Hippie Hole at Little River Canyon

Before we know it, thick curtains of humidity will drape over the land. Many draw the curtain in the comforts of recycled cooled air, but why not cool off in some of the most scenic swimming holes in the Southeast instead?

Alabama has more miles of rivers and creeks than any other state, which means plenty of options. To give you a head start, we’ve selected four of our favorite swimming holes.

Late spring is a great time to visit these spots. The water levels are high enough to give you more options than in the summer when some streams really start to dry out. While you’re out and about, remind yourself how lucky you are to live in such a beautiful and botanically exuberant state—where every plant found in the Eastern US grows, where waters flow with more species of fish (450) than any other place in North America, and where there are plant and animal species not found anywhere else in the world. Saying Alabama is ‘unique’ is a gross understatement, so get out and enjoy it in the most youthful-pastime way possible—cooling off in a natural swimming hole.

1. Little River Canyon—Eberhart Point

Little River Canyon is full of places to swim, some more crowded than others. Eberthart Point is our favorite, due to small crowds and the rocks that skirt the edge of the pool, which are perfect for jumping and sunbathing. Making your way into the canyon to Eberthart takes about 20-30 minutes, starting with a short downhill hike on a wide and well-marked trail. Once you’ve made it to the river, hike upstream about a quarter of a mile and you can’t miss it. Slide into the sweet serenade of cool, green waters and listen to the echoes of elated laughter bouncing off the canyon walls. Hike further up or downstream to find more swimming spots depending on the water levels.

Important to note: Always exercise caution, as Little River Canyon can be very dangerous during heavy rains and high water events.

2. Bankhead National Forest—Kinlock Falls

Tucked into the dense overgrowth in the Bankhead National Forest, just on the edge of the Sipsey Wilderness, Kinlock Falls is Alabama’s worst-kept secret. A waterfall spills into a large, sandy pool surrounded by high, mossy cliffs. It’s only a short walk from your car, and the short hike down to the falls can be a bit tricky and technical, so be careful. Above the waterfall are a string of smaller pools, some of which are impressively deep. Be careful in high waters, as currents here can be dangerous and deceiving. With the growing popularity of this spot, take a trash bag to pick up any trash left behind to help preserve this area. To find this escape, turn onto Kinlock Road (Forest Service Road 3434) from Cranal Road (Route 60), which is the southern boundary of the Sipsey Wilderness. Drive about one mile and look for the creek in the ravine on your right and trails leading down to the water. If you pass the parking area for the shelter you’ve gone too far.

3. Chewacla State Park—Lower Falls Hole

A popular destination for the local university, the Lower Falls swimming hole at Chewacla State Park is perfect for aquatic exploration. Just below the dam of the lake, water cascades over the spillway and carves an intricate path through boulders to meet a small feeder creek, which creates the perfect swimming hole. If you’re looking for a bit of exploration and seclusion, you might try finding the rope swing and another swimming hole further downstream. To get here, stay on the main road and follow it for about two miles to the lower falls parking lot. The trail starts at the end of the roundabout, to the right of the pavilion. Hike down to the creek and follow the water downstream. Depending on water levels, there may be several, smaller pools above the main hole. Please stay out of the quarry that borders the property. No matter how tempting the cobalt-blue waters look, they are not safe for swimmers.

4. Desoto State Park—Desoto Falls

Located atop Lookout Mountain, north of the actual park lies one of our favorite spots for summer swimming. Water spills over a rocky ledge, falling 104 feet into a deep and wide pool that looks as though it were straight from the set of The Goonies. The climb down to the pool can be difficult; we recommend only confident scramblers attempt to access this pool. A cave cuts into the cliff behind the waterfall, creating a perfect place to rest with cooling mist from the plunging falls. Steeped in folklore and history from Native Americans, Spanish explorers, and Union Calvary, day dreaming on the edge of this swimming hole can take you back in time. Although DeSoto Falls is considered a part of DeSoto State Park, it’s not technically within the park and is located 7 miles north, towards Mentone, AL, near the small town of Valley Head. Take route 117 out of town, and turn right onto 613 which should dead end into a viewing platform of the falls.

Written by Sam Brown for RootsRated and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Featured image provided by Tennessee Wanderer

We know—it’s hot y’all. With temperatures climbing toward the 90s by 9 a.m., those of us privileged to live in and visit this gorgeous state get pretty desperate to keep cool. But that’s no reason to stay indoors.

There are plenty of ways to still enjoy the great outdoors and not crisp up in Alabama’s scorching sun. Alabama is full of places to go with refreshing swimming holes or cool caverns. The state is called “Alabama the Beautiful” for good reason, and here are 8 of them:

1. Tannehill State Park

Just over half an hour from Birmingham’s City Center, Tannehill is a fun place to go camping and beat the heat. The campsites are surrounded by tall shade trees, and a spring-fed creek snakes through the area offering plenty of fishing and swimming. Besides being a pretty and historical place to visit, it’s also a cool one that will offer you lots of natural comfort while still enjoying the serenity of camping life.

2. Oak Mountain State Park

You can’t say enough good things about Oak Mountain , the largest state park in Alabama at 9,940 acres. With all that room, there’s plenty of choices for staying busy—and cool. Only a half hour from Birmingham, Oak Mountain several fantastic overlooks. You can splash in the natural pool at the base of Peavine Falls (after a good rain), or lounge on one of the two beaches. There are more than 50 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, but you’ll probably want to hit those early in the morning. In the heat of the day you should hit the water. Boat rentals are available, or you can try the Flip Side Watersports park, in which you can glide across Beaver Lake on a wakeboard cable system. (Don’t worry, instruction is available.) If you’re more interested in human-powered watercraft, stand-up paddleboards are available to rent as well.

3. DeSoto State Park

When listing places to go hiking or camping with available swimming, DeSoto State Park always makes the cut. With wild and untainted beauty, scenery worthy of filling up your camera’s memory card, and an endless number of places to get in the water, DeSoto State Park is worth multiple visits. Only an hour and a half from downtown Birmingham, this state park provides various types of camping (improved, primitive and backpacking) as well as rustic cabins and mountain chalets. Nearby Little River Canyon makes this area a multi-faceted paradise. Canoeing and kayaking are available as well.

4. Clear Creek Campground

Located in the Bankhead National Forest in northwestern Alabama, Clear Creek is the largest recreational area on the ever-popular Smith Lake, which provides 21,000 acres of clear, deep water that always seems to be perfectly cool. Many of the camping sites are shaded, and the swim beach is a favorite among the locals. Known as “The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls,” the area includes abundant streams, old-growth forest, and plenty of lush canyons to explore. There are also plenty of opportunities for excellent fishing on the 500 miles of the lake’s shoreline.

5. Wind Creek State Park

Only an hour and a half from Birmingham, Wind Creek State Park is a no-brainer if you’re looking for a place to camp and stay cool. With a beach area and a nice, cool lake, you’ll have no trouble finding relief from the heat of summer. A nearby ice cream shop called Creem on the Creek has cold cut sandwiches an—you guessed it—ice cream. Paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks are also available for rent if you’re in the mood to keep moving rather than lounging.

6. DeSoto Caverns Park

Just under an hour from Birmingham, headed north, you’ll see large signs beckoning you toward DeSoto Caverns Park. Our advice: Follow them. DeSoto Caverns Family Fun Park offers many reasons to pay a visit. A campground has shaded sites and nearby caverns, a guaranteed way to keep cool. The caverns (known locally as Kymulga Cave) have an impressive main room 12-stories high, a sight you simply must see for yourself.

7. Rickwood Caverns State Park

Rickwood Caverns is a fascinating (and brisk) place to visit this summer. Giant rock formations 175 feet beneath the surface will leave you in a state of wonder as you tour the cooler underground parts of the earth. With constant temperatures of 58-62 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s like a natural air conditioning, and only half an hour outside Birmingham, with plenty of nearby campsites, it’s a great place to spend an entire weekend.

8. Cathedral Caverns State Park

Cathedral Caverns will make your hour and forty-five-minute drive from Birmingham well-worth the travels. Originally called the Bat Cave, this cave earned its name from its cathedral-like appearance. Inside, you’ll find a formation known as “Goliath,” one of the largest stalagmites in the world measuring 45 feet tall. You’ll find yourself in awe of the beauty of these caverns, which keeps a temperature of around 60 degrees year round. With improved, primitive and backcountry camping sites, you’ll want to make this trip a multi-day affair.

Find the best summer gear at Alabama Outdoors. We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit one of our stores or take advantage of our shipping or curbside pickup! #BeOutdoors

Written by Natalie Cone for RootsRated and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Featured image provided by Jake Wheeler

A canoe paddles into one of the many miles of bayous of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

Take a close look at the state seal of Alabama, and what do you see? Water, and lots of it: a network of of creeks, streams, bayous, lakes, rivers, river delta, and oceanfront, all adding up to thousands of miles of paddling paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Indeed, this web of waterways makes Alabama an amazing destination for kayakers, canoeists, stand-up paddleboarders, and even tube-toting folks out for a lazy summer float.

But for a truly memorable adventure, one paddling trip in particular stands out: the Alabama Scenic River Trail.

The ASRT is actually a nonprofit organization that began looking at maps and tracing those waterways. They realized that there was actually a route one could paddle from the Georgia state line in the mountains of northeast Alabama all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. It is a 631-mile float from mountain to sea that, according to the National Park Service, is the longest river trail in a single state.

It’s also overflowing with history: Along the way, you’ll get the chance to visit Native American sites and Civil War battlegrounds, explore serene backwater stretches without seeing another soul, and even paddle under the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, one of the country’s most compelling civil rights landmarks. Another bonus? The route is easily accessible, with more than 100 points of river access and some 100 overnight campsites along way.

Whether you do a day paddle, a section, or the entire trail, you’re in for a real adventure on the Alabama Scenic River Trail. Here’s what to know.

The Path of the Paddle

A complete paddle of the trail from one end to the other takes about 48 days, depending on how fast you go. But, just as with land-based long-distance trails, you don’t have to tackle the entire length all in one shot. With the many campsites, launches, and parks along the route, not to mention outdoor outfitters and restaurants, it is easy to simply take a half- or full-day trip, or stretch your paddling adventure into an overnighter, weekend, or week-long (or longer) trip.

While the trail has numerous offshoots and tributaries, the main or “core” trail of the ASRT runs down two main rivers, the Coosa and Alabama, as well as through the second-largest river delta in the country, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, and along the banks of historic Mobile Bay before finally ending in the Gulf of Mexico. The trail is divided into four sections: the Piedmont section,

from Centre, Alabama, to Childersburg; the Central section, from Childersburg to Wetumpka; the River Heritage section, from Wetumpka to Claiborne; and the Delta section, from Claiborne to Fort Morgan. Each of these stretches provides its own unique landscapes, wildlife, and challenges.

Historic Highlights, Raging Rapids, and America’s Amazon

Purists will want to start the route right from its origin: three miles from the Georgia state line in the town of Cedar Bluff at the Riverside Campground and Motel. From here, the route winds down the Coosa River, past impressive rock bluffs and through wide, expansive lakes with miles of backwaters to explore.

As you move into what is known as the Central Section, you’ll begin to cross several other lakes, all of which were formed by dams now operated and maintained by the Alabama Power Company. Things can get a little tricky here, as you’ll have to portage around each of the dams, except for Mitchell Dam in Verbena which has a super steep bank. Here, it’s highly recommended to arrange a shuttle to take you around the dam.

Next up is the River Heritage section, which offers a taste of history and a little whitewater time. Just after Jordan Dam, the Coosa River has a series of fast-running shoals which is followed by the famous Moccasin Gap in the town of Wetumpka. During normal times, the Gap is a class II/III rapid, but in the summer the power company opens the flow of the dam, amping it up to a class IV.

Also in Wetumpka, at the convergence of the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers to form the Alabama River, is Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson. The original fort was established by the French in 1717 and marks the spot where the treaty that ended the Creek Indian War was signed in 1814.

A few miles farther downstream, you can dock your boat along the Riverwalk in the state capital, Montgomery, to check out the restaurants, shops, and nightlife. A little farther still, crossing into Selma, you’ll pass under the famous Edmund Pettis Bridge, the site of what is known as “Bloody Sunday” that occurred in 1965. Marchers of the Selma to Montgomery March were met with violence as they fought for their civil rights.

You will also encounter three more dams in this region, but thanks to agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, there’s no need to portage: You can sit in your kayak and use the lock to continue downstream. (You’ll need to contact the lock before your arrival; phone numbers are available on the ASRT planning page.)

From here, the Alabama River swings from an east-west flow to south as it heads into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, which has been called “America’s Amazon” because of its rainforest-like environment. It’s a magical place to paddle, rich with wildlife, including alligators and wild boar, and trees draped with Spanish moss. But don’t get too distracted by your surroundings: Most of the trip through the delta is unmarked, and it is very easy to get lost in the thick forest and miles of narrow bayous. A good GPS is a must when paddling this section.

The last stretch of the trip skirts along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, where you can visit the site of the last major battle of the Civil War at Historic Blakeley State Park and stroll along the Fairhope Pier, home to the excellent Shux on the Pier seafood restaurant. Wrap up your adventure at the tip of the Fort Morgan peninsula along the Gulf of Mexico, at the fort of the same name where the famous Battle of Mobile Bay took place during the Civil War.

If You Go

The ASRT provides an excellent online brochure full of information and resources to help plan your trip. And no matter how long your adventure on the trail, keep in mind the following:

• Know how to use a map and compass and, of course, have them with you.
• Carry a GPS with backup batteries.
• Bring plenty of food and water and make sure to have extra in case of emergencies.
• Remember, cell phones usually only work near cities.
• Bring a change of clothes and keep them, and other important gear like cameras and cell phones, in a dry bag.
• Bring an extra paddle.
• Keep tabs on river stages and weather.
• Once you reach the lower delta and Mobile Bay, tides can affect your trip, so plan accordingly.
• Remember to pass through the locks on certain dams in the River Heritage section, you’ll need to make arrangements ahead of time. Phone numbers for the locks are available on the ASRT planning page.
• Don’t forget a PFD.

Find the best summer gear at Alabama Outdoors. We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit one of our stores or take advantage of our shipping or curbside pickup! #BeOutdoors

Written by Joe Cuhaj for RootsRated in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of AL and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Featured image provided by Joe Cuhaj