The Alabama Scenic River Trail

The Alabama Scenic River Trail, also known as the ASRT, is just one of the recreation activities in this beautiful state to explore.

However, it is also one of the best and most unique.

This unique recreational waterway is different than any other in the state for one simple reason: it is the longest.

The Alabama Scenic River Trail starts at the beginning of the state at Alabama and Georgia Line, in the Coosa River.

It ends a whopping 631 miles later at Fort Morgan, in the Gulf of Mexico, and takes you over 5,300 miles of adventure.

The Original Alabama Scenic River Trail

Small Bridges on the Alabama Scenic River Trail

The Original Alabama Scenic River Trail was even bigger than this one, as it included seven different rivers.

There rivers included the Coosa, Alabama, Mobile, Tensaw, Apalachee, Cahaba, as well as the Blakley rivers.

However, it also included the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, as well as two creeks,

This amazing river trail was the brainchild of an early 2006 group people, that loved to run the rivers.

They enlisted the help of the Alabama Power Company, as well as the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, to help develop this amazing trail.

Finally, on June 6, 2008, it came to a head, with the official destination of this trail.

Most of the Alabama Scenic River Trail is on wide, very safe, and slow-moving waters, which is why it is used so heavily by power boats.

For the river enthusiasts that are more challenged, there is one section that is for you: the Moccasin Gap.

This run is for the hardiest, and includes some Class III rapids, and should be only for the most experienced.

It is the different types of waterways that makes this natural river trail so popular, as it also includes a wide variety of natural secern and topography.

This is not the only thrill to this exciting trail: it can also be traveled from the northern part of this beautiful state.

From the mountainous terrain that is found in the Appalachian foothills in the northeastern part of the state, boaters can see even more scenery, from this scenic starting point.

For the adventurous that choose to start here, the sites will be just a little bit different.

You will not only see some very heavily forested areas, but you will also see some of the State’s largest cities, as well as several beautiful historic sites.

This part of the trail also covers numerous birding trails in the state, as well as some of the best fishing spots.

See Some of the Most Beautiful Sites

The river getting busier at the Alabama Scenic River Trail

In your journey along the Alabama Scenic River Trail, you will see numerous other sites, depending on where you enter.

Some of these sites include:

The Historic Blakely State Park
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson National Historic Park
The Riverwalk in Montgomery, the State Capital
Pass Under the Historic Edmond Pettis Bridge
And then into the “America Amazon”.

As you get further into this beautiful Alabama Scenic River Trail, all of this history will flash right before your eyes on your incredible journey.

You will also come across three more dams in the area, but there is an agreement with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, to keep your amazing ride going.

However, you will need to contact the lock authorities before your arrival, but the phone numbers can be found at the ASRT planning page on the bottom of the article.

Starting From the Origan of The Alabama Scenic River Trail

If you are like most purists in this state as well as around the country like my daughter and son-in-law from Wisconsin, you want to start from the origan of this amazing trek.

Again, starting from the Georgia state line in the town of Cedar Bluff, you will begin on the beautiful Cosa River to start your Alabama Scenic River Trail journey.

With this trek, the views begin with massive and impressive rock bluffs, as well as wide, and very expansive, lakes and backwaters.

As you enter from this direction into the Central section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, you will begin to pass even more lakes.

These lakes have all been formed by Dams by the Alabama Power Company, and again, there will be portage around each of these dams, but it is very easy just calling the number.

There is one spot, however, where you may have some issues going this direction: the Mitchell Dam near Verbena.

There is an extremely large bank you must navigate, but there is a shuttle available during the day to take you around this dam.

The next track will be exciting, if you like some whitewater and have the experience for it.

You will enter the river Heritage section, which is just after the Jordan Dam.

In this section, the Coosa River has numerous fast-running shoals which take you into the famous Moccasin Gap area, near the town of Wetumpka, in central Alabama.

On this stretch of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, you will find some class II/III rapids, however, in the summertime when the Power Company opens the Dam flow, it becomes a class IV.

Now The Next Stage Begins

Slow River on the Alabama Scenic River Trail

After this stop on this beautiful Alabama Scenic River Trail, you will begin to go into an east-west flow, as you begin your journey into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

This area of the state and the river is much better known as the “American Amazon”, for one simple reason: It’s Rainforest-like atmosphere.

However, be ready to be blown away by the magical place you are entering, as you are about to see some of the most interesting wildlife you have even seen.

You will see alligators, wild boar that are safe in their haven, as well as thousands and thousands of deep dark trees covered with Spanish Moss.

However, remember to stay alert, as you will need a very good GPS to stay on track in this “American Amazon”.

The last stretch of this amazing run will take you along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, where you encounter the Historic Blakely State Park.

There is also there Fairhope Pier, home to some incredible seafood restaurants.