S.E. Outings River Float, Picnic, Swim, Short Hike on Locust Fork from Swann Bridge to Powel 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 a mile and a half, 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 at least one waterfall—all along a 1.5 mile stretch of this river.  Bring something to float on such as an inflatable vinyl float or tube.  See float note below for information about flotation devices.

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 lots of 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 tie your pack 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 in the pool at the base of the rock, jumping into the pool, climbing up and down 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 7 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 parking lot 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.  Note that parking is extremely limited at the put in point on the river.

Please note that reservations are NOT requested or required for this event!

Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

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.  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 work best.  However, since we have been unsuccessful during the past several years in finding a source to sell us more of this type of ideal float, we will also allow both vinyl recreational floating tubes and truck tire tubes on this river float.

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

Here is an alternative to carrying your lunches, water, towel and sunscreen in a pack on your back.  You can bring with you four 6-7 foot lengths of sturdy cord.  Place your pack with your things in it in the middle of the foot of your float.  Lash the pack to your float with two of the cords, one passing around the float and through the top of the straps and the other passing around the float and through the bottom of the straps of your pack.  Pass the other two cords over the top of your pack and under the float and tie them down tightly.  Then lie on your float with the pack sort of between your knees with your feet splayed out at the bottom corners of your float.  Using this method eliminates your having to float down the river for several hours on your belly with a pack on your back, and it also gives you the option of turning over and lying on your back in the slower-moving sections of the river in order to change your body position and float more comfortably.  If you are an adult, this method of fastening your pack to your float works only if you are using a 72-in long rectangular float.  Either method of transporting your pack is satisfactory and acceptable.  But I learned that people like it when you give them choices.  In any case, your lunches, etc. should be double bagged (or placed in a waterproof canoe bag) inside your pack and your pack should then be tied to your float.