Southeastern Outings River Float on the Locust Fork River

Please note that we have changed the location, meeting time and meeting place for our river float scheduled this coming Saturday, July 1.  We are now going to float on the Locust Fork River from Swann Bridge to Powell Falls.  We have changed the meeting time to 9:45 a.m., and we have changed the meeting place to the Cleveland Chevron. 

The water level in the West Fork Sipsey is definitely going to be too low on July 1 to float on that river, so we have changed the location of our July 1 river float to the Locust Fork from Swann Bridge to Powell Falls.

Easy river float on the Locust Fork River.  Float in the river from Swann Covered Bridge to Powell Falls.  We’ll view a genuine, old but newly refurbished wooden covered bridge.  Then we’ll float under the bridge and further, about 1.2 miles, downstream to the waterfall.  We’ll also view the sheer cliffs that rise about 60 feet above the river.  So, enjoy a flowing river, covered bridge, high rock bluffs and one or two waterfalls—all along a 1.2-mile stretch of this river.  Bring something to float on such as an inflatable, rectangular vinyl float.  See float note below for information about acquiring floats.

Also please bring a picnic lunch with you from home or pick your lunch up BEFORE you arrive at the meeting place.  Please do not make people wait while you take time to have your lunch prepared after you arrive at the meeting place at 9:45 a.m.  Also please bring your drink, towel and sunscreen.  Pack these items in 2 plastic garbage bags with twist ties, one bag over the other.  Then put the bags in your daypack and strap the pack to your back or tie it to your float.  This keeps your things dry and prevents them from floating away.  Wear swimsuit and sturdy foot protection.  Old sneakers work well.  Bare feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable! 

Lunch will be on the huge flat rock in the middle of the river beside the waterfall.  Have fun swimming and floating in the pool at the base of the rock, jumping into the pool, or just sitting in Powell Falls.  We will walk back to the bridge on a trail along the river.  You must be able to swim to participate in this outing!

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 9 and up able to swim welcome, but parents are responsible for all risks to their children.

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:

https://goo.gl/photos/N7bGvwrj2rSdkMME8

Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

Spring floats and inflatable boats are not permitted on SEO river floats!  A spring float is a flotation device consisting of an inflatable outer oval with a small, few inch diameter cross-section and a large mesh interior.  The last time a woman tried to float down this river with us on a spring float (now that I know what it is called), I had to order two high school football players in our group to wade out into the river immediately to seize her and her spring float in order to prevent her from being swept over the big waterfall.  Those spring floats are meant for floating in swimming pools and on lakes in still water, not for floating the Locust Fork River.  They are difficult to steer and therefore unsafe for use on Southeastern Outings river floats.

Please bring a friend or several if you wish.  Please be at the Cleveland Chevron Service Station no later than 9:45 a.m. ready to depart promptly at 10:00 a.m.  Arriving 15 minutes before departure time will allow time to use the restrooms at the service station, hear announcements concerning the day’s event, and form carpools from the Chevron.  Parking is extremely limited at the put in point on the river.

Reservations are NOT required for this event.

Info. And Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Cleveland Chevron-36320 AL Highway 79, Cleveland, AL 35049.  From junction of I-59/I-20 and I-65 (malfunction junction) in downtown Birmingham take I-65 North 23.5 miles to Exit 284 marked variously Exit 284, AL Route 160, Hayden/Corner, Park and Ride and Rickwood Caverns State Park.  Turn right at end of exit ramp at Exit 284 and drive on AL 160 17.6 miles all the way to the traffic circle at intersection with AL 79 in Cleveland Alabama.  The Cleveland Chevron, our meeting place, will then be on your far left on the far side of the traffic circle.

River Float Note

Substantial, fabric-covered, inflatable, vinyl, rectangular floats like you use to ride the waves at the Gulf of Mexico work best.  Finally, now after six years, trip leader Dan Frederick once again has 72-inch-long inflatable floats for sale for $23 each.  He also has 60-inch-long inflatable floats for sale for $15 each. These floats are available ONLY at the start of the river floats.  Please pay either with exact change or a check made out to SEO.  First come, first served.

Dan will provide hand float pumps to pump up your float at the start point of the river float.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has about 250 members.  We scheduled forty-six events during the six months ending May 31, 2021 for an average of EIGHT fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10 per family or household.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from most of our outings.

Thank you.