Southeastern Outings Glorious Swim at the bottom of DeSoto Falls in DeSoto State Park

Easy walk through the woods and then a strenuous descent down a short, but very steep hill in DeSoto State Park to the huge pool which many of you have seen from above when at DeSoto Falls.  We’ll be swimming and playing for most of the day in this pool at the bottom of the waterfall which is in the West Fork of Little River.  You can also walk and play in the section of the river that flows out from the pool.  It takes only 30 minutes or so to walk from where we’ll park our cars to the water. All but the last 75 feet or so is simple walking on fairly level ground. BUT the last 75 feet are quite strenuous, requiring some rock, root and rope maneuvering.  So we are rating the hiking portion of this outing as strenuous.  Please note that we will use a thick, very sturdy rope at the very bottom section of the descent down into the canyon and at the same place going up, also.  Your feet will always be on the ground.  You will not be dangling from a rope without having your feet on the ground.  But if you are queasy about this aspect of the walk in and out, please do not come on this trip.

You must be able to swim to participate in this outing!  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and up 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://photos.app.goo.gl/dipvsmHzklJdXGXB3

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

Participants on this hike must: wear hiking boots or sturdy overland shoes to hike to and from the pool and bring and wear shorts or swim suits and water shoes for the swim.  Sturdy foot protection is required all day.  Old sneakers work fine for the in-water activities, but please no bare feet, flimsy beach shoes, flip flops or loose slip-ons for the swim!  Please don’t come if you are unwilling to get wet!  Also please do bring a large plastic bag with twist tie or large Ziploc bag in which to put your wet shoes and also bring a hand towel to dry your feet before putting your socks and hiking boots back on for the walk out.  Hiking poles are strongly recommended!

Please bring water, swimsuit, and any kind of a flotation device you wish.  Also please bring a picnic lunch with you from home. Please do not make 20-30 people wait while you take time to buy lunch or have your lunch prepared after you arrive at the meeting place at 8:45 a.m.  And BE SURE TO BRING PLENTY OF SUNSCREEN DOWN INTO THE CANYON WITH YOU!!

You are required to carry your flotation devices deflated for the walk in and out from the pool.  Dan Frederick will bring a float pump to pump up and deflate floats at the edge of the pool when we get there.  Another participant, Ray Hara, has also very kindly agreed to bring a second float pump down into the canyon by the pool.

After our swim and float, we’ll walk less than one mile back to the cars and then go for showers and an optional dinner. Hot showers for $2.00 per person are available before dinner.  Please bring shower things and change of clothes if you wish to clean up and change for dinner.  Also even if you do not choose to stay for dinner, you may wish to bring a change of clothes to change into so you will be in dry clothes for the ride home.  You can change clothes for free in the restrooms at the Country Store or in the Lodge at the park before you leave the park.

If we have enough time before we go to dinner or drive back home, we plan to drive to the overlook at the TOP of DeSoto Falls where you can view the falls from the top and look down on the place where we have been swimming earlier that day.

Here are some special points to note regarding the upcoming outing.

If you are unwilling to carpool with others because of concerns you have about the Covid-19 virus, please do not make a reservation to come on this outing unless you want to drive your own car by yourself for the entire day!
Please bring a mask with you. You are asked to wear it in the car in which you ride from the meeting place to the outing location and back if the driver requests that all his/her passengers wear a mask or if any one of the passengers makes a similar request.  You may also wear it at other times during the day if you wish.
There is no limit on the number of people permitted to come on this outing.

Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Restaurant Trussville.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m., or you may meet the group at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby of the DeSoto Park Lodge where we will stop to use the restrooms before we begin the short drive from there to the start point of our walk.  Please email Dan Frederick at seoutings@bellsouth.net if you would like him to email to you driving directions to the Lodge.

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

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Applebee’s Restaurant Trussville (coming from Birmingham)—4711 Norrell Drive, Trussville, AL 35173.  Take I-59 North to Exit #141 (Chalkville Mountain Road Exit).  Exit I-59 at Exit #141.  Drive to traffic light at far end of the I-59 interstate exit ramp.  This is at intersection of the exit ramp and Chalkville Mountain Road. Turn right at the traffic light at the far end of exit ramp.  Drive to first stoplight you come to on Chalkville Mountain Road and turn left.  Applebee’s Restaurant is on Norrell Drive directly behind the McDonald’s which faces Chalkville Mountain Road.

 
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 over 250 members.  We scheduled eighty-two events during calendar year 2018 for an average of 7 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.  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.