APRIL 5, SATURDAY, please 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. Cahaba River Park is a relatively new 1,500-acre park near the Bibb County line in western Shelby County. Please come with us for our sixth, 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 has 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 April 5 will 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: Dan Frederick, telephone 205-631-4680, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com
APRIL 6, SUNDAY, please meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park
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 has 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 April 5 will 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: Dan Frederick, telephone 205-631-4680, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com
APRIL 6, SUNDAY, please meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings 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 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.
Information and trip leader: Randall Adkins, 205-719-7719
Well-behaved, properly supervised children age eight and up able to walk the distance of about 4 miles 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.
Information and trip leader: Randall Adkins, 205-719-7719
APRIL 10, THURSDAY, please meet 9:30 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Wildflower Walk, Dunnavant Valley Greenway Walking Trail (DVGWT)
Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Wildflower Walk, Dunnavant Valley Greenway Walking Trail (DVGWT)
Details: The trail winds along a bubbling stream, Yellow Leaf Creek, overhung with majestic American beech, oak, and hickory trees. Newly sprung wild flowers abound all along the trail at this time in the spring!
If the pretty waterfall near the trail is flowing nicely on the day of our hike, we will make a side trip off the trail to view it and then return to the main trail where we will hike to the far end of the trail and back to the start. A few days before April 10 one or two of our hikers plan to scout the area in order to ascertain whether the waterfall is likely to be running or not on April 10. There are footbridges over the streams, and, except for a short, steep patch over a ridge, walking on the trail itself is easy. Happy hiking! Please bring your water with you.
Please meet at 9:30 a.m. in the small DVGWT trail head parking lot on the edge of Yellow Leaf Creek on the edge of the soccer fields on AL Highway 41. We plan to depart from there at 9:45 a.m. Please note that this is a different meeting place and starting point from the place where we have begun our hike on this trail nearly every other time we have hiked on this trail in the past!
Information and Trip Leader: Christine Heckemeyer, 205-979-5730
APRIL 12, SATURDAY, please meet 8:45 a.m.: Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: DeSoto State Park and Lost Falls
If the pretty waterfall near the trail is flowing nicely on the day of our hike, we will make a side trip off the trail to view it and then return to the main trail where we will hike to the far end of the trail and back to the start. A few days before April 10 one or two of our hikers plan to scout the area in order to ascertain whether the waterfall is likely to be running or not on April 10. There are footbridges over the streams, and, except for a short, steep patch over a ridge, walking on the trail itself is easy. Happy hiking! Please bring your water with you.
Please meet at 9:30 a.m. in the small DVGWT trail head parking lot on the edge of Yellow Leaf Creek on the edge of the soccer fields on AL Highway 41. We plan to depart from there at 9:45 a.m. Please note that this is a different meeting place and starting point from the place where we have begun our hike on this trail nearly every other time we have hiked on this trail in the past!
Information and Trip Leader: Christine Heckemeyer, 205-979-5730
APRIL 12, SATURDAY, please meet 8:45 a.m.: Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: DeSoto State Park and Lost Falls
Details: Moderately easy hike in DeSoto State Park. We will hike along the beautiful West Fork of Little River. We’ll also hike various other trails in the park and visit Lost Falls. We expect to see a total of eight waterfalls during this hike. This is one of the most scenic state parks in Alabama.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 9 and over able to walk about 5 miles without complaining are welcome.
After the outing we’ll enjoy an optional restaurant dinner together.
Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Trussville. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Info. and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205-631-4680
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 9 and over able to walk about 5 miles without complaining are welcome.
After the outing we’ll enjoy an optional restaurant dinner together.
Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Trussville. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Info. and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205-631-4680
APRIL 19, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Details: A fun Southeastern Outings kayak and canoe trip on Section 1 of the Locust Fork River in Blount County. This stretch, which several of us have canoed many times previously, is fairly easy and without classified rapids. Along the river we’ll see lots of wildflowers and stop to investigate islands and beaches.
Novice canoeists are welcome and may come on this trip, but each one must be partnered with an experienced canoeist in their canoe.
Please note that for this trip you may rent one person sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles for $30 each at the put-in from River Beach Outfitters. Rental fees include shuttle service. Also, the outfitter will charge a $15 fee for all private boats, be they canoes or kayaks, used on this outing. If you wish to rent a kayak from the outfitter, please notify Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680 BEFORE April 19 to reserve your boat.
If you want to come on the April 19 SEO kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from the outfitter at the site of the trip, in this instance you are required to call or contact ONLY the trip leader and notify him that you are coming! Dan will inform the outfitter how many rental kayaks he will need to provide to SEO people for this trip.
Please note that the outfitter has only 70 one-person kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early. Once all their solo kayaks are reserved for April 19, there will be no more kayaks 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 $50 per boat. Southeastern Outings will pay the $15 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 April 19 to request a rental canoe if that is what you want. We will do our best to fulfill your request.
Please do NOT just show up at the meeting place on April 19 without making an advance reservation with Dan Frederick!! And if you have made a reservation to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip leader. Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!
Life jackets are required and must be worn. You are responsible for finding your own boat. Bring your own, borrow one, paddle with a friend, or rent from the outfitters listed.
Please bring with you 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 canoe if you don’t already have rope attached to your own canoe. If you have further questions, please call the trip leader.
For more essential information about this trip, please see Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips at the end of this calendar.
Please meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Cleveland Chevron Service Station. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Reservations Required: You are required to contact Dan Frederick by email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or call 205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe trip. Please advise your name, telephone number, skill level, whether you are bringing a canoe or kayak and whether you need a paddling partner. You may leave a message on Dan’s answering machine if you wish.
Info. and Trip Leader: If you have further questions, please contact Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or call 205/631-4680.
APRIL 24, THURSDAY, please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Hike
Where: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road, Hoover, AL 35242
Please note that for this trip you may rent one person sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles for $30 each at the put-in from River Beach Outfitters. Rental fees include shuttle service. Also, the outfitter will charge a $15 fee for all private boats, be they canoes or kayaks, used on this outing. If you wish to rent a kayak from the outfitter, please notify Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680 BEFORE April 19 to reserve your boat.
If you want to come on the April 19 SEO kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from the outfitter at the site of the trip, in this instance you are required to call or contact ONLY the trip leader and notify him that you are coming! Dan will inform the outfitter how many rental kayaks he will need to provide to SEO people for this trip.
Please note that the outfitter has only 70 one-person kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early. Once all their solo kayaks are reserved for April 19, there will be no more kayaks 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 $50 per boat. Southeastern Outings will pay the $15 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 April 19 to request a rental canoe if that is what you want. We will do our best to fulfill your request.
Please do NOT just show up at the meeting place on April 19 without making an advance reservation with Dan Frederick!! And if you have made a reservation to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip leader. Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!
Life jackets are required and must be worn. You are responsible for finding your own boat. Bring your own, borrow one, paddle with a friend, or rent from the outfitters listed.
Please bring with you 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 canoe if you don’t already have rope attached to your own canoe. If you have further questions, please call the trip leader.
For more essential information about this trip, please see Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips at the end of this calendar.
Please meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Cleveland Chevron Service Station. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Reservations Required: You are required to contact Dan Frederick by email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or call 205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe trip. Please advise your name, telephone number, skill level, whether you are bringing a canoe or kayak and whether you need a paddling partner. You may leave a message on Dan’s answering machine if you wish.
Info. and Trip Leader: If you have further questions, please contact Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or call 205/631-4680.
APRIL 24, THURSDAY, please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Hike
Where: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road, Hoover, AL 35242
Details: Please come with us on a weekday hike. Enjoy an easy 3-mile hike on trails in North Shelby County just off Valleydale Road. Veterans Park is an 82-acre park with numerous walking trails, a four-acre lake and a one-acre pond.
If you are retired or not working or have off on this particular Thursday, you are urged to participate in the Southeastern Outings group hike on the trails and get a feel for the location and scale of the land.
The hike is about three miles. The walking pace for this hike will be moderately easy. We’ll stop often to catch our breath and note views, trees, birdsongs, and the trails and woods around us. Happy hiking!
This walk will be Southeastern Outings’ tenth hike in Veterans Park. Come with us for a guided tour of easily walkable trails. Please bring water and wear good walking shoes or boots. Dress appropriately for the weather.
Please meet at 9:45 a.m. in the Veterans Park parking lot right beside the building with restrooms in it at the park. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Optional lunch nearby after the hike at Metro Diner Restaurant in Inverness.
Admission to Park: Free
Information and hike leader: Randall Adkins, 205/719-7719 cell
If you are retired or not working or have off on this particular Thursday, you are urged to participate in the Southeastern Outings group hike on the trails and get a feel for the location and scale of the land.
The hike is about three miles. The walking pace for this hike will be moderately easy. We’ll stop often to catch our breath and note views, trees, birdsongs, and the trails and woods around us. Happy hiking!
This walk will be Southeastern Outings’ tenth hike in Veterans Park. Come with us for a guided tour of easily walkable trails. Please bring water and wear good walking shoes or boots. Dress appropriately for the weather.
Please meet at 9:45 a.m. in the Veterans Park parking lot right beside the building with restrooms in it at the park. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Optional lunch nearby after the hike at Metro Diner Restaurant in Inverness.
Admission to Park: Free
Information and hike leader: Randall Adkins, 205/719-7719 cell
