Kayaking

Cheaha State Park, located in both Clay and Cleburne counties in Alabama, boasts the highest point in the state at 2,413 feet. Cheaha has almost 2800 acres and is surrounded by another 392,567 acres of the Talladega National Forest. The park has a swimming pool (overnight guests only), a 6 acre lake for swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing, lots of hiking (a connecting trail to the Appalachian Trail), mountain biking, and some great areas for rock climbing & rappelling (This area requires trained or professional guides).

There are plenty of places to stay at Cheaha as they have a hotel, a lodge, cabins, chalets, two improved campgrounds and two primitive campgrounds.

DeSoto State Park, on Lookout Mountain in northeastern Alabama, has just about everything you could be looking for in a state park. The “must see” is 104 foot DeSoto Falls, located 7 miles north of the park and yet still a part of the park. For adventuring there is kayaking, canoeing, fly fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, rappelling, and rock climbing. You can go horseback riding to DeSoto Falls with Shady Grove Dude Ranch (not affiliated with DeSoto State Park) or zip-lining with Screaming Eagle Zip Lines and Aerial Adventures (not affiliated with but is partnered with DeSoto State Park). The 3,502 acre park also has mountain chalets, log and rustic cabins, motel rooms, a restaurant, meeting rooms, pavilions, picnic area with playground, an Olympic-size swimming pool (seasonal), interpretive programs with live animals, a campground with 94 full-hookup tent and RV sites, primitive camping sites, as well as two back country campsites with shelters.

Gulf State Park, located in Gulf Shores, Alabama, is the perfect place for a getaway adventure to the beach. It features two miles of beaches, a huge campground (496 full hook-up sites and 11 bath houses) and a brand new lodge (a Hilton Hotel). Things to do include hiking, biking, swimming (in the ocean or in a pool), canoeing & kayaking (in freshwater Lake Shelby), a nature center, a beach pavilion for picnicking, a fishing pier, and they even provide beach vendors for things like parasailing and kayaking. Besides the campground and lodge, the park’s accommodations also offer cabins, cottages, 3 “glamping” sites and 11 primitive camping sites.

North Alabama Canoe and Kayak (NACK) is a summer season canoe and kayak outfitter on the Flint River near Huntsville, Alabama. They cater to all ages and skill levels. NACK has private put ins and take outs to avoid some of the hassle of public access. Their rentals include kayaks, tandem kayaks, canoe-kayak hybrids, and canoes. The average float time is around 3 1/2 hours. Shuttle service for those with their own equipment is also available.