Guided Canoe Trip: Suttle to US 80 – November 9th
- When: Saturday, November 9th, from 8 am to 5 pm
- Where to meet: Amped Fitness at the Colonnade, 3427 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243
- Location: Suttle in Perry County
- Day of event contact: Wil Rainer, Mobile: (901) 210-7850
- Cost: $40 per person
- Availability: Space is limited.
- You will need: Brown bag lunch, at least 1 liter of water, sun protection, close-toed water shoes you don’t mind getting dirty
- We will provide: Boats (contact [email protected] to inquire about using your own boat), paddles, and life jackets.
- Registration: Space is limited! Fill out the form below to reserve your spot!
Description
This section of the Cahaba River is wild and beautiful! The area is remote and undeveloped, and the river banks are heavily wooded.
Along the way, we will see an interesting change in the 30 to 100-foot bluffs along this segment. Around mile 4, we will start to see white chalk along these bluffs. This is the Mooreville Chalk, which is the lowest and oldest example of the chalk formations that underlie Alabama’s Black Belt region. We will also start to see eastern red cedar trees along the banks. These trees love soil with lots of calcium and are very common in the Black Belt.
We will be on the lookout for the fossils of Cretaceous marine animals such as mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, giant turtles, and shark teeth in the shallows!
What to Expect
This trip is designated as moderately difficult because of the length of the trip. It will be a long day of paddling and driving.
We will meet on Saturday, November 9th at 8:15 am at Amped Fitness (3427 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243) at the Colonnade in Birmingham to caravan to the launch site. We will depart for the Suttle boat launch at 8:30 sharp. Join us if you can, but you may also choose to travel to the launch site on your own. If you don’t want to caravan, please contact Wil Rainer at [email protected] to get the coordinates for the put-in location.
We will unload our boats and gear when we arrive at the put-in. Everyone who drove will caravan to the takeout and return to the put-in in the minimum possible number of cars.
We will find a comfortable spot to eat our brown bag lunches on the river.
When we finish our journey, we will pack up our gear, and everyone with a car at the takeout is welcome to head home. The take-out at U.S. Hwy. 80 is on the right bank under the bridge. It is an unimproved, moderately steep sandy slope.
Guided canoe trips are weather and water-dependent. If there are changes or cancellations, Wil Rainer will contact each guest and let you know the plan.
What to Bring
- Water (at least 1 liter)
- Lunch
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Close-toed water shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not protective enough when walking through the shoals. This site shows some of the shoes our team might be wearing.
- Photography equipment (don’t forget we will be on the water)
You are welcome to bring a cooler for your water and lunch, but alcohol is prohibited.
