Gravel Landing → Peaden Lake Shelter
Put in at Gravel Landing, the uppermost access point on the trail. Easy current, first few sandbars for a break, and a chance to spot eagle or osprey nests along the tree line before pulling in at Peaden Lake for the first night.
- Put-in: Gravel Landing (mile 0)
- Take-out for the day: Peaden Lake Shelter (mile 7.0)
- Passes: Nelson Ditch Shelters (mile 4.3) — keep paddling
- Camp: Peaden Lake Shelter, reserved for the night, or the sandbar in front of it
Peaden Lake Shelter → Loggerhead Creek Shelters
The short day. Break camp after a noon checkout, pass Staple Fork Landing at the midpoint of the trail (a bail-out option if anyone needs it), then drift the short stretch into Loggerhead Creek — home to one of the biggest sandbars on the whole river.
- Put-in: Peaden Lake Shelter (mile 7.0)
- Passes: Staple Fork Landing (mile 9.0) — mid-trail access point
- Camp: Loggerhead Creek Shelters (mile 12.5) — two shelters, biggest sandbar on the trail
- Note: Known logjam near Barrineau Park Bridge, ~5.25 mi south of Staple Fork — expect a short portage
Loggerhead Creek Shelters → Blue Lake Landing
Last leg. Pass Swamp Field Shelter with about two miles to go, then paddle out at Blue Lake Landing — the southern end of the trail. Stage a vehicle shuttle here ahead of time since Blue Lake has no shelter access of its own.
- Put-in: Loggerhead Creek Shelters (mile 12.5)
- Passes: Swamp Field Shelter (mile 16.75)
- Take-out: Blue Lake Landing (mile 19.0) — end of trail
Shuttle it
Drop a vehicle at Blue Lake Landing before launch, or arrange a shuttle back to Gravel Landing. Blue Lake Landing is the southern terminus and has no shelter access, so plan the take-out vehicle there rather than at Staple Fork.
Shelter rules
Reservations run noon-to-noon, $25/night per shelter. Reserve at alabamacanoetrails.com and keep a copy of the confirmation on you.
No open fires within 20 feet of a shelter. Cooking stoves are fine on the porch.
Barney is the only dog allowed in the shelter. He is not required to shit in the portable toilet
No bathroom facilities anywhere on the trail — bring a portable toilet and pack it out, along with all trash. Only trash litters!
Camping on sandbars is only allowed directly in front of a shelter. Please do not feed the meth heads or wildlife.
Check the river stage before you launch — flood stage is 13 ft at the Barrineau Park Bridge gauge. If it's up, stay off the water.
Pack list
On the water
- Canoe, paddles, PFDs
- Trail map / GPS / Pistol
- Dry bag with a change of clothes
- Phone in a waterproof case
- Mushies / Cold Snacks / Food
At camp
- Portable toilet (required — no facilities on trail)
- Camp stove
- Flashlight / headlamp, firestarter
- Food, water, cooler
- Trash bags — pack out everything
Comfort
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, long sleeves
- Bug spray (The Nuclear Kind)
- Fishing gear — bass, bream, and catfish are all in play
- Copy of shelter confirmation
Reference maps
Get in the river, and go where the water takes you.
Lock it in
Reserve Peaden Lake for night one and Loggerhead Creek for night two at alabamacanoetrails.com.
LET'S GO: (251) 533-7780. ← Back to the Trip