FEBRUARY 3, SATURDAY, please 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 Jacks near the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride. We plan to depart from there at 11:00 a.m.
Info. and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com , phone 205-631-4680
FEBRUARY 10, SATURDAY, please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike along the Locust Fork River from Swann Covered Bridge to Powell Falls
Details: A moderate 3-mile dayhike and picnic along the lovely Locust Fork River in Blount County near Cleveland, Alabama. We’ll view and drive through the genuine and newly-restored wooden covered bridge. Then we’ll hike along the river from the bridge and have lunch right beside Powell Falls. This waterfall drops about eight feet and carries a substantial amount of water. We’ll also view sheer cliffs rising over 60 feet right above the water. See a rushing river, covered bridge, high rock bluffs and a large waterfall—all along a one and a half mile stretch of river.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older welcome.
Bring a friend or several if you wish. Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Cleveland Chevron. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Information and Hike Leader: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680
FEBRUARY 11, SUNDAY, please meet 12:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park
Details: Enjoy a moderate 4-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 12:45 p.m. in the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot. We plan to depart from there at 1:00 p.m.
Please bring $5/person ($2.00 seniors) park admission fee plus your drink.
Info. and Trip Leader: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969
FEBRUARY 15. THURSDAY, please meet 9:30 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Hike
Where: Shoal Creek Park, Montevallo, Alabama
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Details: Southeastern Outings has planned a pleasant, easy 2 ½ to 3-mile hike through fields and woods on a well-developed loop of trails in Shoal Creek Park, Montevallo's newest city park. This 167-acre park has nine miles of trails already constructed and some less developed trails which we may also hike. One trail does follow Shoal Creek for some distance.
On October 30, 2018, ten people participated in an SEO scouting trip there led by Shane Baugh, the Montevallo Parks and Recreation Director, and we were delighted at what we found. We subsequently had successful hikes there for the entire group on December 22, 2018, March 9, 2019, May 14, 2020, November 21, 2020, March 17, 2021, December 8, 2021 and November 12, 2022. We are especially pleased to note that twenty people participated in our November 21, 2020 hike in this park.
The park is located on both sides of Shoal Creek about 2 miles upstream from Orr Park where we have begun our past hikes on the Montevallo Parks Trail.
The restrooms and picnic pavilion in the park are now completely constructed and open for your use.
The walking pace for this hike is rated easy since there are no real hills to climb. We’ll stop often to catch our breath and note flowers, trees, birdsongs and the trail and woods around us.
Please bring your picnic lunch and plenty of water. Wear good walking shoes or boots. Dress appropriately for the weather.
The park is located 1.1 miles south of American Village on AL Highway 119 in Montevallo.
Please meet at 9:30 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 9:45 a.m.
Admission to the park is free!
Information and Hike Leader: Christine Heckemeyer, 205-979-5730
FEBRUARY 17, SATURDAY, please meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Lake Lurleen State Park
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Details: Come on a most enjoyable, outing with one of Southeastern Outings most knowledgeable tree experts, Dexter Duren. On this walk you’ll see and learn to identify some of the trees around the lake. Lake Lurleen State Park is one of the state’s most scenic state parks containing hills, forests, fields and a large, beautiful, tree-lined lake. Hike rated moderate as there are some ups and downs. Total hiking distance is approximately 5 miles. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 10 and over able to walk 5 miles without complaining are welcome. Please bring picnic lunch, drink and hiking boots.
Everyone, please bring $5 per person ($2 per person for seniors age 62 and older and for children age 4-11) EXACT CHANGE park admission. Admission is on an honor system. There is no gate agent to make change!
Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s Galleria Hoover parking lot or 10:00 a.m. in Lake Lurleen State Park outside of Tuscaloosa. The meeting place in the park will be the parking lot on the left of the main park entrance drive immediately after you drive past the park admission toll booth as you enter the park.
Info: For info. about the hike, please call Dexter Duren, 205/333-5300.
FEBRUARY 18, SATURDAY, please meet 1:30 p.m.
Southeastern Outings leisurely weekday, approximately 3.8-mile dayhike on the Black Creek Trail in the Brookside Areas, just northwest of Birmingham
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Details: You are invited to participate in an easy and leisurely-paced, fun Southeastern Outings short dayhike on a short portion of the Black Creek Trail a rails-to-trails conversion route on an old railroad right of way. This smooth trail is wide and level. No hills! This finely-crushed rock surface trail goes through mostly wooded terrain.
The walking pace for this hike will be moderately easy.
Note that the trail has been extended recently. Our hike on February 18 will be entirely on the new section where we have only hiked once previously. So come out to see and experience what the new part looks like! Total hike distance is about 3.8 miles.
No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail! This outing should be lots of fun for everyone.
Other portions of this trail have consistently been one of our most popular places to hike since it is easy and close to Birmingham.
Please meet in the WalMart Gardendale parking lot at 9:45 a.m. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Trip Leader: Dan Frederick southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205-631-4680
Southeastern Outings Moderately Strenuous Dayhike on the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail System at Lake Martin, near Alexander City, Alabama
Details: Located on the banks of Lake Martin, Alabama’s largest and allegedly most beautiful lake, the area offers linked loop trails. Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trails are among the most scenic and diverse hiking trails in Alabama. The trails skirt the shoreline of beautiful Lake Martin, a 40,000-acre, 700-mile-shoreline lake. Other areas of the trails are high rocky ridges and bluffs, some with vistas of 6 to 8 miles overlooking Kowaliga Bay, Chimney Rock, and others along rocky shoal creeks, and rippling brooks. The trails are routed through a variety of flora and fauna. There are high rocky ridges with mountain long leaf pine, mountain laurel, low and high bush blueberry, and lush hardwood forests that include redbud, sourwood, dogwood, native azalea, umbrella and big leaf magnolia. Numerous large thickets of Catawba Rhododendron, which are usually blooming in the winter, are numerous. Deer, turkey and numerous bird species, including bald eagles, can be seen along the trail.
The trails are built to blend into nature, free of bicycles, motorized vehicles, horses or other pack animals. All trails are built on Alabama Power Company land that is set aside as naturally undeveloped.
The trails are well-marked and maintained, the terrain is varied, and the scenery on a clear day is spectacular.
Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QxF9MCZcWhX4TFB92
Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.
We will hike about 4 miles. We will see longleaf pine and mixed hardwood forests, open airy sections, and other trail sections under fuller forest canopy. We also will see pristine lake views, boats, birds, boulders and deer tracks.
Please wear hiking boots! Please meet 8:45 a.m. at Publix in the Village at Lee Branch in Greystone. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age ten and over welcome.
Optional restaurant dinner after.
Information and Hike Leader: Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680
DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE
Publix in The Village at Lee Branch in Greystone-- 410 Doug Baker Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35242-2682. Take U.S. Highway 280 East going away from Birmingham to intersection with AL Route 119, Cahaba Valley Road. Continue on U.S. 280 through that intersection 9/10 more miles and turn right on Doug Baker Boulevard. This turn should be right after the very large Driver’s Way used car dealer. Drive 3/10 miles on Doug Baker Boulevard and then see the Publix Super Market on your right. Please park in front of the Publix, but fairly far out towards 280, not right by the front door.
