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Ditto landing6/2/2023 The most distinctive feature is Sublet Bluff, where the slopes of Monte Sano reach the river, so for about 1/2 a mile, you'll paddle alongside a 50' high limestone bluff. There are also more riverfront homes that you'll pass along the way. It seems like there are more sandbars on the NACK section and people with coolers enjoying them. In other ways, the NACK run is different than the Brown Bear Run. Also, much like the previous section, there are lots of smooth waters, light rifles, and clear passages. The largest drop is right at the put-in, but it's not much. Much like Brown Bear, the primary run is a 4-5 hour float. The take-out is river right, just before Little Cove Road and the public access point river left. There is an ATM at the office in case you forget, but it's better to come prepared. Their floats are first come, first serve, and they only take cash. You park and pay at their office off US-72, and they'll shuttle you to and from the access points. NACK services this section of the Flint with two private river access points. Flint River from Brownsboro Rd to Little Cove Road The river runs at about 1.5 mph with a few ripples but no big drops or hydraulics, so paddlers of any level can enjoy this section of the Flint. There is a tractor bridge that you'll have to portage over, but it's only 10' and exceptionally easy. They keep this section clear enough from fallen trees to paddle the entire way, with one exception. The river channel is deep enough here that you'll rarely see any houses. Brown Bear encouraged us to call ahead and make reservations for our paddling trip, but they also had walk-in spaces available.īrown Bear's principal run is a 4-5 hour journey down to Ryland Pike. They're also an invaluable source of information for running the upper Flint. Their services run from $10 parking and access fees to shuttle services to fully equipped trips. There are really no private access points around Winchester Road, so you have to contact Brown Bear if you're going to paddle here. This section of the river is Brown Bear country. I'm not saying don't go there, but think long and hard about it, know your capabilities, and come prepared.įlint River from Winchester Rd to Ryland Pike However, this section rarely gets run, so it's overrun with fallen trees and often drops into swampy bottoms. That, in and of itself, would make for a long day of paddling. Notice that there is a 23-mile gap between Hays Nature Center and Chickasaw Landing. Generally, it takes about 3-4 hours to paddle 5 miles, but it could be more or less depending on how much you work or how many breaks you take. Since Oscar Patterson is the start of the prime paddling section, it is labeled as mile-0. Flint River Paddling Distancesīelow is an approximate mileage chart from the Oscar Patterson Road access on the Flint River to Ditto Landing on the Tennessee River. North Alabama Canoe and Kayak (NACK) services the river from Ryland Pike to Little Cove Road.įlint River Expeditions services the river from Little Cove Road to Old Big Cove Road. They all offer canoe and kayak rentals as well as shuttle services for private boaters.īrown Bear Canoe and Kayak services the river from Oscar Patterson Road to Ryland Pike. Three outfitters operate on the Flint River. This guide divides the Flint River into four half-day sections: Winchester Rd to Ryland Pike, Brownsboro Rd to Little Cove Rd, Little Cove Road to Hays Nature Preserve, and the Lower Flint (included in Ditto Landing).The upper Flint (north of Winchester Rd) gets mentioned in passing in the Winchester Rd Section. According to the Alabama Scenic River Trail - "The best level to run the Flint is at seven to eight feet on the gauge, which is just over four feet in actual river depth." The Flint River season runs from March through November, with the areas north of Winchester Road being generally unfloatable between Memorial Day and Labor Day.įor an indication of water level, check the Brownsboro gauge. The Flint River is Huntsville's premier river running experience, with over 50-miles of floatable water. If you like it, download it to your phone and take it with you. If it doesn't load, just hit the refresh button. Each will have an area overview and specific paddling trails, including access points and points of interest. It's divided into three sections corresponding to the sections in this guide: Flint River, Ditto Landing, and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Huntsville Paddling Trail Mapīelow is an interactive map for paddling in Huntsville. No matter how you like to get out on the water, this guide has you covered, even if you don't own a boat. You can spend lazy summer days floating with friends or brisk spring mornings challenging rapids. Paddling in Huntsville is one of the town's not-so-hidden gems, with four commercial outfitters, over 60 miles of navigable rivers, and plenty of backwaters.
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