OCTOBER 1, SATURDAY, Please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings River Beach Walk, Woodland Hike, and Picnic at Barton’s Beach and Perry Lakes Park in Perry County, Alabama
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Details: Enjoy a beach gathering on a beautiful, fine-grained sand beach in Central Alabama and a hike in the heavily wooded Perry Lakes Park. The scenery is spectacular. The area is an extensive sand beach on the Lower Cahaba River. The floodplain broadens and creates areas of bottomland hardwood forests, oxbow lakes and extensive sand and gravel bars. The National Weather Service forecast in Marion for this coming Saturday is sunny all day with a high temperature of 78 degrees—perfect hiking weather.
Sixteen people participated in this popular outing with us in August, 2019.
A restroom is available at Perry Lakes County Park where we’ll park our cars. The approximate 1/3 mile hike to Barton’s Beach is easy since the terrain is level and the walk is all on trails.
Since the water is now too cool to swim in, we will hike to and along the beach from the upper end of the beach to the lower end and back without actually getting in the water. Then we will take you on an extended hike in Perry Lakes Park. The hike will be longer than it would be when we would spend most of the day at the beach and in the river if the water was warmer.
The Perry Lakes Park and Wildlife Sanctuary contains about 600 acres available to the public for outdoor recreation, education, scientific research, and other activities. Interpretive nature trails (fire lanes and primitive paths) make walking through the woods fairly easy and fun.
Several trees in the park have been designated as Alabama State Champion Trees. The park lakes support a large heron rookery along with an abundance of songbirds. A 100-foot tall observation tower allows for an exciting view of the forest and oxbow swamps.
Hikes at Barton’s Beach and Perry Lakes Park are moderate since the terrain is level and the walks are all on trails. The two properties adjoin each other so we can walk readily back and forth between them. We strongly recommend that you wear long pants as there are blackberry plants on some sections of the hike.
If the tower is open, we may also offer an optional opportunity to climb on stairs to the top of the Perry Lakes Park viewing tower, a rebuilt fire tower with gorgeous views high above most of the tallest treetops in the area.
Well-behaved, carefully-supervised children age 7 and older welcome.
Depending on the time we leave the park, we will probably go for an optional dinner on the way back after the outing is concluded.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s Galleria. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Info. on the hike and hike leader: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net
OCTOBER 8, SATURDAY, Please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Trip, Chattooga River near Gaylesville, Alabama
Details: This will be Southeastern Outings’ first group trip on the Chattooga River. Seven Southeastern Outings members kayaked and canoed this stretch of river on an initial scouting trip September 23. Everyone who participated agreed that this part of the river is easy to negotiate and highly suitable for boaters of varying abilities to paddle. The service provided by the outfitter was outstanding.
This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area. This stretch is fairly easy and without classified rapids. Along the river we’ll see wildflowers and stop to investigate islands and beaches.
Please note that for this trip you may rent plastic kayaks and paddles from Tooga Yaks.
Here is the schedule of outfitter charges:
1. solo sit-upon kayaks each $30
2. shuttle fee per boat for owned rather than rented boats $10
Please note that the outfitter has for rent about 70 one-person sit-upon kayaks.
The outfitter takes most all types of payment including cash, credit/debit cards, Venmo, cash app and checks.
Rental fees include paddles, life jackets and shuttle service. Also the outfitter will shuttle for a fee all private boats used on this outing. If you rent a boat from this outfitter, the outfitter will shuttle you and your rented boat from the outfitter’s office to the put in so you will never need to transport your rented boat at all. You may bring your own canoe or kayak on this trip, but you must pay the outfitter to shuttle your privately-owned boat.
When we arrive at the outfitter’s, you will sign a waiver, pay your shuttle or boat rental fee, and use the restrooms. Then the outfitter will transport all our people and our boats, both rented and owned, to the put in. We will then paddle down the river to the take out, stopping as often as we want to. We will take out at the outfitter’s place where our cars are.
We plan to go for an optional dinner on the way back o Birmingham. Our outfitter has recommended a good place near his office, 10-15 minutes away, in Cedar Bluff. It’s called Smorgasbord at the Cove. It’s located on Weiss Lake and serves a variety of food such as steak, pasta, shrimp, southern cuisine, and homemade desserts.
If you would like to wear dry clothes for the drive home or in order to go to dinner with us, please bring a change of clothes to be kept in the car. You may change clothes in the outfitter’s exceptionally clean, spacious restrooms complete with toilets, washbowls, running water, showers, and plenty of floor space.
Reservations Required: You must contact Dan Frederick, email seoutings@bellsouth.net or call 205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe scouting trip. You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish.
Please do not just show up for this outing at the meeting place without making advance reservations!
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s in Trussville. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m. For more essential information about this trip, please see Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips below.
Information: If you have questions or would like additional information about this scouting trip, please call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email seoutings@bellsouth.net.
Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips
Life jackets or personal flotation devices are required and must be worn. Bring your own boat, borrow one, paddle with a friend, or rent a kayak from the outfitter listed above.
OCTOBER 9, SUNDAY, Meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park
Details: Enjoy a moderate 4 to 5-mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham on a Sunday afternoon. This is an excellent outing for introducing your friends to Southeastern Outings and for making new friends who enjoy the outdoors. Parts of this hike may be off the color-coded trails. There will be some ups and downs.
Well-behaved, properly supervised children age eight and up able to walk the distance of about 4 miles without complaining and complete the hike are welcome.
Share an adventure! Bring a friend.
Please meet at 1:45 p.m. in the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot. We plan to depart from there at 2:00 p.m.
Please bring $5/person ($2.00 seniors) park admission fee plus your drink.
Info. and Trip Leader: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969
OCTOBER 11, TUESDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Weekday Hike
Where: Moss Rock Preserve
Details: Explore a section of this 350-acre forested park in Hoover on a moderately strenuous 2-3 hour hike with some climbing up and walking down hills on Shades Mountain. We’ll experience the preserve’s diverse natural features which include longleaf pine forests, huge boulders, grassy areas, outstanding views and several beautiful streams and waterfalls which hopefully will be running bountifully when we are there. We recommend that you bring hiking poles with you on this hike if you have them.
Please bring water to drink.
Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Moss Rock Preserve Parking Lot on Patton Chapel Road. We plan to depart from there promptly at 9:00 a.m.
Below is a link to the website for Moss Rock Preserve, where you can print a map of the trails in Moss Rock Preserve for use on this hike or on future hikes there on your own,
http://www.hooveral.org/219/Hiking-Map-Trail-Guide
Information and Trip Leader: Scott Myers, 205/393-5230, email myers.scottv@gmail.com
OCTOBER 13, THURSDAY, 9:45 a.m.
Moderate Weekday Hike
Where: Pinhoti Trail from Bulls Gap to White Gap near Sylacauga
Details: We'll proceed about an hour’s drive from our meeting place in Shelby County to the Bull's Gap trailhead at the southern part of Section 4 on the Pinhoti Trail where the trail crosses AL Highway 148. A great view at the trailhead portends other scenic wonders to follow.
We'll be starting our hike at the same point where we started our weekday hike on October 22, 2021, but then in order to see new territory we’ll hike in the opposite direction on the Pinhoti Trail. The hike will be two miles each way up and over the High Point Rock Overlook which is a bunch of rocks with a nice view to the west.
Then we’ll hike down to White Gap heading south and west on Section Three of the Pinhoti Trail. The total hike is along the ridge top with nice views the entire way. Estimated total hike distance is four miles. Hike rated moderate.
Optional dinner after the hike is concluded.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Publix Super Market in Lee Branch. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m. We should arrive at the trailhead about 11:15 a.m. Lunch will about 1:00 p.m. at the High Point Rock Overlook. We’ll then hike further on to White Gap and then at about 2:00 p.m. we’ll begin our hike back to the start point at Bulls Gap. Those hikers not staying for dinner can expect to arrive back at the Publix at Lee Branch about 5:00 p.m.
Reservations Required: Please email Francis Rushton, ferushton@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Information and Trip Leader: Francis E. Rushton, Telephones 843-441-3368 Cell, 205-290-5557 Home
OCTOBER 15, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike: Cahaba River Park in Western Shelby County north of Montevallo
Details: The Cahaba River is among the most scenic and biologically diverse waterways in the United States, and the public now has access to a portion of the river in Shelby County. Work is underway on the Cahaba River Park, a 1,500-acre site near the Bibb County line in western Shelby County. Please come with us for our fifth, moderately easy 3 to 5 mile-long hike in this newly created park.
Cahaba River Park includes two sectors: a larger sector on the north side of the river and a sector on the south side of the river that allows for motorized access.
The river splits the park into two sites with different amenities. The north side, which is called the Helena/Hoover Sector, includes most of the park’s acreage. The sector comprises 1,212 acres of Forever Wild property and 127 acres of county property. The south side of the river, which is called the Boothton/Montevallo Sector, comprises 188 acres of Shelby County property.
Cahaba River Park is a Shelby County venture that is being developed in
conjunction with Forever Wild Land Trust, an initiative of the Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Improvements to Shelby County 251, or River Road on the north side of the Cahaba River, are now complete. The Park offers about 15 miles of professionally designed and constructed trails for mountain biking, hiking and trail running; multiple parking locations at trailheads; several canoe launch sites that will allow for short trips or runs as long as 7 miles; 2 sets of pavilions and restroom facilities; and a caretaker’s house for a law enforcement officer.
Our hike in the Helena/Hoover Sector on October 15 may include walking on several trails. The park’s trails offer a nice blend of forest, river and creek views including a good view of the area’s elevation.
Please bring your picnic lunch and water with you on the hike. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older able to walk up to five miles without complaining are welcome to participate in this trip.
Please meet at 8:45 a.m. in the parking lot behind the McDonald’s on U.S. Highway 31 at the Riverchase Galleria. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Admission to the park is free.
Information and Trip Leader: Tim Vann, telephone 205-515-8566, email tvann25@hotmail.com
OCTOBER 16, SUNDAY, Meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Moderate Dayhike Along Buck Creek in Helena, AL
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Details: Come explore the wilder side of Helena. Hike with SEO on a lovely creekside trail in Helena in Shelby County. Total hiking distance is less than four miles. Hike rated moderately easy. We will be walking briefly off trail and walking up some hills when the trail routes us away from the creek. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age eight and up welcome.
Please meet at 1:45 p.m. in the parking lot for the Helena City Park on AL Highway 261 by the bridge over Buck Creek in Helena. We plan to depart from there at 2:00 p.m.
Directions to Meeting Place: Take I-65 to Exit #247, the Shelby County Route 17, Valleydale Road exit. Go to end of ramp and turn right regardless of whether you come from the south or the north. Take Co. 17, which changes from Co. Route 17 to AL 261, all the way into Helena. You will cross one railroad and then drive over a bridge with a dam and waterfall on the left. Immediately past the bridge, turn sharply back to the right just before you cross a second railroad and then drive into the parking lot for a city park right on the shore of the creek. Distances on Valleydale Road, (Shelby County Route 17) and then Alabama Route 261 from I-65 exit number 247 to driveway into Helena Park parking lot are 5.5 miles from bottom end of southbound ramp and 5.9 miles from bottom end of northbound ramp.
Information and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680
OCTOBER 22, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: Chief Ladiga Trail, Piedmont, Alabama
Details: Join friendly folks on an easy 3.5-mile dayhike and picnic on the Chief Ladiga Trail east of Piedmont, Alabama. Walk on Alabama’s first extended rails-to-trails conversion route on an old railroad right of way. This smooth trail is wide and level. Absolutely no hills—guaranteed! On this particular hike you will be walking on the most scenic section of the trail. This newly-paved part goes through mostly wooded terrain.
No motorized vehicles are allowed on your trail! Note this is a relatively easy outing, one which should be lots of fun for everyone. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age eight and up able to walk seven miles without complaining are welcome on this walk.
Please bring a picnic lunch and drink. From the trail you can see Dugger Mountain, one of the newest national wilderness areas in Alabama.
There will be an optional restaurant dinner after the hike. You will have an opportunity to wash up and change clothes in the Eubanks Welcome Center restrooms after the hike. If you’d like to clean up and/or change clothes, please bring your soap and towel and/or change of clothes with you.
Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Restaurant in Trussville. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m. or meet 10:20 a.m. at the Eubanks Welcome Center on the Chief Ladiga Trail in Piedmont.
Trip Leader and Info: Sean Boogaard, 256/365-6321.
OCTOBER 22, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings 10.6-Mile Bicycle Ride
Where: Chief Ladiga Trail, Piedmont, Alabama
Details: Join friendly folks for a 10.6 mile bicycle ride on the Chief Ladiga Trail in the Piedmont, Alabama area. Ride on Alabama’s first extended rails-to-trails conversion route on an old railroad right of way. The trail we’ll be riding on is smooth, 8-10 feet wide and even paved. There are no hills on this trail. The trail is suitable for road bikes plus mountain, hybrid and urban bicycles. Ride through towns, fields and picturesque woodlands. No motorized vehicles are allowed on your trail!
Bicycle helmets are required and must be worn. Please bring a picnic lunch and drink.
The pace of this bicycle ride will be leisurely. From time to time we will stop bicycling just to enjoy the scenery and views from the four bridges over the creeks. However, please note that this ride is 10.6 miles long. We recommend that participants intending to come on this outing have bicycled at least a few times during the 30 days prior to October 22. In order to be assured that you can ride comfortably on this trip you should probably be able to ride at an average speed of 8-12 miles per hour on level terrain.
There will be an optional restaurant dinner after the bicycle ride. You will have an opportunity to wash up and change clothes in the Eubanks Welcome Center restrooms after the bicycle ride. If you’d like to clean up and/or change clothes, please bring your soap and towel and/or change of clothes with you.
Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Restaurant in Trussville. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m. or meet 10:20 a.m. at the Eubanks Welcome Center on the Chief Ladiga Trail in Piedmont.
Reservations Required: If you want to come on this bicycle ride, please make a reservation with Dan Frederick, email seoutings@bellsouth.net or phone
205-631-4680. Also, if you have a bike rack which can hold more than one bicycle, please bring it with you to Piedmont in order to facilitate the required car shuttle and advise Dan that you are doing so. We probably need to leave about two vehicles at the Eubanks Welcome Center in order to transport the drivers of all the remaining vehicles from the end point of the ride back to the start point to pick up their vehicles after the ride is concluded.
Information and Ride Leader: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680, email seoutings@bellsouth.net
OCTOBER 29, SATURDAY, Meet 10:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Richard Martin Trail (previously named Limestone Rail Trail), Elkmont, Alabama
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Details: This trail is located in extreme North Alabama just to the west of I-65 and a few miles south of the Tennessee-Alabama border. The hike is rated easy. We will hike a total of 5.3 miles. There is much lovely scenery along the path that was once a part of the Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad.
Walk on one of Alabama’s rails-to-trails conversion routes on an old railroad right of way. This smooth trail is wide, and level. No hills on this trail. On this particular hike you will be walking on a scenic trail which goes through fields, near houses and through the woods. The trail winds through wetlands with wildlife and a great variety of birds. On the trail you will pass the site of the Civil War Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle. Please bring your picnic lunch and drink with you.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 8 and over able to walk 6 miles without complaining are welcome.
Absolutely delicious optional dinner afterwards at Terranova’s Restaurant in Athens, Alabama.
Please meet 10:45 a.m. at the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride. We plan to depart from there at 11:00 a.m.
Info. and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net, phone 205-631-4680
