Policies for Canoe Outings
- You must call 322-5326 between 8:30a and 4:30p for reservations and details about each trip.
- If you make a reservation and then discover you cannot attend, please let us know so we may offer the canoe to someone on our waiting list.
- Participants are required to follow the trip leader’s guidance regarding safety and behavior, including always wearing shoes and always wearing a life jacket (provided) when you are in a canoe.
- Please arrive well before the departure time.
- We request $20 on the day of the trip for each person. There is no charge for children under 12. However, children (up to age 18) must be accompanied by an adult.
- You should bring your own lunch. Remember that being outside in hot weather will require much more water than usual to keep you hydrated.
- HATS and SUNSCREEN will save you great discomfort!
- Participants with their own canoes or kayaks are very welcome to join us, but are still required to make a reservation and pay $10 per person. If you do join our trip, we require that you bring and wear your own lifejacket and that you wear shoes while on the river with us.
- Novice paddlers are encouraged to attend a training session directed by instructors with the Birmingham Canoe Club. For additional details, see “CLASSES” at www.birminghamcanoeclub.org
CRS 2010 Canoe Schedule
Trip # |
Date |
Departure Time |
Trip Description |
Meeting Place |
1 |
April 3 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Grants Mill to Overton |
Grants Mill |
2 |
April 17 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Oxbow Trip |
Colonnade |
3 |
May 8 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Day Trip |
Colonnade |
4 |
May 15 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Lily I |
Colonnade |
5 |
May 16 |
Sun, 8:30 am |
Lily II |
Colonnade |
6 |
May 22 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Lily III |
Colonnade |
7 |
May 29 |
Sat, 8:00 am |
Lily Festival† |
West Blocton |
8 |
June 12 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Lily IV |
Colonnade |
9 |
June 19 |
Sat, 8:30 pm |
Moonlight I |
Hwy 280 bridge |
10 |
July 18 |
Sun, 8:30 pm |
Moonlight II |
Hwy 280 bridge |
11 |
Aug 15 |
Sun, 8:00 pm |
Moonlight III |
Hwy 280 bridge |
12 |
Sept 11 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Day trip |
Colonnade |
14 |
Oct 2 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Ox Bow trip |
Colonnade |
15 |
Oct 9 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Day trip |
Colonnade |
15 |
Oct 23-24 |
Sat, 8:30 am |
Overnight trip |
Colonnade |
†No reservations are necessary for the Lily Festival. The West Blocton Improvement Association will accept donations to help cover the cost of the lunch they provide. Registration starts at 8:00a at the Lily Center in West Blocton, AL, Saturday, May 29th, 2010. Following the program, you can visit the Historic Beehive Coke Ovens and/or the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge where the Lilies will be blooming. See http://www.cahabalily.com/ for details. Canoes will be available for $10; first come, first served.
We ask for $20 per person. No charge for children under 12. Individuals under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Cash or Check to:Cahaba River Society. We provide paddles and life jackets and a naturalist/guide for the trip.
A few interesting Cahaba River Critters
-
A colorful crawdaddy -
Cylindrical Lioplax -
Dobsonfly larva -
Caddisfly larva's silken net -
Stink pot -
Freckle-bellied madtom -
Rainbow shiner -
River redhorse
Five Ways to Float the Cahaba River
Oxbow Trip - Meandering southern rivers occasionally create unique natural lakes known as oxbow lakes. Perry county now has a beautiful park featuring an oxbow that was created by the Cahaba River. This oxbow has gorgeous tupelo and cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss. We should see Prothonatary warblers as well as many other spring migrant bird species. We usually walk out to The Nature Conservancy's "Barton's Beach" too.
Lily Trips - You will see the beautiful Cahaba lilies first hand in their natural setting. These are rigorous outings that require wading and dragging a canoe over shallow rocky shoals. When very low water conditions occur, we alter the trip so we still see the lilies and enjoy the river, but we avoid a difficult hike down the riverbed. These are our most popular outings, so call soon to reserve your canoe.
Day Trips - Day trips are all-day adventures to a seldom seen stretch of the Cahaba River. There will be ample opportunities to stop, explore, and see the sights. Staff will point out wildlife, seine for fish, and discuss the natural history of wildlife and southern rivers when the critters present themselves. It is not unusual for us to spot resident Bald eagles on these trips.
Moonlight Trips - A moonlit evening on the Cahaba is a delightful, unique, and relaxing way to enjoy a flatwater portion of the Cahaba. We usually hear a variety of wildlife, and often see hundreds of glowworms. These outings begin at dusk at the old Highway 280 bridge.
We paddle about two hours in the 280 pool and then return to the same place we put in.
Overnight Trip - One of the very best ways to get a feel for the nature of the Cahaba River is to spend a couple of days and a night camping on the river. The first day is much like the Day Trips described above. But instead of crawling out of the river at the end of the day, we find a sand bar, pitch tents, cook a meal, and spend the night by a campfire. Soaking up an entirely different kind of experience on the river is great fun. You must provide your own camping gear and food.