OCTOBER
18, WEDNESDAY, 10:00 a.m.
Weekday
Dayhike
Where: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road, Hoover,
AL 35242
Details: Come with us on our 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 on this particular
Wednesday, 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.
This walk will be Southeastern Outings’ fourth 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.
Depart 10:00 a.m. from the
Veterans Park parking lot right beside the building with restrooms in it at the
park.
Optional lunch nearby at Mikey’s Grill after the hike.
Admission to Park: Free
Information: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969 cell
OCTOBER 21, SATURDAY, 9:00 a.m.
Moderately Strenuous Dayhike on the Cherokee Ridge Alpine
Trail System at Lake Martin, near Alexander City, Alabama
Details: Located on the banks of Lake Martin, Alabama’s
largest and allegedly most beautiful lake, the area offers linked loop
trails. Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trails are among the most scenic and diverse hiking
trails in Alabama. The trails skirt the shoreline of beautiful Lake
Martin, a 40,000-acre, 700-mile-shoreline lake. Other areas of the trails are high rocky ridges and bluffs, some
with vistas of 6 to 8 miles overlooking Kowaliga Bay, Chimney Rock, and others
along rocky shoal creeks, and rippling brooks. The trails are routed
through a variety of flora and fauna. There are high rocky ridges with
mountain long leaf pine, mountain laurel, low and high bush blueberry, and lush
hardwood forests that include redbud, sourwood, dogwood, native azalea,
umbrella and big leaf magnolia. Large thickets of Catawba Rhododendron
are numerous. Deer, turkey and numerous bird species, including bald
eagles, can be seen along the trail.
The trails are built to blend
into nature, free of bicycles, motorized vehicles, horses or other pack
animals. All trails are built on Alabama Power Company land that is set
aside as naturally undeveloped.
The trails are well-marked and maintained, the terrain is
varied, and the scenery on a clear day is spectacular. We will hike about 4 miles. We will see longleaf pine and mixed hardwood
forests, open airy sections, and other trail sections under fuller forest
canopy. We also will see pristine lake
views, boats, birds, boulders and deer tracks.
Please wear hiking boots!
Depart 9:00 a.m. from the parking lot of the
Publix in the Village at Lee Branch in Greystone.
Children age ten and over welcome.
Optional restaurant dinner after.
Info: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680
OCTOBER 22, SUNDAY, 1:30 p.m.
Walk Very Near Birmingham
Where: Shepherd Addition to the Turkey Creek Nature
Preserve near Pinson in Jefferson County, Alabama
Details: Enjoy a walk in the woodlands near Birmingham on
a Sunday afternoon. We expect that this
property will eventually be added to the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. It is a spectacularly diverse, forested
property with streams, small canyons, hills and a great variety of
wildlife. Don’t miss it!
Depart promptly at 1:30 p.m. from the Turkey Creek Nature
Preserve oval, upper parking lot on the north side of The Narrows Road about
1.4 miles west of the intersection of AL 79, AL 151 and The Narrows Road in
Pinson. We will walk across The Narrows
Road from the oval parking lot to the Shepherd Addition. Total walking distance may be about 4
miles. Rated moderate.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and
older able to walk 4 miles welcome.
Share an adventure. Bring a
friend or friends.
Info: David
Shepherd, email davidshep2@yahoo.com
or 205/240-4681
OCTOBER 28, SATURDAY, 10:00 a.m.
Dayhike
Where: Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
Details: Join SEO for a moderate 4-mile hike on the
lovely, well-maintained trails in the 1000+-acre Ruffner Mountain Nature
Preserve, one of the largest in-city nature preserves in the country. We’ll pass remnants of old iron mining and
limestone quarrying operations which took place on the mountain, and we’ll have
splendid views from the overlook where you can see all the way to the Miller
Steam Plant on the Locust Fork River on a clear day.
Please bring picnic lunch and drink. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children
age 8 and up welcome.
Depart 10:00 a.m. from the Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Pavilion.
OCTOBER 29, SUNDAY, 2:00 p.m.
Moderate dayhike Along Buck Creek in Helena, AL
Details: Come explore the wilder side of Helena. Hike with SEO on a lovely creekside trail in
Helena in Shelby County. Total hiking
distance is less than four miles. Hike
rated moderately easy. We will be
walking briefly off trail and walking up some hills when the trail routes us
away from the creek. Well-behaved,
properly supervised children age eight and up welcome.
Depart 2:00 p.m. from the parking lot for the Helena City
Park on AL Highway 261 in Helena. Take
I-65 to Exit #247, the Shelby County Route 17, the Valleydale Road exit. Go to end of ramp and turn right regardless
of whether you come from the south or the north. Take Co. 17, which changes from Co. Route 17 to AL 261, all the
way into Helena. You will cross one
railroad and then drive over a bridge with a dam and waterfall on the
left. Immediately past the bridge, turn
sharply back to the right just before you cross a second railroad and then
drive into the parking lot for a city park right on the shore of the
creek. Distances on Valleydale Road,
(Shelby County Route 17) and then Alabama Route 261 from I-65 exit number 247
to driveway into Helena Park parking lot are 5.5 miles from bottom end of
southbound ramp and 5.9 miles from bottom end of northbound ramp.
Info: Mary Alice Thurman, 205/823-5165
NOVEMBER 4, SATURDAY, 9:00 a.m.
Moderate Dayhike
Where: Cloudland Canyon State Park, Trenton, Georgia
Details: Hike along the highly scenic rim trail around this
lovely canyon in Northwest Georgia and then down into the bottom of the canyon
itself. The rushing stream in the
bottom of the canyon has two good-sized waterfalls which we’ll view close
up. Lunch will be on a large, flat rock
outcropping from where we’ll have beautiful, panoramic views across the canyon. Fall color should hopefully be at its
peak.
Please bring picnic lunch,
plenty of water, and $5.00 per
vehicle park entry fee.
Parents, please be aware that there are very high, steep cliffs with no
guard rails adjacent to the rim trail.
Optional restaurant dinner afterwards.
You may wish to bring in the car a change of clothes for dinner, but
this is not required.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age ten
and up welcome. Depart 9:00 a.m. from
Applebee’s Trussville.
Info: Greg Mann, 777-8737
NOVEMBER 5, SUNDAY 1:00 p.m.
Dayhike
Where: Horse Creek Trail, Dora and Sumiton, AL
Details: Join friendly folks on an easy 3.2-mile walk on the
Horse Creek Trail in Dora and Sumiton, in Walker County, sort of near Jasper,
Alabama. Walk on one of Alabama’s
rails-to-trails conversion routes on an old railroad right of way. This smooth trail is wide, level and
paved. No hills on this trail. On this particular hike you will be walking
on a scenic trail which goes through fields, near houses and through the woods.
The trail is nicely developed,
with frequent covered benches. People you might meet are both friendly
and helpful.
No motorized vehicles are
allowed on your trail! Note this is a
relatively easy outing, one which should be lots of fun for everyone. Please bring your drink with you.
DEPART 9:00 a.m. from the Floor Décor Store on Green
Springs Highway or meet at 9:30 a.m. in the lobby inside the left
entrance (as you face the front of the store) of the Wal-Mart Super Center in
Sumiton, Alabama.
NOVEMBER 11, SATURDAY, 8:00 a.m.
Moderately Easy Dayhike, Alum
Hollow on Green Mountain, Nature Trail also on Green Mountain, and Monte Sano
State Park--all in the Huntsville, AL Area
Details: Our
first adventure of the day will be hiking Alum Hollow Trail. Sitting atop Green
Mountain in Huntsville, Alum Hollow Trail just opened to the public in the
spring of 2016 and is on property donated to the Land Trust of North Alabama.
The mile long trail (one-way) is an easy stroll through light woods, ending at
two waterfalls. The last hundred feet of the trail down to the waterfalls is
steep but very walkable with time and careful footing. If you wish to not walk down to the falls,
there is an area where you can sit and wait for those who do go down. While
waiting, you can explore a rock overhang that possibly served as shelter for
Native Americans. This hike is rated easy to moderate based on the last hundred
feet.
After our hike at Alum Hollow,
we will go to the Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain for a picnic
lunch. We can sit amongst the trees in the picnic grounds and enjoy the view of
a covered bridge across the lake. There are restrooms there. This is really a
pretty setting.
From Green Mountain we will travel to Monte Sano State Park, parking in the hiker's parking lot. We will hike the South Plat and Mountain Mist Trails. The flat South Plat Trail will take us to O'Shaughnessy Point where we will enjoy the view from the overlook. This trail allows us to take in the quiet of a fall forest on top of the mountain and, if we are lucky, we will be treated to beautiful fall colors. From O'Shaughnessy Point we will descend the side of the mountain on the Mountain Mist Trail. Remember, what goes down must come up, and we do the up in a shorter distance than the down. We will follow along the base of the bluff with gorgeous rock faces on our left and a view of the fall forest floor to our right. This 3 to 4-mile hike is moderate mainly based on length.
Please wear hiking boots or
sturdy shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. Bring water, snacks, a picnic lunch, hiking
poles if you use them.
Monte Sano Park entrance fee.
Adult Fee Ages 12+
$5.00
Seniors 62+ $2.00
Children Ages 4-11
$2.00
Optional
dinner at a Huntsville restaurant after the hike.
Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and over
welcome.
Depart 8:00 a.m. from the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride or 9:30
a.m. from the Wendy’s in Valley Bend at Jones Valley. Address of the Wendy’s is 2742 Carl T. Jones
Drive, Huntsville, Alabama. Please park
in the shopping center parking lot. You can then use the restrooms in the
Target at the same shopping center before we leave to start our hike.
NOVEMBER 12, SUNDAY, 1:00 p.m.
Second 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.
Optional
dinner after the hike.
Depart
1:00 p.m. from the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot.
Please
bring $5/person adults ($2 seniors age 62 and over and children age 4-11) park
admission fee plus your drink.
Info: Edd Spencer, 205/317-5868
NOVEMBER 18, SATURDAY, 9:00 a.m.
Dayhike on the Deadening Trail at Lake Martin near Alexander City,
Alabama
Details: The Deadening Trail is among the most scenic and
diverse hiking trails in Alabama. The cliffs of the Tallapoosa, the Needles
Eye, and Lichen and Jasmine Bluffs are just a few of the unusual and unique
rock formations that await the hiker. The trails are routed through a
variety of flora and fauna. There are
high rocky ridges with mountain long leaf pine, mountain laurel, low and high
bush blueberry, and lush hardwood forests that include redbud, sourwood,
dogwood, native azalea, umbrella and big leaf magnolia. Large thickets of Catawba Rhododendron are
numerous. Deer, turkey and numerous
bird species, including bald eagles, can be seen along the trail.
The Deadening Trail is a
moderately strenuous 3.6 mile loop trail at Lake Martin. The trail is a more challenging footpath
than other trails located along an area of the southeast shore of beautiful
Lake Martin (a 40,000-acre, 700-mile-shoreline lake) in Tallapoosa County,
Alabama.
In order to manage most
effectively hiking on this difficult trail it is highly recommended that you
wear hiking boots, not tennis shoes, and that you bring a trekking pole (hiking
stick) or two. Also be sure to bring
plenty of water with you.
Optional dinner after.
Depart 9:00 a.m.
from the parking lot of the Publix in the Village at Lee Branch in Greystone.
NOVEMBER 19, SUNDAY, 1:30 p.m.
Dayhike
Where: Cahaba
Environmental Center at Living River, Shelby-Bibb County line near Boothton
and Marvel
Details: Living River, a nonprofit
affiliated with the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, has developed a camp
and environmental center on the Cahaba River. On November 19 Southeastern
Outings people will hike on the trails on the property for the fifth time.
Thirty-six people participated in one of our previous hikes to this area.
The hike will be led by a staff memberof
the Cahaba Environmental Center at Living River, and one of her associates. The
approximately 3-mile hike is rated moderate.
Living River, a tree-covered point nestled in a
deep bend in the Cahaba River, preserves a mix of hardwoods and older trees
that were once typical of Alabama’s river bottoms but elsewhere have been
logged and replaced with faster-growing pines. The site is 440 acres in size,
and because of its unique location, it fronts four miles of the river.
The Cahaba River itself, the longest free-flowing
river in Alabama, preserves a remarkable and fragile biodiversity, including an
incredible variety of freshwater mussels, turtles, snails, and crayfish, as
well as more fish species per mile than any other river in North America. The
globally significant biodiversity of the Cahaba has been widely recognized by
conservation groups and scientists.
In this significant and beautiful place, the
Presbyterian Church organization has built Living River, a retreat where young
people will continue to discover the awakening power of an outdoor camping
experience and where adults, families, and children can also step away from the
demands of their everyday lives.
During this hike, we will explore the variety of
ecosystems on the Living River property. We will start with a trip out on the
‘thumb,’ the deep horseshoe bend of the Cahaba River, and then head out to more
impacted forest ecosystems, including reclaimed mining sites. We will have the
opportunity to learn about the natural and cultural history of the area. Our
outing will conclude on top of a giant mine spoil where Pennsylvania period
plant fossils can be found at every step.
Please bring $2.00 per person EXACT CHANGE Living River fee to participate in this hike.
Please bring $2.00 per person EXACT CHANGE Living River fee to participate in this hike.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7
and older able to walk about 3 miles without complaining are welcome on this
hike.
Depart at 1:30 p.m. from McDonald’s Galleria.
NOVEMBER 26, SUNDAY, 2:00 p.m.
Details: The City of Homewood owns two forest preserves on
Shades Mountain adjacent to the Homewood High School. Come and spend a relaxing two hours walking with us in the lower
preserve. Rated moderately easy. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children
age 6 and older welcome. Meet 2:00 p.m.
in the Homewood High School east (nearest Brookwood Village Shopping Center)
parking lot, just off Lakeshore Drive in Homewood.
Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or
phone 205/631-4680
DECEMBER 9, SATURDAY, 9:00 a.m.
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. 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 welcome.
After the outing we’ll enjoy an optional restaurant dinner
together.
Depart
9:00 a.m. from the
Applebee’s in
Trussville.
DECEMBER 10, SUNDAY,
1:00 p.m.
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. Depart 1:00 p.m.
from the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot.
Please bring $5/person ($2.00 seniors) park admission fee
plus your drink.
Info: Edd Spencer, 205/317-5868
DECEMBER 16, SUNDAY,
10:00 a.m.
Dayhike, Moss Rock
Preserve
Details: Explore the wilder side of Hoover
on a moderate 2 to 4 mile hike with some climbing up and walking down fairly
steep hills on Shades Mountain. We’ll
experience the preserve’s diverse natural features which include longleaf pine
forests, huge boulders, streams, grassy areas, outstanding views and, when it
rains, some beautiful waterfalls. A
previous Southeastern Outings dayhike in the Moss Rock Preserve in January,
2015 had the highest number of participants of any SEO event since our founding
15 years ago! Don’t miss this one!
Please bring your picnic lunch and water to drink. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age seven and up able to walk
the distance and complete the hike without complaining are welcome.
The group will depart promptly at 10:00 a.m. from the Moss Rock Preserve parking lot on Sulphur Springs Road in Hoover.
Info on the hike: David Shepherd, email
davidshep2@yahoo.com or 205/240-4681
