RMS' Southeast Chapter is excited to host a 3-day float trip down the Cahaba River Blueway in Central Alabama with the Cahaba River Society. Come experience one of the most biologically-diverse river systems in the world with fellow river professionals, local partners, and RMS members. Canoes, paddles and PFDs are available by request, and meals are included in the cost. We anticipate this being a great opportunity for current RMS members to meet local folks in Alabama, and for non-RMS members in the Cahaba's region to learn more about and consider becoming a member of RMS. 

Itinerary & What to Expect 

Please arrive in Birmingham on Friday, October 24th. Tent camping, shared room or private room is available for a small fee on Friday night at Living River Retreat on the Cahaba. You are responsible for meals Friday evening and Saturday morning, though we can coordinate as a group to eat together. We’ll wake up Saturday morning, share breakfast, then head to the Cahaba Blueway Harrisburg access. We’ll sort out gear then set the shuttle down at our takeout at the Cahaba Blueway Sprott access. Our roughly 25 mile class I paddle will take us across the Coastal Plain of south-central Alabama, around meandering bends and amongst countless sand and gravel islands. Along the way, we’ll survey fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates and discuss the world-class biodiversity of the 1,870 square mile Cahaba River Basin and the broader Alabama River Basin. We’ll discuss recreational opportunities available in a state that boasts 132,000 miles of navigable rivers and streams with Gordon Black, world class paddler and longtime director at the American Canoe Association, the Nantahala Outdoor Center and Cahaba River Society. We’ll take a tour of the Northern Hemisphere sky guided by Dr. Michelle Wooten, a local Dark Sky advocate and astrophysicist educator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. We’ll hear from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa’s Dr. Carla Atkinson about the abundance of research being done to preserve this incredible system. Finally, we’ll hear from Dr. Randy Haddock and Dr. Scot Duncan, two of the state’s best ecologists and naturalists, on the story so far and where we are headed next. Dr. Haddock spent 33 years as the Field Director of Cahaba River Society. Dr. Duncan is the Executive Director of Alabama Audubon. At night we’ll camp along the river on broad sandy beaches; beautiful for stargazing, not so great for us hammock campers, though. If there are no trees around for a hammock at our beach, there is plenty of space to tent or cowboy camp on the soft sand. We will plan to paddle around 10 miles on Saturday, 12 miles on Sunday and 3 miles on Monday. This allows us to be off the water and on the road by 1:00 on Monday afternoon. Please reach out to Wil Rainer with local accommodation questions for either Friday, Monday or both and with shuttle questions to and from the Birmingham airport.

Registration

Open to RMS members and non-members, registration is $225 and includes

• spot in canoe, paddle, and PFD (if desired, or can bring your own boat/equipment for no change in cost)
• shuttles
• campsites (Saturday-Monday, does not include Friday night. Also does not include camping gear - bring your own tent, sleeping bag, clothes, mug/plate/utensils, etc.)
• meals (Saturday-Monday, does not include Friday night)

Deadline to register is Oct. 17, 2025.

Register

 With questions, please reach out to Wil Rainer at wilr(at)cahabariversociety.org or SE Chapter Events Coordinator Jack Henderson at hendersonjc3(at)gmail.com.