What we’re about
Welcome to OUTDOORS SOUTH! We are the largest, most active & fun adventure club in the South! Our fun, friendly & active members love to hike, bike & paddle throughout the beautiful South and beyond.
Membership is FREE! We have an adventure for all ages and experience levels. Are you ready to explore the beautiful South and make new friends? Join Us on an outdoor adventure soon!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Waterfall Branch Wildflower HikeFiesta Mexicana, Tuscumbia, AL
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 10.
There will be people signing up elsewhere, so the number signed up here will not be accurate.
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 Fiesta Mexicana restaurant, 814 US-72 W, Tuscumbia, AL. 35674. (This building was formerly the Coldwater Mill restaurant.)
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 Fiesta Mexicana restaurant:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y342RZYrCfR5B73T9This is a moderately rigorous, sometimes rigorous hike. The distance covered is indeterminate, but probably 4 miles or less. At times the going might be a little rough. This is mostly off-trail walking, including some steep grades, uneven terrain, downed trees & stream crossings (bring extra socks!).
Bring lunch, copious water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or other sturdy footwear.Long pants, a 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 Magnolia, and several lesser-seen wildflower species, such as French's Shooting Star, Southern Lady’s Slipper, Showy Orchis and Yellow Mandarin.
After the hike, those that so desire may visit the nearby Rattlesnake Saloon, which is built underneath a shelter bluff!
Info and photos of the Rattlesnake Saloon
https://www.rattlesnakesaloon.net/s
DirectionsFrom 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.
Go 2.4 miles on US-72 W.
The Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant will be on the right, just past the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, on the left.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.
Go 2.4 miles on US-72 W.
The Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant will be on the right, just past the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, on the left.From US-43 (Woodward Ave.) in Muscle Shoals:
Go 2.4 miles on US-72 W.
The Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant will be on the right, just past the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, on the left. - Turkeyfoot Creek & Kinlock Shelter Bluff Wildflower HikesSipsey River Picnic Area, Double Springs, AL
Led by Charles Rose, sponsored by Fresh Air Family.
You must register for this outing!
Turkeyfoot Creek is in the Sipsey Wilderness, of the Bankhead National Forest, therefore the group size will be limited to 10 people, as required by the Forest Service. People also register from other sites, so the number of registrants here will not be accurate.
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. Which location you will meet us at.We will meet 12:00pm at the Sipsey River Picnic Area parking lot, off of Cranal Road (CR-60) in the Bankhead National Forest.
There is a $3.00 fee per car, for parking here. There are also restrooms. You may want to arrive early and eat lunch here.Google Map link for the Sipsey River Picnic Area:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6WN7m93jR2VVawU56Those wanting to carpool down from the Shoals Area will meet 10:40am at the Clarion Inn, in Sheffield.
Google Map link for the Clarion Inn:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QUi6LtN193TZbTht5
This outing will consist of several short hikes, each one about a mile. These are moderately-rigorous.First, we will hike up Turkeyfoot Creek to view two waterfalls and many wildflowers.
Then we will carpool a short distance to hike to the historic Kinlock Shelter Bluff. This is a steep descent at times. Afterwards, we will make a stop at Kinlock Falls, finally returning to the Sipsey River Picnic Area.
Then, if time allows, those wanting to go a little further can walk down the east bank of the Sipsey from the Picnic Area, looking for more late spring wildflowers.
Bring water and snacks. Wear sturdy footwear. A hiking pole, long pants and insect repellant are advised.
******************************************************** - Lunchbreak Wildflower Walk at the TVA Native Plant GardenTVA Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation, AL
Sponsored by Fresh Air Family. Led by Charles Rose.
Meet 12:00pm in front of the restrooms at the Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation.
No need to register for this one. If you have any questions, call Charles Rose at 256-366-1937.
This short, easy walk at the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden at TVA should only take an hour or less. You may leave at any time.
The Native Plant Garden is level and the paved trails there are wheelchair accessible. If you want to bring a sack lunch, to eat before or after the walk, there are picnic tables here.
If anyone has more time and wants to walk further, we can continue on to the adjacent First Quarters Ravine, which includes a downhill and an uphill. 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 Toothwort, Florida Azalea, Sweet Cicely, Butterweed, Dwarf Larkspur, Trillium cuneatum, Twisted Trillium, Wild Blue Phlox, Giant Chickweed, Red Buckeye, Ohio Buckeye, Wild Columbine, and more.
Directions: The Nature Trails parking lot is just off 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 Clarion Inn) 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 Clarion Inn (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 Clarion Inn (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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