November and December Activities
NOVEMBER 16, SATURDAY, please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Weekday hike
Where: Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve, Springfield, Alabama
Details: This will be Southeastern Outings’
second ever hike in this new nature preserve.
The property is located along a beautiful, tree-canopied section of St.
Clair County Highway 9 within the city limits of Springville in north St. Clair
County. The property encompasses hilly, forested terrain and aquatic riparian
habitat in and near Big Canoe Creek.
Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve consists of 422 acres of pristine
meandering creek, lush forest, one-of-a-kind species, wildlife, stunning flora
and trails of all kinds to be traveled.
Trails traverse this Alabama Forever Wild property in Springville,
perfect for hiking, horseback riding, bird watching and mountain biking,
paddling and a variety of other outdoor activities.
The Forever Wild Land Trust
believes that this property presents a unique opportunity to serve as a focal
point of sustainable regional economic and social activity while simultaneously
helping to protect some of Alabama’s impressive aquatic biodiversity for
generations to come. Experience the
Preserve’s biodiversity – from mountain laurel and native azalea to beech, red
and sugar maple trees. Find hornbeams, black walnut, catalpa, butternut and
bigleaf magnolia trees and perhaps, stands of river cane.
The northern border spans about
2/3 mile of Big Canoe Creek, providing abundant creekside scenery and wildlife
habitat. High points on the property afford views of the uppermost section of
the Big Canoe Creek watershed, including beautiful, rural Canoe Creek Valley
and the opposing ridges of Pine and Blount Mountains.
Take in the spectacular views of
ridges, mountains and valley, or spot a rare bird soaring above.
Each sunrise seems to reveal a new perspective on nature’s many gifts
found beneath the canopy’s trees or along the banks of this stunning creek that
runs for 50 miles. And each sunset beckons visitors to savor the memories of
the sights, sounds and the enveloping feeling of it all. It is a true gift of nature for us all to
enjoy, to experience and to be inspired.
The hike will be relatively
easy. We will be hiking on the Slab
Creek Trail. Total hike distance is
about 2.6 miles.
Admission to the park is
free. Please bring your picnic lunch
and beverage with you.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the
Applebee’s in Trussville. We plan to
depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Information and Trip Leader: Dan
Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or
telephone 205-631-4680.
NOVEMBER 23, SATURDAY, please meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Picnic Lunch and Moderate Dayhike
Where: Paul Grist State Park near Selma, Alabama
Click for More Pictures
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.
Info. And Trip Leader: Dan Frederick email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or
telephone 205-631-4680
DECEMBER 1, SATURDAY, please meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Easy Dayhike
Where: Vulcan Trail inside the City Limits of Birmingham
Details: Enjoy an easy walk in the woodlands overlooking
Birmingham on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
The trail is level, as it is on an old mining railroad right of way just
below the crest of Red Mountain. This
walk is an ideal activity for those Thanksgiving guests who have been in your
house for several days and with whom you are looking for something to do to get
them out of the house. A previous walk
on this trail drew one of the highest number of participants, 67, on any outing
SEO has ever sponsored. Don’t miss it!
Please
meet at 1:45 p.m. in the Vulcan Park and Museum Parking Lot where you
would normally park to visit the statue and Vulcan Park. We plan to depart from there at 2:00
p.m. We will walk from the big parking
lot a short distance down some new stairs to the trailhead and then on the
trail to Green Springs Highway and back.
The formerly unpaved section of the Vulcan Trail has recently been
widened and resurfaced.
There is
no charge to participate in this hike and there is no charge for admission to
either Vulcan Park or the trail.
Well-behaved,
carefully supervised children age 7 and older able to walk 4 miles
welcome. After the walk is completed,
there will be an optional dinner for our hikers at Jim 'N Nick's 11th Avenue
Grill at Five Points South.
Share an
adventure. Bring a friend or friends.
Information and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick,
southeasternoutings@gmail.com or telephone 205/631-4680
