If you
have information about runs on the Cahaba River that are not found here,
or if you have additional/updated information on runs that are found
here, please feel free to share.
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Hwy 78 (Lovick Bridge) to Grants Mill Rd.
- Put-in: Hwy 78
- Take-out: Grants Mill Rd.
- Length: 5.20 miles
- Conditions: A detailed review of this run can be found here at Riverfacts.com.
- Nearest Gage: Mountain Brook (need at least 200cfs to avoid dragging)
- Put-in: Grants Mill Rd
- Take-out: Old Overton Rd.
- Length: 7.10 miles
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Conditions: We ran this in June 2011, with the river at 1.4ft and 130cfs. It's a nice run with a lot of shoals, and bluffs on either side of the river. There's not much civilization to be seen between the two points. We dragged some on the shoals, but didn't have too much trouble and never had to get out of the boat.
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Heads-Up: In the second half of the run, a large number of trees are down, likely due to the April 27 storm. As of June 25, 2011, none of the trees entirely blocked the river at any point, but they did require some maneuvering around. This could be a hazard in the case of high, fast water.
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Nearest Gage: Mountain Brook (need at least 200cfs to avoid dragging)
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Put-in: Old Overton Rd.
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Take-out: Cahaba River Rd. (parallel to Hwy 280)
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Length: 6.15 miles
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Conditions: This stretch of river is mostly flat, though it could contain some Class I rapids where the river approaches I-459, depending on the water level. This should be an enjoyable and not very taxing stretch. There is plenty of parking and easy access to the river at both the launch and exit points.
- Nearest Gage: Put-in - Mountain Brook (need at least 200cfs to avoid dragging); Take-out - Cahaba Heights
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Put-in: Cahaba River Rd. (parallel to Hwy 280)
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Take-out: Bains Bridge (Lorna Rd)
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Length: 11.25 miles
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Conditions: There is a gravel road just off Lorna Rd that leads down to a parking area, with paved access to the river, where there is a boat launch. However, there is a sign at the parking area that says, "Park Closed. Keep Out." But there are no barricades or other deterrents. It seems more like a liability disclaimer attempt by the city than an actual effort to keep anyone out.There were two gages that were pertinent: Cahaba Heights (near 280) was reading 2.3ft at 360cfs, both falling; and the Hoover gage (upstream from the takeout was at 4.7ft at 360cfs, both falling. This was a nice paddle trip, with some shoals, which were not problematic because there was enough water. Also there are several small low head dams the first couple of miles.
- Photos/Video: On the Blog: Here and Here.
- Nearest Gage: Put-in - Cahaba Heights; Take-out - Hoover
Hargrove Shoals Section
Pratt's Ferry Preserve to Cahaba River Historical Park in Centreville
Cahaba River Historical Park in Centreville to Harrisburg Rd.
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Put-in: Piper Landing on River Trace Rd, at the Cahaba River NWR
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Take-out: Pratt's Ferry Preserve pull-off on Hwy 26/Riverbend Rd
- Length: 6.66 miles
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Conditions: This is the primary run from which you can enjoy the Cahaba Lilies from about mid-May to mid-June. The put-in for the run is within the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (Boundary Map, here), at Piper Landing on River Trace Rd. The take-out is a little less than 7 miles downriver on County Road 26 at Pratt's Ferry Preserve. Each of these locations can be found on the Alabama Paddling Launch Sites map. When we ran the river, the Centreville gage was reading about 800cfs and falling quickly. We scraped a bit on shoals, but it was definitely runnable; never had to get out of the boat. The river would be optimal at 1000cfs+.
There are three sections of rapids along this run. For the first two, you should remain to the far left, for the best rapids. On the third, stay to the far right. After the third section of rapids, you'll enter something of a gorge. From this point, the take-out is still more than a mile distant. The gorge is also the end of the national wildlife refuge; you cannot camp within the refuge's boundaries, but are able to anywhere after you enter the gorge section. -
Photos/Video: An account of our venture on the river can be found on the Blog.
- Nearest Gage: Centreville
Pratt's Ferry Preserve to Cahaba River Historical Park in Centreville
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Put-in: Pratt's Ferry Preserve pull-off on Hwy 26/Riverbend Rd
- Take-out: Cahaba River Historical Park in Centreville
- Length: 8.25 miles
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Conditions: This run is at the southernmost end of the Cahaba Lilly section, and you should not expect to see many of the lilies in this portion of the river. We ran this run near the end of May at about 380cfs, which by all accounts is pretty low. We didn't have to get out at any point, but there was some dragging. The first six miles of the river are pretty flat, and require a lot of paddling, while providing some nice scenery. The last two miles or so include some shoals that involve small drops, the amount of water present will certainly dictate how much fun these can be. There is space enough for several cars along the designated pull-off area at the put-in, though it's a small hike down to the water. At the take-out there is a great deal of parking available (since it's at a park), but the city of Centreville requests a $3 fee for the use of its boat ramp (when we were there, there was no one to collect the money nor anywhere to put it.
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Photos/Video: An account of our adventure both on the river and camping just downriver from here, can be found on the Blog here.
- Nearest Gage: Centreville
Cahaba River Historical Park in Centreville to Harrisburg Rd.
- Put-in: Hwy 26/Riverbend Rd
- Take-out: Cahaba River Historical Park in Centreville
- Length: 12.90 miles
- Conditions: Park at Harrisburg Rd. at your own risk. There seems to be a significant amount of miscreant activity that occurs in and around this area. You can read about our attempt to camp at one of the sandbars along the river, just downriver from the Harrisburg Road bridge, here.
- Nearest Gage: Centreville
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