The Alabama River

Have a favorite place ? Share it here !

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
Oldsailor
Posts: 59
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:13 pm
Location: Millbrook, Alabama

The Alabama River

#1 Post by Oldsailor » Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:50 pm

The Alabama river begins just south of the city of Wetumpka, which is a few miles north of Montgomery,
in the central part of the state.

The Tallapoosa river, which originates in Little Tallapoosa Lake, north of Carrollton, Georgia; and the Coosa river,
which originates in Rome, Georgia join to become the Alabama river, which then winds its way all the way down through
the state to just above Mobile, where it joins with the Tombigbee, forming two rivers, the Mobile and Tensaw, which
empty into Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

It is navigable from above where the Coosa and Tallapoosa join, in Wetumpka, where there is a launching ramp
in the city park; and depending on how you measure it, (Geological Survey or Steamboat) it's between 318-420
miles long. The river is navigable all year long.

There are three U.S. Corps of Engineers dams and locks on the river, at mile posts 236, 133, and 72.

There are folks who take the trip in canoes, bass boats, and of course, pontoons (which IMHO would be
the preferred mode...)

We know several folks who have made the trip - usually boating downriver, and trailering home.

http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Portals/4 ... ochure.pdf

The Mrs has suggested we might want to do it.......but since she's still working, it all depends on her vacation time -- I'm ready!!!
1991 Harris Flotebote Sunliner "Laura's Leisure"
2020 Yamaha 115LB
Lake Jordan, Alabama

Retired U.S. Navy Spook
Vietnam '68-'70

[b]"Drinking Rum before 10 AM doesn't mean you're an alcoholic -
It means you're a Pirate!"[/b] :drink

Bamaman
Posts: 3679
Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: The Alabama River

#2 Post by Bamaman » Wed Jul 03, 2013 8:34 pm

Many navigable rivers of the south are actually boring rides--especially if the rivers meander. The trip south of Montgomery might be this way. Levees are not good scenery to me.

Number one on the most boring list is The Big Ditch--the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway from Pickwick Lake, TN/MS to Mobile. There are few cities along the way and just a few boat docks to purchase fuel from. There are not that many really good places to anchor and spend the night. And it's a long 400 miles--by the way a bird flies.

If you want to do some river cruising, the Tennessee River system is the best inland cruising in the U.S. The river is navigable from Knoxville, TN to Paducah, KY--650 miles. With Knoxville, Loudon, Chattanooga, Scottsboro, Guntersville, Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, Counce (TN) and a number of Western KY cities, facilities are great. Restaurants and hotels are available.

We plan to trailer our boat to Chattanooga and spend 2 days coming home--spending the night in the Hampton Inn in Guntersville. That'll take us through the Grand Canyon of Tennessee and the whole length of Guntersville Lake has a large mountain on the southside of the lake. It's just absolutely beautiful.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

Post Reply