Mission Work: River Recreation

People who experience the river love it, and those who love it join us on our mission to protect and restore the Cahaba River.

Cahaba River Society works to enable river experiences that connect diverse communities with one of America’s natural wonders: the Cahaba River. We plan guided canoe trips and support initiatives that help people enjoy nature. Cahaba River Society is a partner in the Cahaba Blueway water trail project to provide the infrastructure and information needed to make accessing the river easier. Visit cahabablueway.org to discover access points and plan your trip.

Visit our Recreation on the Cahaba page to learn more about the wide range of recreation opportunities on the Cahaba River.

Guided Canoe Trips with Cahaba River Society

Guided canoe trips with Cahaba River Society are a great way to connect with like-minded people and experience the Cahaba River. These trips that offer a unique opportunity to connect with nature, witness the beauty of the Cahaba River, and understand the importance of preserving these precious ecosystems. Visit our event calendar to learn more and sign up. Contact us to learn more about planning a recreation trip for your business or group.

Paddle a Notable Section

Experience some of the most gorgeous sections of the Cahaba River in a canoe. We arrange meeting times and coordinate vehicles for put-in and take-out locations. We even plan an occasional overnight excursion.

Cahaba Lily Excursions

Visit the Cahaba lilies at Hargrove Shoals in the Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge with an expert who can help you access and appreciate these remarkable flowers. Cahaba lily excursions take place between mid-May and mid-June each year. Lily trips are our most popular events, so we recommend booking months in advance to reserve your spot. Become a Cahaba River Society member to be the first to know when trips are scheduled.

Moonlight Trips

Experience the river at night on a moonlight trip. We paddle for about an hour upstream, attempting to stay quiet so that we can see all there is to see. We will then gather around to ask any questions and share our findings with the group before paddling back downstream to the boat launch.

What to Expect

We take safety very seriously. Guided canoe trips are weather and water-dependent. Closed-toe shoes are required for recreation trips. Sandals and flip-flops don’t offer enough protection when portaging or walking through the shoals. This site shows some of the shoes our team might be wearing.

Some trips include time for a brown bag lunch. You are welcome to bring a cooler for your water and lunch, but alcohol is prohibited. We recommend bringing sunscreen and a sun hat for all daytime trips.

Book a Trip

Visit our event calendar to learn more and book a spot on a guided canoe tour.

To learn more about planning a guided canoe trip for your business, organization, or group, fill out this form or contact Field Programs Director Wil Rainer.