Considering taking the wife in our kayak to check out the Cahaba while the lillies are blooming. We have never tried to float there. Can any of you guys that know the area tell me where the good put in and take out points are for a short float trip thru where the lillies are? We would take 2 trucks, leaving one at a take out if possible.

I would also like to know

Hatchet Creek is also a good place to see them.

If you do FB, this is the Southeast Alabama River Enthusiasts group page, which is public so you may be able to see info without having a FB page. There are rivers in FL and central and north AL covered in there, too. Just look to the right under the photo for the magnifying glass, click on it and you can put in whatever you wish to search for and all the posts relative to it will come up.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1529372007309612

Otherwise, this page from the Cahaba River Society should have good info.

https://cahabariversociety.org/cahabalilies

I haven't done the Hatchet Creek float yet. I've been told that the Hwy 231 to King's Bridge is very doable in a day. Again, I haven't personally done that one. Supposedly, there are some on the Little Cahaba coming out of Montevallo. Again, I haven't done that one.

The one I have done twice and will be doing again next week is from Cahaba WMA to just above Centerville, AL. You will hit all the main shoals and see a ton of lilies. The fishing isn't bad either.

I'm thinking you may be a couple of weeks late, but that's just my recollection. I thought it was around the 2nd week of May was the peak. Anybody know better?

i’ve put in by riverchase elementary and old town helena and take out at morgan rd. 5-6 different trips, a lot of dragging in buck creek

We floated buck creek one time and nearly got nailed.by.a cottonmouth

We’ll……they do live in the water!!!

We’ve done that before and it’s really cool. Infested with cotton mouths though.

The only public access point above the Lillie’s that I’m aware of would be Cahaba river park in Helena but I would think that would be a pretty good float not exactly sure duration but looking at the map I’d say low water it may take you 8 hours or possibility more? You could put in at the Lillie’s and float down to river bend bridge that would be a shorter float and has a decent take out and not far via road from the Lillie’s. We used to put in at river bend and float to centreville and that was 4-6 hours depending on water.

Here yall go: https://www.cahabablueway.org/blueway-map/


Every navigable waterway in Alabama should have a map like this. It's been frustrating to try new trips with the amount of investigation it requires.

Lot of cottonmouths in there. A judge is your friend

It's an older book; but you can still find copies of this on Ebay. not sure how much has changed since publication.
Alabama Canoe Rides and Float Trips
by John Foshee

Ive never seen a ton of cottonmouths on the cahaba above Centreville where the shoals are. Below Centreville where the shoals turn to sand bars is a whole different story. From Riverbend to Centreville has a lot of flat water we call the “LingaLongas”. Cahaba WMA (Piper Bridge) to the Riverbend bridge is the way to go.

that would be the best float but if you want to just see lillies they are at full bloom at piper you dont need a kayak you can drive up to them

True, but the best shoals aren't the ones you can drive up to.

Put in at county Rd 24 cahaba river Dr. At the cahaba lilly preserve
Take out is county Rd 26 river bend Rd.
Good parking at both locations but take out is a hike up hill to truck.floated it many times in my old town 169 and best fishing is last mile once you pass little cahaba river and get to rock wall on your left.also make sure your casting lines around bridge pilons on left just before take out.
If you go this time of year it's a fun float if you wait till July your constantly getting out to pull yourself over rocks.
The Lilly's are first half of float but I'd bet they are gone by now but maybe not

Just be careful if you put in at cahaba lilly park and try to float to Centerville it would be best as a over night trip.thats a long ways from west blocton to centerville.the lilly park on co Rd 24 to co Rd 26 river Rd is a full day most times.in early spring with moving water maybe 4 hrs if your very lucky.it normally takes us 6 hrs + to float the two west blocton bridges not to mention getting to Centerville in slower water.ive never tried floating that far in a day but not exactly sure where your talking about putting in.yall have fun