CANCELED!! April 18, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings 10.6-Mile Bicycle Ride
Where: Chief Ladiga Trail, Piedmont, Alabama
Click here for more photos of the Chief Ladiga Trail
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 25. 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 9:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Restaurant in Trussville. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m. or meet 11:20 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 southeasternoutings@gmail.com 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 Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com, landline 205/631-4680.
APRIL 22, Wednesday, 9:45 AM
Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: Five Mile Creek Greenway Extension in the Brookside Areas, just northwest of Birmingham
Details: You are invited to participate in an easy and leisurely-paced, fun Southeastern Outings dayhike on a portion of the Five Mile Creek Greenway 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. 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.
Note that the trail has been extended recently. Our hike in 2026 will be entirely on the new section where we have only hiked twice 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 some 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 p.m. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Information and Trip Leaders: Caroline Boone, 205-567-8389, and Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com, landline 205/631-4680.
APRIL 4, SATURDAY, 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: Paul Grist State Park near Selma, Alabama
Details: Paul Grist State Park is one of the state’s most uncrowded, yet scenic state parks containing hills, forests, fields and a large, beautiful, tree-lined lake. Prior to the dayhike we will get together at the smaller pavilion right near the park office to eat our picnic lunches. Please bring your picnic lunch and also $3 per person ($2 for seniors age 62 and older) park admission and a beverage for yourself. Dayhike Details: Hike rated moderate. There are only a few ups and downs. Total hiking distance is approximately 5.5 miles. We plan to walk all the way around the lake and then also walk on some additional trails in the park to make the drive time down and back worthwhile.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age nine and over able to walk 6 miles without complaining are welcome. Please bring your picnic lunch and drink, and wear sturdy footwear.
Optional group restaurant dinner after the hike. Reservations not required for this outing.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s Galleria. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Information and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com, landline 205/631-4680
