Southeastern Outings Short Dayhike and Glorious Swim at the bottom of the 102-foot-high DeSoto Falls

Walk through the woods and down a steep hill in DeSoto State Park to the huge pool which many of you have seen from above when at the overlook above 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.

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.

We are pleased to announce that DeSoto State Park has recently constructed a new trail which extends from the road going to the top of DeSoto Falls all the way down to the opposite side of pool at the bottom of the falls from where the previous trail leads.  This new trail is considerably easier and much less treacherous than the trail we used to take there when we did this trip in past years.

The new trail is 7/10 of a mile long one way.  The first half goes down a fairly steep hill.  The second half parallels the West Fork of Little River and is more or less level.  The State Park Service rates this new trail as moderate to strenuous.  I would rate it moderately strenuous.  The surface is rocky, but the trail is open, and there is no underbrush and there are no vertical cliffs to negotiate.

That being said, it is highly recommended that anyone intending to come on this outing with us bring TWO sturdy hiking poles in order to wade safely across the West Fork of Little River (about 15 feet wide) from the side where the new trail is located over to the opposite side of the river where the sand and gravel beach is.  We will spend most of the day floating on the water in the huge pool at the bottom of the waterfall and on that beach where we will eat our lunches.

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.

Participants on this hike must: be able and willing to wear hiking boots or sturdy overland shoes to hike to and from the water’s edge and bring and wear shorts or swim suits and water shoes to wade the river and 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.

Please bring water, swimsuit, and any kind of a flotation device you wish.  Trip leader Dan Frederick currently has for sale, at $15.00 each, seventeen substantial, fabric-covered, inflatable, vinyl, rectangular 60-inch-long canvas surf rider floats like the floats you use to ride the waves at the Gulf of Mexico.  If you think you are likely to want to purchase one of these floats from Dan on July 23, please advise him before July 23 so that he is sure to bring enough floats to meet the demand.  Email seoutings@bellsouth.net or call 205-631-4680.  Please pay on July 23 either with exact change or a check made out to SEO.  First come, first served.

We regret that at this time we have been unable to find a source where we can buy more of the 72-inch canvas-covered floats.  However, we are very pleased to report that on May 10, 2022, our float supply source  informed us that a container load of 72-inch long floats are due to arrive at their warehouse in June of this year.  Please stay tuned, and we will keep you posted.  We promise you that we will purchase a sizable quantity of these canvas rafts for sale to our people just as soon as they are available from our supplier.

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.

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 floats at the edge of the pool when we get there and deflate the floats before we hike back up the hill.

After our swim and float, we’ll walk 7/10 of a mile back to the cars and then for those who would like, they may go for showers and an optional dinner.  Hot showers are available for $2.00 per person in the air-conditioned bathrooms at the park campground before dinner.  Please bring shower things and a change of clothes if you wish to clean up and change for dinner.  If you would like to shower and change clothes and then drive straight home with out going to dinner with the group, you may do so.  Also if you want to just change into dry clothes with no shower and then drive directly home, you may change with no charge in the restrooms by the Country Store.

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 me at seoutings@bellsouth.net if you would like me 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 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 road you come to on the left when you are on Chalkville Mountain Road. This is immediately after you pass a Texaco gas station on your left and a Shell gas station on your right.  Turn left there onto Norrell Drive.  Applebee’s Restaurant is on Norrell Drive directly behind the McDonald’s which faces Chalkville Mountain Road at the far left corner of that intersection.  There is no longer a stoplight at this intersection.

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 300 members.  We have scheduled forty-six fun events for you to enjoy in the first six months of 2022.  This is an average of EIGHT 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.