Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Hike in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve near Pinson

You are invited to participate in a moderate but leisurely-paced, fun Southeastern Outings short dayhike in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve near Pinson.  There will be some gradual climbing for a while at the beginning.

Come walk with us through this heavily-wooded area.  We’ll hike on a new trail on which we have only hiked once previously.  The trail extends through the woods from the parking lot at the main park gate.  Along the way we will stop to enjoy our lunches by a large creek with a beautiful, long, sloping waterfall in the middle of the preserve.

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

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QeGUuDxRv6fHzVFt2

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

Total hiking distance is about 3.2 miles.  Please bring picnic lunch and drinking water with you.

Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Main Gate parking lot on Turkey Creek Road.  We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.

Please note that this is a different parking lot from where we have always parked on all but one of our previous hikes in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.  Share an adventure.  Bring a friend or friends.

Info. and trip leader: Bonnie Black, 205-994-5434

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Main Gate Parking Lot-3906 Turkey Creek Road, Pinson, Alabama.  Please note that this parking lot is a different parking lot from the lot where we have always parked on most of our previous hikes in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.  From Birmingham drive to Exit 128 on I-20/I-59.  This is one exit west of the Birmingham Airport exit off I-59/I-20.  It is marked Tallapoosa Street which IS AL Highway 79.  Coming from downtown Birmingham, as you get to the bottom of the exit ramp, get in the right lane.  The ramp curves to the right and then actually merges with AL Highway 79 headed north towards Pinson.  So bear slightly to the right at the end of the ramp.  If you are coming westbound from the Birmingham Airport area to exit 128, you will make a right turn onto Tallapoosa Street at the light at the end of the exit ramp.  Regardless of the direction from which you come, PLEASE STAY ON THE VERY WIDE, MAIN CITY STREET WHICH IS TALLAPOOSA STREET.  In either case, do not make any turns off of Alabama Highway 79 until you get to Pinson.  Take AL 79 about 12 miles to the traffic light in Pinson, Alabama at intersection with AL 151 and ¼ mile west of intersection of AL Highways 75 and 151 where 75 turns right going away from Birmingham towards Oneonta.   There is a Shell service station at far left of intersection of Alabama Highways 79 and 151.  This is 12 miles north of the Tallapoosa Street (which IS AL Highway 79) exit #128 off I-59/I-20.

Turn left at this traffic light and intersection onto Narrows Road and drive to Turkey Creek Road which you will see on your right just 2/10 miles after you have turned onto Narrows Road.

Turn right on Turkey Creek Road and drive 463 feet.  Drive through the main gate to the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve and then park in the parking lot immediately after you pass through the gate.  Our hike will start from that parking lot.

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 280 members.  We have scheduled seventy-nine fun events for you to enjoy in calendar year 2021.  This is an average of SEVEN fun outdoor 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.