when you register for you trip.

We’d like to know your experience level so we can better plan and make suggestions for your trip. What are your interests?–photography, bird watching, fishing, etc. You do not need to be an expert canoeist or a great outdoor person to enjoy a canoe trip. Don’t miss a chance to explore the great outdoors because you are not in good shape. Our guides will go at your pace, so you can enjoy the trip the way you want.

Alabama Eco Adventures will supply you with most everything you need for a canoe/kayaking camping trip. All our trips are customed tailored for you.

Complete Outfitted Trips – we provide an experienced guide (certified in Swift Water Rescue, CPR and First Aid), canoes/kayaks, life jackets, paddles, tents, and great meals on the river. You just bring your personal gear. We also rent sleeping bags, pads, dry bags, dry boxes and other gear if needed.

Partial Outfitted Trips – we provide canoes, pfd’s, paddles, and an experienced guide for your group.

Canoe rentals are 50.00 per day, Kayak rentals are 35.00 to 45.00 per day.
Shuttle services are 5.00 to 20.00 per person depending on location.

Guided day trips range from 10.00 to 50.00 per person depending on length and location.
Overnight trips range from 20.00 to 100.00 per person per day depending on location.

Discounts available for multi-day trips and large groups.

Call or email for group pricing and details.
256-656-9209 or jaygrantland@alabamaecoadventures.com.

 

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North Alabama Canoe and Kayak (NACK) Upper Flint River, Madison County

256 529 0357

Canoes and Kayaks—multiple brand and styles to choose from. Cost of trip includes boat, paddles, PFD and shuttle. $45 per person for a single boat or $35/person for a two-person boat. Group prices available Monday through Thursday for 12 or more people. Tubes $20/person, appointment needed. Shuttle, $15/person. 

Floats are on the Flint River. One, 3, and 4.5 hour floats available. Night floats every Tuesday from 6:30 pm to 10 pm. $30/person.
 

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Hampton Cove Kayak Adventures (HCKA) Lower Flint River, Madison County

256-534-9000

HCKA is located at 7269 Hwy 431 South and is less than one mile from the Flint River.  Its less than a quarter mile south of Hays Nature preserve.  We are a kayak and canoe rental business that provides a chance to get out of the house and take a trip down the peaceful Flint River.  Currently open Friday thru Sunday from 8 to 4.  We will open during the week for groups of 10 or more by appointment. David Harris and Rodney Bodine. E-mail  rodney.bodine@yahoo.com
 

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Unphiltered Kayaking

UnPhiltered Kayaking will provide safe and thorough instruction for beginners and for those who currently kayak we will provide advanced instruction to improve your skill sets and confidence in any conditions you may encounter. We offer 1/2 and full day trips, as well as weekend trips to locations in central and northern Alabama and southern and eastern Tennessee. Customized trips are available as well as one-on-one instruction.

We are surrounded by some truly beautiful, breathtaking scenery and wildlife, and want you to experience all that this region has to offer. Visualize watching Bald Eagles and Osprey diving down into the water to gather their meals. Blue Heron, Egrets, fishing along the banks of the river. Otter, beaver, and muskrat playing in the water near you, as you sit motionless. Coyote, raccoons, deer, browsing the shoreline. This is a sport that anyone, regardless of age or skill set can come to love. There is excitement for all the senses and physical benefits that can last a lifetime.

Check out the great overnight opportunities at the website.

UnPhiltered Kayaking L.L.C.
115 T.E.Mckinney Circle
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763
For email, you must use the form on the website (link above in listing title).

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Fort Hampton Outfitters on the Elk River (Facebook link here)

25427 Children Street
Elkmont AL
(256) 431-8988
forthamptonoutfitters@gmail.com

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Terrapin Outdoor Center is located on the beautiful Terrapin Creek in Piedmont, AL and is this area’s premiere paddlesports specialty shop. Terrapin Creek is family owned and operated with over 35 years of experience in outdoor retail sales. Their features new canoes, kayaks and accessories from the top names in the industry: Old Town, Mad River, Wenonah, Dagger, Perception, Wilderness Systems, Wave Sport, Necky, Ocean Kayak, Current Designs, Bending Branches, Werner Paddles, AT Paddles, Seven2 Paddles, Carlisle Paddles, ExtraSport, Astral Buoyancy, Harmony, Yakima, PaddleBoy Designs and more! So whatever your paddling preference: solo, tandem, whitewater, flatwater, tripping, touring, fishing, recreational, racing, etc., we’ve got the boat and gear that’ll be just right for you.

TOC also rents canoes and kayaks! Everyone is welcome! Individuals, small groups, large groups, families, churches, schools, scouts, military, law enforcement, businesses, companies, corporations, organizations, etc. Call to arrange a trip!

Contact Information

4114 County Rd. 175, Piedmont, AL 36272
Email terrapinoutdoorcenter@yahoo.com
 

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3112 County Road 59, Piedmont, Alabama 36272

 

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Big Wills Outfitters, Wesson Gap Road, Gadsden (Big Wills Creek can be paddled into downtown Gadsden. The section served by this outfitter is approximately 26 miles above Gadsden in a beautiful, shady section through this popular wine country.)

We are located in the Big Wills Valley, just outside Attalla, AL. We offer canoe/kayak rentals, or a shuttle for your own boat. Canoes are $35. Kayaks are $25. Shuttle is $10.You will enjoy a scenic 6 mile float, and arrive back at your vehicle in our secure parking area. 256-438-7172 for information. Click here for a Google map.

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Coosa Outfitters, Broad street, Gadsden, Mitchell Stewart, coosaoutfitters@gmail.com

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Larry’s Kayak Rentals (Piedmont) 256-447-6990

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Hatchet Creek Adventures (Rockford area) 256-377-1290

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True Adventure Sports

More than just kayak and canoe rentals, but serving the Alabama Scenic River Trail in the Little River area.

General Management & Information: israel@trueadventuresports.com

Primary Booking Agent: lori@trueadventuresports.com

General Information: info@trueadventuresports.com

Email: israel@trueadventuresports.com

Address: True Adventure Sports
13102 Al Hwy 176
Fort Payne, AL 35967

Mailing Address: True Adventure Sports
P.O. Box
Fort Payne, AL 35968

http://www.trueadventuresports.com/
 

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Coosa Outdoor Center

Coosa Outdoor Center is located in Wetumpka, Alabama on the Coosa River. The staff and guides at the center can take you on the experience of your life on the Coosa. If you need boat rental and transportation between the Jordan Dam area and Selma, Alabama, please give us a call. Click the link above for more information driving directions.

172 River Dr, Wetumpka, AL 36092

 

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Coosa River Adventures

Are you ready for adventure and excitement? The thrill of whitewater? Then look no further than Wetumpka Alabama and Coosa River Adventures.

We at Coosa River Adventures will outfit you with a canoe or sit-on-top kayak and provide transportation to the launch site, paddles, and life jackets. Then it’s up to you to enjoy the Coosa River’s cliff walls, rock islands, and whitewater rapids.

Trips average 3 to 4 hours and scheduling is a must. So whether you’re a novice paddler or river rafting junkie, we’re sure you’ll enjoy what the Coosa River has to offer. Call us today to start your adventure!

415 Company St
Downtown Wetumpka, AL
 

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Central North Alabama (near Birmingham)
 

Five Mile Creek Canoeing Company

Five Mile Creek (which is 45 miles long in total) offers 26 miles of some of Alabama’s finest spring and early summer canoeing and kayaking located within 20 minutes of downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Large group trips can be
scheduled at other times when water levels permit.

The File Mile Creek Canoe Company is owned and operated by the town of Brookside, Alabama. Call the Town Hall for more information at 205 674 9275. More information is available on the town’s website www.brooksidealabama.com. 

Find out more about all the opportunities surrounding this excellent Alabama waterway at www.fivemilecreekpartnership.org

Cahaba River

Limestone Park – Tours, expeditions on the Little Cahaba and Cahaba Rivers.
205-926-9672
1531 Limestone Pkwy
Brierfield, AL 35035

Canoe the Cahaba
2370 County Road 52
Helena, AL 35080
205 874 5623
Canoe the Cahaba offers a five mile trip that starts from Buck Creek and a 9.9 mile run on the Cahaba River.

Ski N Stuff
205-823-6349
1021 Montgomery Hwy
Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

UAB
205-996-4913

PaddleSouth SUP standup paddleboard rental
Columbiana. Stand up paddle board company. Rent, instruct and sell boards.
205 530 0787
Justin Atwell

Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River (Blount County, near Oneonta)

River Beach Outfitters
Kayak and canoe rentals with shuttle service for families, groups and individuals. Camping and fishing.
2325 County Road 14, Snead, AL 35952
205 429 5455
www.riverbeachoutfitters.com
riverbeachoutfitters@gmail.com
 

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Alabama Coastal Outdoors

Rentals, kayak fishing trips and more are available through alabamacoastaloutdoors.com. 251-554-0090. We are the Premier Kayak Fishing, Kayak Touring, and Kayak Snorkeling Charter company in the Alabama Bay and Coastal areas. We provide the greatest experience on the water with the highest quality kayaks and gear available with our Hobie Mirage Series Kayaks.

The Alabama Gulf Coast is home to a wide variety of marine and aquatic species that create a world class, breath-taking fishing and visual environment unlike any other place in the world. Local Kayak Guide, Trey Toifel is from Fairhope, Alabama and has kayaked, fished, and explored the Alabama Coastal area for nearly 15 years. My dream is to bring the natural beauty and outdoors experience of “Alabama The Beautiful” to the visitors and locals of the Alabama Coastal Region. We strive to offer you a service unlike any other with our premier, first-class kayak charters. With years of kayak touring and kayak angling experience, We offer guided visual kayak tours , a guided kayak snorkeling experience, and guided inshore and offshore kayaking fishing charters..

 

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Five Rivers Outfitters

Located in the 5 Rivers Alabama Delta Resource Center facility between Mobile and Spanish Fort, AL, Five Rivers Outfitters overlooks the beautiful Mobile-Tensaw Delta. With access on the water, imagine stepping off the dock into a canoe or kayak and paddling the same waters as did explorer William Bartram. Allow one of their guides to take you through a delta filled with wildlife and flowers. Five Rivers’ rental fleet is such that you can choose between kayaks or canoes, to enjoy paddling, floating downriver, or even fishing.

Alligator and birding safaris; Bartram Canoe Trail safaris and certificates; Bottle Creek Indian Mounds and champion cypress safaris; school, scout and educational field trips’ canoe and kayak and gear rental; full service safari-style camping adventures; fishing, bow fishing and kayak fishing adventures; pirate, safari and scavenger hunt themed trips and events; school and corporate team building trips and events; wine tasting, sunset and party cruises; private charters and custom tours.

Guided canoe/kayak tours and camping:

Lower delta (open marsh) $40/person
Middle delta (cypress swamp) $45/person
Upper delta (Indian mounds & Bartram Trails) $55/person
Gator float (March/April only) $60/person including lunch or dinner
Various camping destinations $65-$115/per night/per person

Outfitter shop open 8-5, Wednesday through Sunday. Tours are available 7 days a week with prior reservation. Peak rates may appply, prices subject to change. Minimums apply on certain trips. See website for full details.

30841 Five Rivers Blvd
Spanish Fort, AL 36527
www.5rds.com

877-411-SAFARI or 251-259-8531
 

Five Rivers also features the Pelican, a pontoon tourboat capable of escorting over 20 people on an informative delta cruise. Captain Mike, the operator can also offer his craft as a water-borne shuttle to take you up-river or in-delta to begin your paddling adventure from a vantage point you could not event consider reaching by road. Plus, you get the benefit of Captain Mike’s deep delta experience along the way, whether you are doing a round-trip or a one-way shuttle.

Call the Pelican’s reservation desk at 251 621 8531.