Southeastern Outings has planned an easy hike to the new Shoal Creek Park in Montevallo.  On October 30, 2018, ten people participated in an SEO scouting trip there led by Shane Baugh, the Montevallo Parks and Recreation Director, and we were delighted at what we found.

This 167-acre park has some new trails (2.1 miles and 1.6 miles) already constructed and some less developed trails which we will also hike.  One trail does follow the creek a good ways.  The park is located on both sides of Shoal Creek about 2 miles upstream from Orr Park where we have begun our past hikes on the Montevallo Parks Trail.  There is already a foot bridge over the creek in the new park.  However, the bridge is actually a log with a flattened surface for walking.  It is about 8 feet above the creek surface.  There is a rather loose cable you can use as a handrail.  Those who are reluctant to traverse this type of creek crossing and find it treacherous should definitely not come on this hike.  There is a chance that a real, new bridge will be constructed by the time this hike takes place, but it has not yet been installed.

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

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d6AkyswTowepEGrd6

AND

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WabCFiCHg4CLKJpMA

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

The park is located very close to American Village on AL Highway 119 in Montevallo.

You are invited to come on this hiking trip with us.  We’ll drive from Hoover first to American Village in Montevallo to use the restrooms there.  Then we’ll drive a very short distance from American Village to Shoal Creek Park in Montevallo.

Please bring your picnic lunch and water with you and please meet at 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot behind the McDonald’s on U.S. Highway 31 at the Riverchase Galleria.  We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.  Or you may meet the group at the American Village parking lot at 10:30 a.m. in Montevallo.  When you arrive at American Village, please use the restrooms in the main entrance building lobby and then prepare to drive a bit farther with the group to the Shoal Creek Parking lot on AL Highway 119 less than a mile from American Village.

Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older able to walk 4 miles without complaining welcome

          Admission to the park is free!

Info: Bill Ennis, 405-4636 cell or email billennis47@gmail.com

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

McDonald’s Galleria-1731 Montgomery Highway, Hoover, AL 35244. Parking lot behind the McDonald’s Restaurant across U.S. 31 from the main entrance to the Riverchase Galleria Shopping Mall.

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 events during calendar year 2017 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Fifteen  people on average have participated in each outing since January 1, 2018.

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 several of our outings.

Thank you.