Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
flows from northeast of Birmingham down to the Alabama River west of Selma, the Cahaba
is the home of over 130 species of fish, including several species that live only there. The
(Cahaba has numerous species of rare, endangered mussels and has several aquatic insect
species that are found nowhere else. Also found in the Cahaba is the rare Cahaba lily, which
lives in the rocky shoals in the middle of the riverbed and puts on unimaginably beautiful
displays of flowers for three to four weeks during late May and early June. Although there is
some good birding along the river, the lilies are the real show.
Most of the river flows through private land, and unless one takes a canoe trip down the
river, there is very little public access to this beautiful and ecologically significant waterway.
However, the land along the western bank of the river opposite the major shoals of lily hab-
itat is owned by a paper company that allows public access to about two miles of the river.
Here, in Bibb County, one can get in some good birding while seeing the rare and spectacular
sight of thousands of Cahaba lilies blooming in the middle of the river. The combination of
spring songbirds and the blooming of the lilies really makes late May the best time to bird
here. With some luck, other times of the year can be productive for birding, and the river is
certainly good for canoeing and sightseeing at all times when the water is high enough. The
Cahaba is considered by many to be the finest canoe ride in the state; there are no large rap-
ids, and there is a variety of habitats to choose from to canoe through.
Take SH 25 west from I-65 at the Calera/Montevallo exit (exit 228); SH 25 goes through
Calera by turning south and then west again. Past Montevallo and the small town of Wilton,
watch for Bibb County Road 65 on the right. Take County Road 65 to where it dead-ends
in a T intersection, and turn left (west); although it is sometimes unmarked by signs, County
Road 65 continues to the west. Two miles past this intersection, you will reach Piper Bridge
over the Cahaba; continue 0.3 miles, and turn onto a dirt road on the left. This is a well-
graded road that goes back down to the river; a good parking area is available right where the
road meets the river and turns right. The small stream next to the parking area is called the
Little Ugly. The dirt road continues on downstream along the bank of the river for a couple
of miles, but it can be rutted and washed out at times; it is best to park at the river and walk
the road to the shoals areas.
After 0.25 mile, you will reach the first shoals, and the stand of lilies here can be very beau-
tiful. Watch for Louisiana waterthrush wading among the lilies and feeding along the large
puddles in the road. Watch for various swallows feeding over the water, particularly near
dusk. Yellow-throated warbler, northern parula warbler, and acadian flycatcher are spring and
summer residents in the woods here. Great blue heron is common in the river, and wood
ducks can be seen flying over the river. The woods contain the usual woodland species here,
and pileated woodpeckers are fairly abundant.
