The stream rapidly expands to 15-feet wide before the end of the trail.  We anticipate seeing extensive quantities of blooming mountain laurel all along the creek on this hike.  We will offer two options.  Option A involves a short moderate hike off trail to view a pretty waterfall nearby, and then return to the main trail where we will hike to the far end of the trail and back to the start.  Option B involves easy hiking on the main trail from start to end and return on the trail.  There are footbridges over the stream, and, except for a steep patch over a ridge, walking on the trail itself is easy. Happy hiking!

Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and over able to walk 4 ½ miles without complaining are welcome.

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

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ojHkVyiDhYBlVFGl2

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

Please meet at 1:45 p.m. in the DVGWT trail head on Shelby County Highway 41.  We plan to depart from there at 2:00 p.m.

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE: From intersection of U.S. Highway 280 and Rocky Ridge Road, just beyond Water Works on top of Shades Mountain take U.S. Highway 280 East 9.3 miles away from Birmingham to traffic light at intersection with Shelby Co. Highway 41 and turn left.  Drive 1.5 miles on Co. Highway 41 to gravel parking area on the right.  See Southeastern Outings sign and small, brown DVGWT sign parallel to road on right.  Turn right on gravel turnoff and park in parking lot at trail head.  If the DVGWT parking lot is full, which it probably will be, please park on the side of Shelby County Route 41 completely off of the pavement!

Info. and trip leader: Please call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 for more information.

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 320 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.  Thirty-two people on average have participated in each hike during January 1, 2019.

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.