THE SHOALS– Fresh Air Family and Shoals Enviromental Alliance are sponsoring nature/wildflower walks through the month of April. All walks are free and led by Charles Rose of the Shoals Enviromental Alliance.
Sunday, April 7 — Shoal Creek Preserve Wildflower Hike
Led by Charles Rose.
Sponsored by Fresh Air Family and Shoals Environmental Alliance.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register.
To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at chuckrivers@comcast.net or 256-366-1937.
Registering is easy; all we need is:
1. Your name.
2. The number of people in your party.
3. A contact phone number, preferably a cell phone.Meet 1:00pm at the preserve.
This is a moderate, app. 4.5 mile hike, with up-hills and down-hills. Bring water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or sturdy footwear.
Expect to see many spring wildflowers, including White Trillium, Twisted Trillium, Bellwort, Eastern Blue Star, Trillium, Yellow Mandarin, and more.
Shoal Creek Preserve is in Lauderdale County, just north of Florence, AL. Its 298 acres feature 4.5 miles of hiking trails, horse trails, pristine, cascading creeks and a great variety of flora. It was purchased by the State of Alabama under the Forever Wild program.
Directions
From Birmingham: Take I-65 N for app. 50 miles to Cullman. Take the AL-157 exit (Exit 310). At the end of the ramp, turn left onto AL-157 N (toward Moulton). Continue on AL-157 for app. 55 miles, passing through Moulton, AL on the way. Merging with AL-20 W (alt US-72 W), continue for another 2.3 miles into Muscle Shoals, AL. Turn right onto Wilson Dam Rd. (AL-133). Go app. 7.5 miles, crossing over the Tennessee River. Take the first exit after the bridge, turning right onto Veteran’s Drive (AL-133). Go 1.5 miles. At the dead-end, turn left onto Cox Creek Parkway (AL-133). Go app. 2 ¾ miles and turn right onto Old Jackson Hwy (CR-47) toward St. Florian. (There is a Martin’s store on this corner.) Go app. 2.5 miles and turn left on Butler Creek Road (CR 61). Go 3 miles, then turn right at the Shoal Creek Preserve sign to the parking lot.
From Huntsville: Take US-72 W to Florence, AL (app. 55 miles). Turn right onto Cox Creek Parkway (AL-133). Go app. 1.5 miles and turn right onto Old Jackson Hwy (CR-47) toward St. Florian. (There is a Martin’s store on this corner.) Go app. 2.5 miles and turn left on Butler Creek Road (CR 61). Go 3 miles, then turn right at the Shoal Creek Preserve sign to the parking lot.
From Cox Creek Parkway in Florence: Go north on Old Jackson Hwy (CR 47) to St. Florian, about 2.5 miles. (This is the continuation of Hermitage Dr.) Turn left on Butler Creek Road (CR 61). Go 3 miles, then turn right at the Shoal Creek Preserve sign to the parking lot.
Google Map, showing the location of Shoal Creek Preserve
https://goo.gl/maps/
j3YLBrXh6vE2 ******************************
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Thursday, April 11 — Lunchtime Wildflower Walk, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Sponsored by Fresh Air Family and Shoals Environmental Alliance.
Led by Charles Rose.
Meet 12:00pm in front of the restrooms at the Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register. This event could possibly be cancelled or postponed due to adverse weather conditions or changes in the leader’s work schedule.
To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at chuckrivers@comcast.net or 256-366-1937.
Registering is easy; all we need is:
1. Your name.2. The number of people in your party.
3. A contact phone number, preferably a cell phone.
This walk will include the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden and the TVA Small Wild Area (First Quarters Ravine).
On this walk we will get a look at some of the earliest blooming wildflowers here in NW Alabama.
This is an easy walk; the total distance covered is less than a mile. The Native Plant Garden is level and the paved trails there are wheelchair accessible. The First Quarters Ravine portion includes some up-hill and downhill. You may leave earlier, if you wish, but this event will take about an hour and a half.
There should be a large variety of wildflowers blooming on this date.
Directions:The Nature Trails parking lot is just off of Reservation Road on TVA’s Muscle Shoals Reservation.
From Wilson Dam: Go south on Reservation Road for app. 2.5 miles. At the “Nature Trails” sign, turn right into the parking lot.
From Hatch Blvd. (US-43) in Sheffield:Turn at the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation sign (¼ mile north of the Radisson Hotel) and go app. 1.5 miles. At the “Nature Trails” sign, turn left into the parking lot.
From Birmingham:Take I-65 N for app. 50 miles to Cullman. Take the AL-157 exit (Exit 310). At the end of the ramp, turn left onto AL-157 N (toward Moulton). Continue on AL-157 for app. 55 miles, passing through Moulton on the way. Merging with AL-20 W (alt US-72 W), continue for another 4.3 miles into Muscle Shoals, AL. Turn right onto US-43 N. Go 4.5 miles. Soon after passing the Radisson Hotel (on the left), turn right onto the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. (This is Reservation Road.) Go 1.5 miles and turn left at the “Nature Trails” sign into the parking lot.
From Huntsville:Take I-565 W. I-565 will become AL-20 W. Continue on AL-20 W as it crosses the Tennessee River into Decatur. On the other side of the bridge, AL-20 immediately turns right at the light. Continue app. 40 miles more on AL-20 W to Muscle Shoals, AL. Turn right on US-43 N. Continue on US-43 N for app. 4.5 miles. Soon after passing the Radisson Hotel (on the left), turn right onto the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. (This is Reservation Road.) Go 1.5 miles and turn left at the “Nature Trails” sign into the parking lot.
Google Map, showing location of the TVA Nature Trails Parking Lot
https://goo.gl/maps/9wBmFiUW9gN2 ——————————
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Sunday, April 14 — Wildflower Hike at Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
Note: Frankfort Road is still blocked and you must use the detour in the directions below. Do not use Google Maps. It still routes you there via Frankfort Rd.Meet 1:00pm at the preserve.
Led by Charles Rose.
Sponsored by Fresh Air Family and Shoals Environmental Alliance,
This outing is free to the public, but you should register.
To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at chuckrivers@comcast.net or 256-366-1937.
Registering is easy; all we need is:
1. Your name.
2. The number of people in your party.
3. A contact phone number, preferably a cell phone.Bring lunch, water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes.
Moderately rigorous: our exact route is indeterminate at the moment, but expect around a 5-mile hike, with a 300 ft. elevation change and several up-hills & down-hills. Participants may choose to leave earlier if they don’t want to hike the full 5 miles. There are good, well-marked trails the whole way.
Blooming wildflowers on this date will include the rare French’s Shooting Star, native Azaleas, Yellow Ladies Slipper, and much more. The Preserve includes waterfalls, including the 60-ft. “Big Waterfall”, scenic vistas, flower-strewn boulders & cascading creeks.
Directions
From Birmingham:
Take I-65 N for app. 50 miles to Cullman.
Take the AL-157 exit (Exit 310).
At the end of the ramp, turn left onto AL-157 N (toward Moulton).
Continue on AL-157 for app. 55 miles, passing through Moulton, AL on the way.
Merging with AL-20 W (alt US-72 W), continue for another 4.3 miles into Muscle Shoals, AL.
At the large intersection with US-43 (where AL-157 & AL-20 turn right), continue straight onto US-72 W.
Take US-72 West for about 6.4 miles.Turn left on Hawk Pride Mountain Road. (This is close to mile marker 20 and Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church is on the left.)
Continue on Hawk Pride Mountain Road for 5.6 miles.
Turn right on Loop Road, which “t’s” into Hawk Pride Mountain Road.
Note: This is a blind intersection just over a hill. The intersection sign for Loop Road is now missing. If you miss this turn, go on to New Bethel Baptist Church and turn around.
Continue on Loop Road for 1.5 miles
Where Loop Road makes big bend to left, turn right onto the gravel driveway in front of the house with junked vehicles.
Turn right onto the gravel road.
Note: If you miss this turn, you will shortly come to Frankfort Road. Just turn around and approach the driveway from that direction.
Go .1 mile on Loop, then veer left onto the gravel road as Loop Road starts bending to the right.
This gravel road is the Lacefield’s driveway; their house is at the very end (about a half-mile down) past a couple of small houses and a chicken factory.
Pass the chicken factory by taking the small continuation of the driveway on the right (it looks pretty small), and you will end up at the Preserve.
In case you get lost, call the Lacefield’s phone number, (256) 381-6301.
You can also try Charles Rose’s cell, 256-366-1937, but he might not have service there.
From Huntsville:
Take I-565 W.
I-565 will become AL-20 W.
Continue on AL-20 W, as it crosses the Tennessee River into Decatur.
On the other side of the bridge, AL-20 immediately turns right at the light.
Continue app. 40 miles more on AL-20 W to Muscle Shoals, AL.
At the large intersection with US-43 (where AL-20 W turns right), continue straight onto US-72 W.
Take US-72 West for about 6.4 miles.Turn left on Hawk Pride Mountain Road. (This is close to mile marker 20 and Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church is on the left.)
Continue on Hawk Pride Mountain Road for 5.6 miles.
Turn right on Loop Road, which “t’s” into Hawk Pride Mountain Road.
Note: This is a blind intersection just over a hill. The intersection sign for Loop Road is now missing. If you miss this turn, go on to New Bethel Baptist Church and turn around.
Continue on Loop Road for 1.5 miles
Where Loop Road makes big bend to left, turn right onto the gravel driveway in front of the house with junked vehicles.
Turn right onto the gravel road.
Note: If you miss this turn, you will shortly come to Frankfort Road. Just turn around and approach the driveway from that direction.
Go .1 mile on Loop, then veer left onto the gravel road as Loop Road starts bending to the right.
This gravel road is the Lacefield’s driveway; their house is at the very end (about a half-mile down) past a couple of small houses and a chicken factory.
Pass the chicken factory by taking the small continuation of the driveway on the right (it looks pretty small), and you will end up at the Preserve.
In case you get lost, call the Lacefield’s phone number, (256) 381-6301.
You can also try Charles Rose’s cell, 256-366-1937, but he might not have service there.
From US-43 in Muscle Shoals:
Take US-72 West for about 6.4 miles.
Turn left on Hawk Pride Mountain Road. (This is close to mile marker 20 and Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church is on the left.)
Continue on Hawk Pride Mountain Road for 5.6 miles.
Turn right on Loop Road, which “t’s” into Hawk Pride Mountain Road.
Note: This is a blind intersection just over a hill. The intersection sign for Loop Road is now missing. If you miss this turn, go on to New Bethel Baptist Church and turn around.
Continue on Loop Road for 1.5 miles
Where Loop Road makes big bend to left, turn right onto the gravel driveway in front of the house with junked vehicles.
Turn right onto the gravel road.
Note: If you miss this turn, you will shortly come to Frankfort Road. Just turn around and approach the driveway from that direction.
Go .1 mile on Loop, then veer left onto the gravel road as Loop Road starts bending to the right.
This gravel road is the Lacefield’s driveway; their house is at the very end (about a half-mile down) past a couple of small houses and a chicken factory.
Pass the chicken factory by taking the small continuation of the driveway on the right (it looks pretty small), and you will end up at the Preserve.
In case you get lost, call the Lacefield’s phone number, (256) 381-6301.
You can also try Charles Rose’s cell, 256-366-1937, but he might not have service there.
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————————– About Cane Creek: Jim & Faye Lacefield own and maintain Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve and offer it free of charge to the public all year round for hiking, camping and other activities. With the new addition on its north side, the preserve now totals more than 700 acres. It contains 15 miles of hiking trails. The preserve features many streams, canyons, huge boulders, rock shelters, waterfalls, scenic vistas, a great diversity of flora and fauna and rare wildflowers, such as French’s Shooting Star.
Dr. Tim Martin’s Cane Creek Canyon photo page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlmartinsr/sets/ 72157594201647721/ Visit the Friends of Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve page on Facebook to see photos of the preserve, learn more about its geology and read visitor comments.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Cane-Creek- Canyon-Nature-Preserve/ 126802417335447 ******************************
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Thursday, April 18 — Lunchtime Wildflower Walk, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Sponsored by Fresh Air Family and Shoals Environmental Alliance.
Led by Charles Rose.
Meet 12:00pm in front of the restrooms at the Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register. This event could possibly be cancelled or postponed due to adverse weather conditions or changes in the leader’s work schedule.
To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at chuckrivers@comcast.net or 256-366-1937.
Registering is easy; all we need is:
1. Your name.2.The number of people in your party.
3. A contact phone number, preferably a cell phone.
This walk will include the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden and the TVA Small Wild Area (First Quarters Ravine).
On this walk we will get a look at some of the earliest blooming wildflowers here in NW Alabama.
This is an easy walk; the total distance covered is less than a mile. The Native Plant Garden is level and the paved trails there are wheelchair accessible. The First Quarters Ravine portion includes some up-hill and downhill. You may leave earlier, if you wish, but this event will take about an hour and a half.
There should be a large variety of wildflowers blooming on this date.
Directions:The Nature Trails parking lot is just off of Reservation Road on TVA’s Muscle Shoals Reservation.
From Wilson Dam: Go south on Reservation Road for app. 2.5 miles. At the “Nature Trails” sign, turn right into the parking lot.
From Hatch Blvd. (US-43) in Sheffield:Turn at the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation sign (¼ mile north of the Radisson Hotel) and go app. 1.5 miles. At the “Nature Trails” sign, turn left into the parking lot.
From Birmingham:Take I-65 N for app. 50 miles to Cullman. Take the AL-157 exit (Exit 310). At the end of the ramp, turn left onto AL-157 N (toward Moulton). Continue on AL-157 for app. 55 miles, passing through Moulton on the way. Merging with AL-20 W (alt US-72 W), continue for another 4.3 miles into Muscle Shoals, AL. Turn right onto US-43 N. Go 4.5 miles. Soon after passing the Radisson Hotel (on the left), turn right onto the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. (This is Reservation Road.) Go 1.5 miles and turn left at the “Nature Trails” sign into the parking lot.
From Huntsville:Take I-565 W. I-565 will become AL-20 W. Continue on AL-20 W as it crosses the Tennessee River into Decatur. On the other side of the bridge, AL-20 immediately turns right at the light. Continue app. 40 miles more on AL-20 W to Muscle Shoals, AL. Turn right on US-43 N. Continue on US-43 N for app. 4.5 miles. Soon after passing the Radisson Hotel (on the left), turn right onto the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. (This is Reservation Road.) Go 1.5 miles and turn left at the “Nature Trails” sign into the parking lot.
Google Map, showing location of the TVA Nature Trails Parking Lot
https://goo.gl/maps/9wBmFiUW9gN2 Media Release/Charles Rose/Shoals Enviromental Alliance
