THE SHOALS-Finish off March and all of April with wildflower hikes led by Charles Rose. See flowers, birds, waterfalls and maybe a wild animal or 2. These walks are fun and educational as well. Enjoy spring by communing with Nature:
Saturday, March 30 — Wildflower Hike at Monte Sano State Park
Led by Charles Rose. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
The sponsor offer this event free to the public, but the State Park charges an admittance fee.
Adults and kids 12 or older pay a $5.00 fee.
Kids ages 4-11, seniors 62+, and active military are all charged $2.00.
Kids 3 and under are admitted for free.
It’s not required, but you should register. Registering ensures you will be notified of any last-minute changes or cancellation, due to weather, the leader’s work schedule, etc.
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 10:00am at the hiker’s parking lot, on the right, just past the lodge at Monte Sano State Park. (This is also known as the Monte Sano Main Trailhead Parking Lot.)
Google Map, showing location of the hiker’s parking lot at Monte Sano State Park.
https://goo.gl/maps/mCfrRaPmc372
Call Charles Rose (256-366-1937) to carpool over from the Muscle Shoals area. We will leave at 8:00am from the Clarion Inn, 4900 Hatch Blvd., Sheffield, AL 35660. (This is the old Holiday Inn.)
Google Map for the Clarion Inn:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9vnFvmzSMAuYPaQQ8
This hike will include the Sinks Trail and the Stone Cuts Trail, featuring a walk through the impressive limestone rock formations known as the Stone Cuts. There are also several nice vistas of the terrain below on these trails.
Plants expected to be in bloom on this date include Virginia Bluebell, Goldenseal, Wild Columbine, Dwarf Larkspur, Twinleaf, Bellwort, Squawroot, Phacelia, Blue Cohosh, Roundleaf Ragwort, Wild Blue Phlox, Trilliums, and many more.
The hike should last around 4-5 hours and cover approximately 3-4 miles.
Bring lunch, water & snacks. Wear hiking boots or other sturdy footwear. A hiking pole and insect spray are advised.
Sunday, March 31 — Wildflower Walk at Joe Wheeler State Park
Note: This walk is on the Joe Wheeler State Park Multi-use Trail, 1 mile south of Wheeler Dam on AL-101 in Colbert County, not at the main park, on the north side of the river in Lauderdale County.
Led by Charles Rose. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register.
To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at charles@freshairfamily.org 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.
The trailhead is on the west side of AL-101 in Lawrence County, AL, 1 mile south of Wheeler Dam.
Meet 1:00 pm at the trailhead.
Bring water & snacks. Wear comfortable shoes.
This walk is an easy-moderate 2.2 miles, mostly level, with no steep grades.
The trail traverses a variety of habitat types, including a lovely mature hardwood forest. Expect a nice variety of mid-spring wildflowers.
Google Map for the Joe Wheeler State Park Multi-use Trail:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hxzg7vupTLBjX7be6
Saturday, April 6 — Wildflower Hike at Flint Creek Botanical Area, Indian Tomb Hollow & High House Hill
Led by Charles Rose. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register.
To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at charles@freshairfamily.org 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 hike is in the Bankhead National Forest.
There are two options for meeting us:
1. Meet us 8:00am at Jack’s, 3411 Woodward Ave. (US-43) in Muscle Shoals, AL, on the south side of the building, or-
2. Meet us 9:00am at the Warrior Mountains Trading Company store in Wren, Alabama, three miles south of Moulton, AL, on AL-33, at the intersection of AL-33 & AL-36.
Google Map for Jack’s, 3411 Woodward Ave. (US-43) in Muscle Shoals, AL:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MgFDPk1wqKJKLbTZ6
Google Map for the Warrior Mountains Trading Company store:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ekezQvpGqTHvLqs86
Wear comfortable footwear. Bring lunch, water & snacks. A hiking pole and insect spray are recommended.
This will be a moderate, fairly level hike, without much change in elevation, along West Flint Creek. We will keep the duration and distance covered flexible. Some may choose to walk further than others.
The Flint Creek Botanical Area, in the Bankhead National Forest, includes diverse natural plant communities, including limestone rock outcrops, riparian areas, and limestone glades. At this time of year, expect to see many species of trillium (including Sweet Betsy (T. cuneatum), Twisted (T. stamineum), Bent (T. flexipes) & Lemon (T. luteum). Also, see trout lilies (Erythronium americanum), sharp-lobed liverleaf (Hepatica acutiloba), Rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), Virginia bluebells (Mertinsia virginica), wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) and much else.
After lunch those wanting to see more wildflowers will drive to nearby Indian Tomb Hollow. We will follow an old, closed road about a mile to the famous Indian marker tree. Then we will visit the cemetery where some of the first white settlers of the area are buried, members of the Gillespie and Alexander family who settled there in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s and established a plantation sometime after the legendary battle of Indian Tomb Hollow.
We will then continue to a spectacular wildflower bottom.
Striking out off-trail, we will cross Gillespie Creek and later arrive at High House Hill. Of interest there will be many more spring wildflowers and some amazing rock formations, including dramatic sandstone bluffs, an impressive rock shelter and large boulders containing iron deposits in striking “rose petal” shapes.
Sunday, April 7 — Bordon Creek to Fall Creek Falls Wildflower Hike
Led by Charles Rose. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
This outing is free to the public, but you must register!
This hike is in the Sipsey Wilderness of the Bankhead National Forest, therefore group size is limited to 10 people.
If you register and then change your mind, please let me know, so, if there is a waiting list, someone else might be able to attend.
There are two choices for meeting us:
1. Meet us 8:00am at the Clarion Inn, 4900 Hatch Blvd., Sheffield, AL 35660, or-
2. Meet us 9:00am at the Warrior Mountains Trading Company store, 11312 AL-33, Moulton, AL 35650. The store is about three miles south of the square in Moulton, at the intersection of AL-33 & AL-36. If you are coming south on AL-33, it is on the left, just before AL-36.
Google Map for the Clarion Inn:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9vnFvmzSMAuYPaQQ8
Google Map for the Warrior Mountains Trading Company store:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SszS6mvF5SFLturu5
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.
4. Whether you are going to meet us at the Clarion Inn in Sheffield, or the Warrior
Mountains Trading Company store in Moulton.
This is a moderately-challenging, approximately 4 mile hike.
Description: After carpooling down to the trailhead on Borden Creek, we will hike down the west bank of the creek to the Sipsey River, then hike upstream to Fall Creek and beautiful Fall Creek Falls. After eating lunch there, we will return. On the return, we will have the option or crossing the mouth of Borden Creek and returning up its east bank, where at one point the trail enters a short natural tunnel through the rock. Expect many early spring wildflowers.
Bring lunch, snacks & drinking water. Shoes need to be sturdy hiking boots or sneakers with good tread. Hiking sticks, an extra pair of socks, and insect spray are advised.
Saturday, April 13 — Shoal Creek Preserve Wildflower Hike
Led by Charles Rose. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register. Registering ensures you will be notified of any last-minute changes or cancellation, due to weather, the leader’s work schedule, etc.
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 10:00am at the preserve.
This is a moderately-rigorous, approximately 5-mile hike, with up-hills, down-hills and one quite steep grade.
Bring lunch, water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or sturdy footwear. A hiking pole and insect spray are recommended.
Expect to see many spring wildflowers, including Virginia Bluebell, White Trillium, Twisted Trillium, several species of Bellwort, Eastern Blue Star, Yellow Mandarin, and many more.
Shoal Creek Preserve is in Lauderdale County, just north of Florence, AL. Its 298 acres features 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.
Saturday, April 13 — Shoal Creek Preserve Wildflower Hike
Led by Charles Rose. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register. Registering ensures you will be notified of any last-minute changes or cancellation, due to weather, the leader’s work schedule, etc.
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 10:00am at the preserve.
This is a moderately-rigorous, approximately 5-mile hike, with up-hills, down-hills and one quite steep grade.
Bring lunch, water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or sturdy footwear. A hiking pole and insect spray are recommended.
Expect to see many spring wildflowers, including Virginia Bluebell, White Trillium, Twisted Trillium, several species of Bellwort, Eastern Blue Star, Yellow Mandarin, and many more.
Shoal Creek Preserve is in Lauderdale County, just north of Florence, AL. Its 298 acres features 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.
Google Map, showing location of the TVA Nature Trails Parking Lot
https://goo.gl/maps/9wBmFiUW9gN2
Saturday, April 20 — Waterfall Branch Wildflower Hike 
Led by Charles Rose. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
Free to the public, but you must register.
Group size will be limited to 12. No children under 12.
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 10:00am, at the Coldwater Mill Restaurant, 814 US-72 W, Tuscumbia, AL. 35674. (The restaurant is closed.) Don’t park in the restaurant’s parking lot, but in the vacant lot on the east side (right side) of the building.
Google Map, showing the location of The Coldwater Mill Restaurant
https://goo.gl/maps/TEuPbTeaWNo
Moderately-rigorous, sometimes rigorous hike. Distance covered indeterminate. At times the going might be a little rough. This is mostly off-trail walking, including some steep grades, downed trees & stream crossings (bring extra socks!).
Bring lunch, water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or other sturdy footwear.
Long pants, walking stick, a change of socks & insect repellent are advised.
This hike is in a beautiful canyon in Colbert County, along Waterfall Branch in the Cane Creek watershed. Of interest are a 90-ft. waterfall (the tallest in these parts), sandstone rock shelters & bluffs, and a great variety of native flora, including Big Leaf Magnolias and several lesser seen wildflower species, such as French’s Shooting Star, Southern Lady’s Slipper, Showy Orchis and Yellow Mandarin.
After the hike, we will visit the nearby Rattlesnake Saloon, which is built underneath a shelter bluff!
Info and photos of the Rattlesnake Saloon
https://www.rattlesnakesaloon.net/s
Sunday, April 21 — Wildflower Hike at Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
Meet 9:00 at the preserve, located in Colbert County, about 8 miles south of Tuscumbia, AL.
Led by Charles Rose.
This outing is free to the public, but you should register. Registering ensures you will be notified of any last minute changes or cancellation, due to weather, the leader’s work schedule, etc.
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 & snacks. (There are many sites along the way to replenish your water.)
Wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes. A hiking pole or stick is strongly recommended, as is a good tick spray.
This is a moderately-rigorous hike, with many up-hills & down-hills, several stream crossings and many steep grades. I estimate it to be somewhere around 6 miles, but we will be stopping many times to discuss wildflowers & plants we encounter. You must stay with the group for at least the first section of the hike. After we get to the main trail along Cane Creek, you may choose to return earlier, if you desire.
After meeting at the main parking lot, we will carpool to the north entrance.
Hiking in on the Behel Lane Trail we will visit Laurel Falls, then enter Devil’s Hollow on the Devil’s Hollow Trail, visiting Johnson Falls, Yellowwood Falls Rock Shelter and Karen’s Falls, returning out of the hollow on the Under Bluff Trail, passing underneath Malone Falls.
We will then head down to Cane Creek via the Devil’s Hollow Trail and the Fossil Trail.
Hiking upstream on the East Cane Creek Trail, we will visit the Blue Hole, to see if the Redhorse fish are spawning, then continue onward, passing along the scenic Narrows section of Cane Creek to the Boulder Garden, featuring many huge wildflower-strewn boulders. After taking a break at Linden Meadows, we will hike upstream on the West Cane Creek Trail, in search of more wildflowers. We will then hike out of the canyon, via Tree Fern Cave, the Canyon Rim Trail, Lacefield Point, and the 60-ft. Lacefield’s Falls.
Blooming wildflowers on this date will include the rare French’s Shooting Star, native Azaleas, Southern Lady’s Slipper, Ohio Buckeyes, Red Buckeyes, Wild Blue Phlox, Downy Phlox, Wood Anemone, Forest Lousewort, Violet Wood Sorrel, and much more.
Google Map, showing location of Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
https://goo.gl/maps/AjTjALyPkow
Sunday, April 28 — Wildflower Walk, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
Led by Charles Rose.
Meet 1:00pm 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 encore walk we will get to see even more species and numbers of blooming wildflowers than we saw the previous two walks here.
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 2 to 2 ½ hours.
Wildflowers we hope to see in bloom on this date include Southern Lady’s Slippers, Eastern Blue Star, False Garlic, White Fringe Tree, Flame Azalea, White Trillium, Wild Geranium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Celandine Poppy, False Solomon’s Seal, Carrion Flower, Purple Phacelia, Smooth Solomon’s Seal, Virginia Spiderwort, Purple Phacelia, Golden Alexander, Large-flowered Valerian, Virginia Bluebell, Broad-leaf Tootwort, Florida Azalea, Sweet Cicely, Butterweed, Dwarf Larkspur, Trillium cuneatum, Twisted Trillium, Wild Blue Phlox, Giant Chickweed, Red Buckeye, Ohio Buckeye, Wild Columbine, and more.
Google Map, showing location of the TVA Nature Trails Parking Lot
https://goo.gl/maps/9wBmFiUW9gN2
Charles Rose is musician active in the Muscle Shoals, AL & Nashville recording scenes. A member of the Muscle Shoals
Charles Rose
Horns since 1971, he is currently their leader/arranger. A native of Sheffield, AL, he earned a Bachelor of Music degree, with a major in trombone & a minor in piano, from Murray State University. He has served as trombonist & horn arranger for Lyle Lovett & His Large Band since 1994. He toured with Waylon Jennings for three years until the singer’s death in 2002. He performs as a pianist with his jazz group, The Charlie Rose Trio. He’s the band leader & arranger for the biennial Alabama Music Hall of Fame induction shows and an ongoing series of Muscle Shoals Revue shows.
An active environmentalist, he is a founder & president of Shoals Environmental Alliance, a board member of Tennessee Riverkeeper, & a nature outings leader for Fresh Air Family. In 2008, in a wooded ravine in Sheffield, AL, he discovered a population of Collinsia verna (Blue Eyed Mary), a spring wildflower previously not known to exist in the State of Alabama. In 2002 he founded and led “Citizens for Saving the TVA Trail & Nature Area,” that stopped the destruction and development of 1,000 acres of public recreation land on the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Media Release/Charles Rose and Fresh Air Family
