Spring Outings: Explore north Alabama’s birdwatching, hiking and canoeing sites

By Catherine Godbey | Living 50 Plus

Get ready to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring with its sweet smell of flowers, sound of birds and feel of warm sunshine filtered through canopies of trees.

Now, this sweet spot between the frigid days of winter and sweltering heat of summer, represents the perfect time to explore the nature of north Alabama and get the 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From the water to the land to the air, adventures await for adults 50 and older. The trails at Bankhead National Forest’s Sipsey Wilderness, which is celebrating 50 years as a protected wilderness area this year, bird-watching sites at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and boat launches along Flint Creek and the Elk River represent getaways into the area’s natural wonders.

Hiking

Where: Sipsey Wilderness in Lawrence and Winston counties

Why: “The 51 miles of hiking trails in the Sipsey Wilderness pass through some of the most biodiverse land in Alabama,” said Janice Barrett, outreach coordinator with Wild Alabama, which maintains trails in the Sipsey Wilderness.

The trails snake along bluffs, through canyons, along streams and past waterfalls.

For moderately easy hikes, Barrett recommended the Brushy Lake Recreation Area in Danville, the Houston Recreation Area in Double Springs and the Natural Bridge section in Double Springs.

Accessible by wheelchair, the Brushy Lake Recreation Area off Mount Olive Road includes a hiking trail with views of fields of wildflowers, a bluff and lake. A fishing pier also is on site. The Houston Recreation Area, 1411 County Road 3099, features lake views and opportunities for bird-watching. The Natural Bridge site on County Road 63 has a paved trail that runs approximately three-eighths of a mile and leads to a natural rock arch in a hardwood forest.

“We encourage people to come to the Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness not just for recreation, but as stewards and protectors of this incredibly beautiful and ecologically rich part of Alabama. Exploring via a staff-led stewardship workday, through a community science project or an interpretive nature hike opens us to deeper knowledge of the forest and, therefore, a more meaningful experience,” Barrett said.

Wild Alabama members also lead Forest Bathing walks in the Bankhead National Forest once a month. For Wild Alabama events, visit wildal.org.

Sipsey Recreation Area (Picnic Grounds) south of the Sipsey Wilderness on County Road 60 is still inaccessible because of damage to the bridge across the river.

What you need to know: Pack a paper map of the trails.

“Don’t go without a good map,” Barrett said. “Some online apps can be misleading so hikers should double-check their route using a reliable map before putting their entire trust in an app. Cellphone service in Bankhead and Sipsey is non-existent in many places and spotty in most others. Many intended day-hikers have turned out to be overnighters because of the use of cellphones with no back-up map.”

Also, wear hiking shoes or sneakers with a good tread because of potentially slippery conditions, bring a first-aid kit, including Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, gauze pads, drinking water, latex gloves, scissors, tweezers, cleaning wipes and Benadryl, in case of allergic reaction, and bring a trash bag to take out everything you brought in, including food scraps.

Bird-watching

Where: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Why: Home to more than 295 bird species, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, which spans 35,000 acres across Morgan, Limestone and Madison counties, offers an escape for bird-watchers. The North Alabama Birding Trail includes eight sites on the refuge.

“I like to think of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge as a natural oasis along the Tennessee River,” said David Young, park ranger at Wheeler.

Listen for the songbirds along any of the refuge’s forested trails, including Flint Creek Trail. The easily accessible 1.3-mile Flint Creek Trail north of Alabama 67, 1.7 miles southeast of the U.S. 31 interchange, provides views of wading, shore and woodland birds, such as great blue herons and great egrets.

Look for warblers, vireos, teals, wood ducks, mallards and black ducks.

“It’s just as much a listening experience as it is a looking experience,” Young said.

Other bird-watching sites

Mallard Fox Creek Wildlife Management Area: Set along the southern shore of Wheeler Lake in Lawrence County, Mallard Fox Creek features waterfowl, wading birds, songbirds, Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice. From Decatur, go west on Alabama 20/U.S. 72 Alternate for 8 miles. Turn right on County Road 579 into the wildlife management area. Follow the gravel road about 1 mile to the kiosk.

Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk: Accessible at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge’s Visitors Center, the boardwalk nestled in a tupelo swamp houses tufted titmice, vireos, warblers, flycatchers and cuckoos.

Swan Creek Greenway: The flat trail in Athens goes along the gently flowing Swan Creek. A canopy of trees covers the 2.5-mile trail. Don’t be surprised to see deer, herons, songbirds, pipers and more. The trail also features a restored covered bridge, a wetland area and a creek. Access the trail at U.S. 72 or the city’s Sportsplex.

What you need to bring: Mosquito spray, binoculars or a sliding scope, comfortable shoes, snacks and a good birding book.

Want more? Visit alabamabirdingtrails.com.

Canoeing/kayaking

Where: Flint Creek and Elk River

Why: The 20-mile Flint Creek water trail from Alabama 36 in Hartselle north to the Tennessee River at Point Mallard snaking through Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge offers canoers and kayakers calm waters for a relaxing trip. The 20-mile trail represents the newest section of the 6,000-mile Alabama Scenic River Trail System.

Launch at Alabama 36 near Hartselle, Vaughn Bridge Launch, U.S. 31 Boat Launch across from WaterWorks Center for Environmental Education, Osprey Point Landing at Alabama 67, Hickory Hills Boat Launch and Duncan Hill Launch on the refuge.

In Limestone County, go with the flow on the Elk River’s 21.9-mile Canoe and Kayak Trail. Put in at Alabama 127 to explore creeks and rock beds along the river. Other access points to the river are at Veto Road, Easter Ferry Road and Alabama 99.

Also check out Piney Creek, which starts in Ardmore, flows through east Athens and empties south of Mooresville into the Tennessee River, and the Sipsey River in Lawrence County’s Sipsey Wilderness.

What you need to know: Check the water level. Make sure it is high enough so the canoe can move freely. Bring bottled water, sunscreen and extra clothes in a plastic bag in case you get wet.

Want more? Visit alabamascenicrivertrail.com.

Biking

Where: Rails-to-Trails, Bill Sims Bike Trail, White Springs Dike, Mooresville Road

Why: The 11-mile Rails-to-Trails from Piney Chapel to Veto in Limestone County winds along wetlands, waterways, historic buildings, covered bridges and a Civil War battle site. The trail is open to bikers, runners, bird-watchers, hikers and horseback riders.

In Decatur, hop on the Bill Sims Bike Trail, which has a 12-mile route linking Point Mallard to Wilson Morgan Park via Rhodes Ferry Park and downtown Decatur. The trail has a total of 17 miles of paths.

Nestled in Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, the 7-mile White Springs Dike trail, a popular gathering spot for thousands of ducks, offers unobstructed views of the Tennessee River. Access the road, which is closed to traffic year-round, north of the U.S. 31 Tennessee River bridge. Take U.S. 20 east. The gate is immediately on the right.

For a shorter ride, head to Mooresville in southern Limestone County. The 2.8-mile ride beneath shade trees winds near Limestone Bay’s mudflats. To access the trail, park in the public parking lot in Mooresville and ride south on Broad Street to access the trail.