One Tank Getaway: Rafting with Coosa River Adventures

Wetumpka, Ala. - Who needs a water park if you want to cool off in the water this summer?  We found one great way to spend a family weekend that’s less than a tank of gas away from Birmingham.  Lisa Crane takes us on a one-tank getaway to Wetumpka, kayaking the Coosa River.

It’s no water park.  Kayaking down the Coosa River is the real thing. And a family can do that in Wetumpka at Coosa River Adventures.

Chris Carter is the owner of Coosa River Adventures.  A former military man, Carter always loved the Coosa and now rents canoes and kayaks, dropping folks in the water at Jordan Dam. Many of his customers are first timers.  He said it’s a family-oriented event, recommended for children at least of school age.

Carter said, “The Coosa is class two rapids which is wide open clear channels, easily paddled by novices.  We have one class 3 which can swamp an open boat such as a canoe.”

The Coosa is a beautiful contradiction.  In some spots, it’s a lazy river, and in others a high adrenaline, rapid-rushing ride.  It’s the perfect opportunity for a rookie kayaker to get their feet, and everything else, wet.

Carter said, “So you have this ideal time to float, relax, and enjoy the scenery, the wildlife, the flora and fauna of the Coosa, the Cahaba lilies, the eagles, the fish.  And then you’ve got these short bursts of class 2 rapids.”

Coosa river adventures supplies the life vests and the paddles, they have some helmets but suggest you bring your kids’ bicycle helmets with you.  The rapids aren’t necessarily difficult to navigate but they can be scary.

Carter explained “The rapids can be intimidating both audio and visual.  I’ve never found the rapids to be intimidating physically.”

The good thing about the Coosa, it’s a warm water river.  While the temperature of many rivers with white water is typically in the 50s, the Coosa will be in the upper 80s in the heat of the summer.  That’s good news, since there’s a chance you’ll end up in it at some point. 

In that case, Carter said, you might get what they call Coosa River tattoos.  “That’s from the scrapes bumps and bruises that you get from the shallow rock formations that make up the rapids.“

But Carter says rest assured, those who aren’t as adventurous can take the less exciting path.  He says you’ll have plenty of time before each set of rapids to get a good look and decide whether you want to skip it all together.  “If you don’t like what you see, don’t paddle it.  Tote your boat around it.“

The seven mile trip usually takes three to four hours, but you can make the fun last even longer if you like by making frequent stops.

There are plenty of spots along the route for a break where you can get out, stretch your legs and eat some lunch.  Your best bet is to bring that along with you in a soft sided cooler and bungee it to the back of the kayak. 

Carter said the most popular stopping point is Moccasin Gap.  It’s not named for the snakes, but for the Creek Indian children who used to swim there and leave their moccasins behind!

Chris said, “It’s about midway through your trip, its a rocky, boney island.  It’s where the hard core kayakers tend to want to hone their skills, cut their teeth, learn some tricks in that class 3 rapid.  It’s good people-watching there.“

From bald eagles to osprey and blue heron, there’s plenty of wildlife to look out for on the Coosa.  Carter says much of it will be in the river with you, with some of the best spotted bass fishing anywhere in the south.

Coosa River Adventures is a little under two hours away from Birmingham.  To get there take I-65 South and take exit 181, which is highway 14.  Go east to Wetumpka, then take the Highway 14 bypass to highway 231 South.  That turns into Company Street.  Coosa River Adventures is 7/10 of a mile down the road on the right

At a cost of $40 a day for a two-person kayak, and $10 a night for primitive camping, a family of four can spend the weekend on the river for under $100.
This month, we’ve also visited three other places in Alabama.  To see those stories click:
Noccalula Falls in Gadsden
U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville
Hidden Creek Ranch in Sterrett

There are plenty more one tank getaways out there.  If you have a suggestion, let Lisa know.  Her e-mail address is .