SEPTEMBER 6, SATURDAY, please meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Kayak and Canoe Trip on the Elk River near Elkmont, Alabama
Details: The six-mile section we will paddle is easy with no obstructions. This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area.
Novice canoeists are welcome and may come on this trip, but each one must be partnered with an experienced canoeist in their boat.
Many of our members have expressed a desire to paddle once again on this stretch of the Elk River. Until last year we have been unable to sponsor a trip on this river for four years because we could not identify an outfitter who would provide boat rental services to us. Both of the two Elk River outfitters we used previously closed their businesses. We are extremely grateful to Dan’s daughter, Aree Frederick, who has agreed to provide outfitting services to our entire group for this outing. This is a new outfitter for Southeastern Outings. However, we will still boat on the same stretch of the Elk River as we have done previously.
For this trip you may rent one-person plastic kayaks and paddles for $30 or you may rent two-person canoes for $40 from Aree. She has for rent about 65 one-person sit-upon kayaks and about 25 tandem (two-person) canoes.
If you rent a boat from Aree, she will bring your rented boat to the put in and meet you there. She will also meet you at the take out, so you will never need to transport your rented boat at all. Shuttle fee, paddles, and life jacket are included in the boat rental fee for those who rent boats from Aree Frederick.
If you wish to rent a kayak or canoe from Aree, please notify Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680 BEFORE September 6 to reserve your boat.
If you want to come on the September 6 SEO kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from Aree at the site of the trip, in this instance you are required to call or contact ONLY Dan Frederick and notify him that you are coming! Dan will inform Aree how many rental kayaks and canoes she will need to provide to SEO people for this trip.
You may bring your own kayak or canoe on this outing. You will not have to pay a shuttle fee to Aree because boat owners on this trip will run their own shuttles.
Children able to swim and age 10 and over welcome.
After the kayak/canoe trip we will go for dinner at an excellent Italian restaurant in Athens, Alabama. If you would like to have dinner with us at the restaurant after the kayak and canoe trip, please bring your things to clean up with and a change of clothes. After the kayak and canoe outing is completed, we plan to schedule a stop at the Buck Ee’s or at a rest stop on I-65 near Athens, Alabama. If you wish, you will be able to use the very large restrooms and change clothes and wash up there in relative comfort before you come to the restaurant for dinner with us and/or drive home.
Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride at Exit #284 off I-65 North. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m. For more essential information about this trip, please see Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips below.
Reservations Required: You must call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe trip. You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish.
If you are planning to meet the group initially at the put in instead of at the designated meeting place near Birmingham, please tell Dan Frederick in advance that you are planning to meet the group at the put in.
Please do not make it necessary for Dan to contact you concerning information which you have already received in this announcement and in the notes below.
Info. and trip leader: If you have questions, please call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com.
Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips
The kayak and canoe outing listed in the announcements above is suitable for beginner/novice canoeists and kayakers, but each beginner canoeist must paddle with an experienced canoeist. 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 boat from the outfitter listed above.
Please bring in the boat your picnic lunch, something to drink, and a towel. Put your belongings in a waterproof dry bag in the boat. Wear old, thick-soled shoes you don’t mind getting wet (old sneakers work well). Also bring at least 6 feet of sturdy cord to tie up your boat if you don’t already have cord attached to your own boat. If you have further questions, please call the trip leader.
SEPTEMBER 20, SATURDAY -- Flint River trip was CANCELLED by the outfitter.
It will be replaced by a lovely
Kayak and Canoe Trip on the Tallapoosa River near Heflin, Alabama.
Details: The section we will paddle is relatively easy. This is a scenic stretch of river located in a very rural area. Forty-four SEO people participated in this very popular outing in August, 2011.
Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, click here.
Novice canoeists are welcome and may come on this trip, but each one must be partnered with an experienced canoeist in their boat.
The trip is about 7 miles long. There are two relatively easy class I rapids on this stretch.
Please note that for this trip you may rent one or two-person sit-upon plastic kayaks at the take out from Tallapoosa River RV and Outdoor Center.
Here is the schedule of outfitter charges:
- solo sit upon kayaks each $30
- tandem (two-person) sit upon kayaks each $50
- shuttle fee per owned boat $15
Boat rental fees include paddles, life jackets and shuttle service to the put-in. If you rent a boat from this outfitter, the outfitter will shuttle you and your rented boat to the put in so you will never need to transport your rented boat at all. Also, the outfitter will shuttle for a fee all private boats used on this outing. You may bring your own canoe or kayak on this trip, but you must pay the outfitter to shuttle your privately-owned boat.
If you wish to rent a kayak from this outfitter, please call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680. Dan will relay your kayak rental reservation on to the outfitter. Please note that the outfitter has only 40 one-person sit-upon kayaks and 10 tandem (2-person) kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early. Once all their kayaks of one type or the other are reserved for September 20 there will be no more boats of that type available to rent!
This outfitter does not have canoes to rent. However, Dan Frederick’s daughter, Aree, currently has canoes which she is offering to rent to people who want to canoe on this trip and who do not have their own canoes. The charge for renting a canoe from Aree is $40 per boat. Southeastern Outings will pay the $10 per boat shuttle service fee for people renting canoes from Aree. Again, please notify Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680 BEFORE September 20 to request a rental canoe if that is what you want. We will do our best to fulfill your request.
All participants must be able to swim to come on this outing!
When we arrive at the outfitter’s, you will sign a waiver, pay your shuttle or boat rental fee, use the restroom, possibly eat lunch and then the outfitter will transport all of us and our boats upriver to the put in. We will then paddle down the river to the take out where our cars are at the outfitter’s, stopping as often as we want to get in the river to cool off along the way. We may eat lunch at the outfitter's before we travel to the put in, OR we may eat lunch at a stop while paddling down the river, depending on what the majority of our participants prefer to do.
For more general information please see note for kayak and canoe trips below.
After the canoe and kayak trip we are planning to go to a restaurant for dinner on the way back. Hot showers are available for no charge at the outfitter’s place. If you would like to shower, wash up and/or have dinner with us at the restaurant after the canoe trip, please bring a change of clothes and your shower things to be kept in the car while we are paddling.
If you wish to meet us at some place other than the meeting place in Leeds specified in this announcement, please notify Dan in advance and directly of this fact.
Reservations Required: You must contact trip leader Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this canoe/kayak trip. Please advise your name, telephone number, skill level, whether you want to kayak or canoe and whether you are bringing or wish to rent a boat and whether you need a paddling partner. You may leave a message on Dan’s voice mail if you wish.
If you plan to participate in this outing, please register for it right away. During the past two summers, the following Southeastern Outings kayak and canoe outings have drawn the numbers of people listed below:
| Date | Place | Turnout |
|---|---|---|
| 10/12/24 | Flint River | 12 |
| 6/28/25 | Big Wills Creek | 14 |
| 5/31/25 | Elk River | 18 |
| 8/10/24 | Elk River | 19 |
| 9/6/25 | Elk River | 15 |
Please do not just show up for this outing without making advance reservations!
Information and Trip Leader: If you have further questions or would like additional information, please contact Dan Frederick, phone 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com.
DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE
Leeds Highway 78 gravel parking lot-6995 Parkway Drive, Leeds, AL 35094. Gravel parking lot on Highway U.S. 78 between the Chevron and Marathon service stations at the first Leeds exit, exit number 140, off I-20 heading east (towards Atlanta) out of Birmingham. Turn RIGHT at the end of the exit ramp coming from Birmingham. See Chevron and Marathon stations immediately after first red light.
Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips
The kayak and canoe outing listed in the announcement above is suitable for beginner/novice canoeists and kayakers, but each beginner canoeist must paddle with an experienced canoeist. 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 boat from the outfitters listed.
Please bring in the boat your picnic lunch, something to drink, and a towel. Put your belongings in a waterproof dry bag in the boat. Wear old, thick-soled shoes you don’t mind getting wet (old sneakers work well). Also bring at least 6 feet of sturdy cord to tie up your boat if you don’t already have cord attached to your own boat. If you have further questions, please call the trip leader.
When you make your reservation with the trip leader, please be absolutely certain to provide ALL of the following information:
- Whether you want to kayak or canoe
- Whether you are renting a boat and what kind or bringing your own boat (please specify kayak or canoe)
- Your name
- Your telephone number and/or email address
- If you are also making a reservation for someone else coming with you, please give the NAME of that person. Don’t just say, “My daughter, my friend, my wife”.
- If you are canoeing, please give your skill level.
- If you have already selected a canoe partner and you are making a reservation for your partner, too, please give the name and skill level of your partner.
- Please do NOT just show up at the meeting place for a kayak and canoe trip without making an advance reservation!!
- If you have made a reservation to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip leader 1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time. Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!
- If you have made a reservation for a friend whom you have invited to come on this trip and your friend is not coming, you must notify the leader of this cancellation 1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time! No-shows cause considerable logistical complications for the leader and for the outfitter!
As of 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025 the following 3 Southeastern Outings people have registered and been approved to participate in the September 20, 2025, kayak and canoe trip on the Tallapoosa River at Heflin, Alabama:
| Canoes-Owned | ||
| Dan Frederick | ||
| Aree Frederick | Partnered with Dan | |
| Solo Kayaks - Owned | ||
| Solo Kayaks - Rented from Outfitter | ||
| Elizbeth Posey | ||
| Total number of people | 3 | |
| Total number of boats | 2 |
If you would like to come on the trip and your name is not on the list above, please contact Dan Frederick right away. Telephone 205-631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com.
