StewartvilleNWeogufka Creek

Ashli Denae ButlerMemorial Bridge(Low Water Bridge)N 32° 57’ 12.7”W 86° 20’ 10.2”

County Road 112

Weogufka

Cement FordN 32° 56’ 54.5”W 86° 21’ 01.6

Mt. Moriah Launch 3N 32° 56’ 32.0”W 86° 21’ 20.3”

Underwater Bridge Launch 5N 32° 54’ 36.0”W 86° 25’ 11.0”

CountyRoad 112 Launch 1N 33° 00’ 12.7”W 86° 18’ 29.2”

Horse StompCampsiteN 32° 55’ 06.6”W 86° 24’ 39.5”Underwater

BridgeN 32° 54’ 36.0”W 86° 25’ 11.0”

Alabama Cooperative Extension SystemCoosa Valley RC&D Council

231

16

1529

29

2941

Coosa

Wildlife

ManageMent

area

To Sylacauga

To Rockford

Hatchet Creek Weogufka Creek

Coosa County Creeks Guide/Maps

Alabama Cooperative Extension System • Alabama Scenic River TrailsCoosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council

Greetings

Floating down a quiet creek with

only the sound of rippling waters and birds singing makes for a great day in the outdoors. Coosa County is blessed with two creeks that host some of the most scenic floats in Alabama. Hatchet Creek flows from the northwest corner of the county down to where it enters the Coosa River on Mitchell Lake. Weogufka Creek runs an almost parallel path a little farther to the north and includes a large primitive section through the Coosa Wildlife Management Area. Early spring is the best time to float both creeks as the water level normally drops during midsummer. Both creeks host beautiful shorelines covered in mountain laurel and other flowering shrubs. Of course, the rare Cahaba lilies that bloom in shoals in late May are one of the most treasured attractions. Both creeks have been designated as spur trails of the Alabama Scenic River Trail that runs 631 miles down the heart of Alabama to the Gulf of Mexico.

This map/visitors guide is provided by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, through a grant from the Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council to assist visitors in planning safe and enjoyable float trips. Best wishes and come enjoy the beauty of Hatchet and Weogufka Creeks in Coosa County.

41

112

WeogufkaCemetery

WEOGUFKA CREEK ACTUAL FLOAT DISTANCES

Section 1 Co. Rd. 112 to Co. Rd. 29 2 milesSection 2 Co. Rd. 29 to Co. Rd. 15 9 milesSection 3 Co. Rd. 15 to Shoemaker’s 5¾ miles Section 4 Shoemaker’s to Underwater Bridge 4¾ milesSection 5 Underwater Bridge to Backwater 5¼ miles

Estimate travel time at 2 miles per hour.

Water Levels• Hatchet and Weogufka Creeks are best floated in early spring—March to May,

• Wet suits are recommended for winter floats.

• Flow rates are available at http://flowpage.alabamawhitewater.com/

• Hatchet Creek is best floated with a flow rate of 700 to 800 CFS (300 minimum).

• Visual estimates can be made by observing two rocks (one large and one small) in the middle of the creek on the east side of Hwy 231 Bridge. The large rock is always visible except under high-water levels. The small rock becomes visible under low-water flows.

Caution• The Hwy 280 to Hwy 231 section is long and normally takes 9-10 hours or more under low-water flow. Frequently, people get caught after dark trying to make this whole section. Divide this section into two days by camping at Dunnam’s Halfway Campsite.

• Weogufka is narrower than Hatchet, and fallen trees often block the creek.

Campsite EtiquetteThe four public campsites on Hatchet Creek are all on private property. These sites are available by permission of the landowners, so please respect this privilege by following these guidelines. One public campsite is available on Weogufka Creek.

Leave it cleaner than you found it.

Collect firewood from dead material on the ground.

Extinguish any campfire with water.

Use the restroom away from the campsite area.

Do not damage trees in any way, including using nails.

Send a thank-you note to the landowner via the Coosa County Extension Office.

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Toulatoma Snails American Bald EagleIndian PinkQueen Anne’s Lace Piedmont Azalea Sweet Azalea Trillium Coreopsis Catawba RhododendronFire Pink

Weogu f k a Cr e ek

Weo

g uf k

a C

r eek

We o

guf k a Cr e e k

Weo

gu f k a C r e e k

C o o s a C o u n t y , a l a b a M a

Short Floats• Hatchet Creek, County Road 66 to Hwy 280 (around 2 to 2 ½ hours)

• Weogufka Creek, Ashli Denae Butler Memorial Bridge (Low Water Bridge) on Co. Rd. 16 to Mt. Moriah (1 ½ hours)

Weogufka

state

forest

Shoemaker’s CaveN 32° 55’ 35.4”W 86° 23’ 24.5”

Backwater Launch 6N 32° 53’ 11.2”W 86° 25’ 20.4”

Shoemaker’s Launch 4N 32° 55’ 36.2”W 86° 23’ 30.1”

119 TurnoffN 32° 54’ 47.9”W 86° 23’ 20”

Backwater TurnoffN 32° 53’ 7.4”W 86° 25’ 13.9”

153

BackwaterLaunchN 32° 53’ 11.2”W 86° 25’ 20.4”

Butterflies

Float Trip Checklist• Map• Paddles• Life preservers• Dry bag and clothes• Flashlight• Drinks and food• Sunglasses• Camera

• Wide-brimmed hat• Suntan lotion• Cell phone• Car keys• Lighter or firestarter stick• Toilet tissue in ziplock bag• GPS (optional)• Hammock or camping gear (optional)

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Camping NotesSeveral landowners have given permission for public camping along the creek. Please respect this privilege and camp only at designated campsites.

All private land adjoining the creek is posted by Alabama law.

Camping is by permission only and only in designated areas.

Landowners who give permission for trespass have liability protection under the Code of Alabama 1975 Article 1 Section 35-15-1.

Leave campsites cleaner than you found them. (Please do not litter.)

Firewood may be collected from dead woody material on the ground.

Keep fire inside a stone fire ring and thoroughly extinguish with water before leaving.

A thank-you note to the landowner is appreciated and should be sent to the Coosa County Extension Office, PO Box 247, Rockford, AL 35136. Please reference the campsite name.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not guarantee the accuracy of information provided in this map. Use it for general reference.

CountyRoad 29 Launch 2(Difficult)N 32° 59’ 00.7”W 86° 18’ 26.6”

James Nix Ro ad (unpaved )

Perkins Road (unpaved)

119

Hwy 231 Bridge Water Level Marker

Mt Moriah Bridge

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N

GoodwaterDouble Bridges

King’s Bridge

Boulder IslandN 32° 56’ 27.9” W 86° 13’ 25.9”

Cahaba LiliesN 32° 56’ 39.6” W 86° 14’ 16.0”

Privet CoveCampsiteN 32° 56’ 20.5”W 86° 13’ 11.8”

Big DropN 32° 57’ 52.3” W 86° 11’ 04.6”

Sycamore RestN 32° 58’ 24.7” W 86° 10’ 59.1”

Big BendN 32° 58’ 59.0” W 86° 09’ 32.5”

231 DamCampsite N 32° 56’ 46.0”W 86° 12’ 29.2”

Dunnam’s HalfwayCampsiteN 32° 59’ 24.3”W 86° 08’ 55.8”

Mermaid Rock N 32° 59’ 18.7” W 86° 08’ 56.4”

Dunnam’s Flat RockN 33° 00’ 37.0” W 86° 08’ 29.2

Grist MillCampsiteN 33° 01’ 34.4”W 86° 07’ 48.7”

Cahaba LiliesN 32° 58’ 02.8”W 86° 11’ 01.8”

Goodwater Train Trestle

County Rd 66 Launch 2N 33° 03’ 28.8”W 86° 06’ 43.1”

Goodwater Hwy 511 Launch 1N 33° 04’ 53.5”W 86° 04’ 59.9”

Hwy 280 Launch 3N 33° 02’ 12.2”W 86° 07’ 24.0”

Last Big Drop N 32° 52’ 10.1”W 86° 19’ 16.0”

Goodwater Hwy 511 Launch

Old Power Plant (231) DamN 32° 56’ 49.9”W 86° 12’ 31.3”

Humpback RockN 32° 54’ 38.7”W 86° 17’ 00.1”

Sandbar IslandN 32° 54’ 28.6” W 86° 17’ 04.1”

River Birch BeachN 32° 54’ 08.6” W 86° 17’ 51.0”

Rock GardenN 32° 53’ 26.1” W 86° 18’ 36.6”

First DropLast Cahaba LiliesN 32° 51’ 57.3”W 86° 19’ 28.2”

Goodwater DamN 33° 04’ 12.1” W 86° 05’ 40.1”

Hwy 231 Launch 4N 32° 56’ 37.5”W 86° 12’ 12.3”

King’s Bridge Launch 5N 32° 55’ 02.6”W 86° 16’ 09.4”

Double Bridges Launch 6N 32° 51’ 40.8”W 86° 20’ 19.9”

Lawson’s Left HookN 32° 53’ 02.7” W 86° 18’ 57.7”

Old Grist Mill

231

231

280

229

49

66

52

511

66

To Sylacauga To Sylacauga

To Alexander City

To Clanton

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511

Hatchet CreekA Note About GPS

GPS locations represent latitude (degrees above or below the equator) and longitude (degrees east or west of the prime meridian). GPS readings are represented in degrees, minutes, and seconds. One degree latitude is about 69 miles, one minute is 1.15 miles, and one second is about 100 feet. Example: N 25 07 27 is about 1733.5 miles above the equator (25x69=1725 miles, plus 7x1.15=8 miles, plus 27x100 = 2700 feet or 0.5 miles). Coordinates can also be represented in decimal terms. All three below are equivalent:

N 25.124167 (.124167 degrees x 60 minutes per degree = 7.45 minutes)

N 25 07.45 (0.45 minutes x 60 seconds per minute = 27 seconds)

N 25 07 27 (degrees, minutes, and seconds)

Longear SunfishRedeye Bass Bluegill

Goodwater Train Trestle

Lower Hatchet Creek

Cahaba Lily

Important Contact NumbersCoosa County Extension Office (256) 377-4713Coosa County Sheriff’s Office (256) 377-2211Coosa Valley Medical Center (256) 401-4000Alexander City Rescue Squad (256) 825-4264Alabama Forestry Commission (800) 492-3711(To Report Wildfires) Geological Survey of Alabama (205) 247-3636(Topo Maps)

Helpful WebsitesCoosa County Extension www.aces.edu/counties/CoosaGeological Survey of Alabama www.gsa.state.al.us/publications.aspx (Topo Maps) U.S.G.S. (Alabama Stream Flows) www.waterdata.usgs.gov/al/nwis/rtAlabama Scenic River Trail www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com/Outdoor Alabama (ADCNR) www.outdooralabama.com/Google Earth www.google.com/earth/index.html

HATCHET CREEK ACTUAL FLOAT DISTANCES

Section 1 Hwy 511 to Co. Rd. 66 3½ milesSection 2 Co. Rd. 66 to Hwy 280 3 milesSection 3 Hwy 280 to Hwy 231 13 milesSection 4 Hwy 231 to Co. Rd. 18 6½ milesSection 5 Co. Rd. 18 to Co. Rd. 29 9 miles

Information in this publication is intended for recreational use and is subject to changes and possible inaccuracies.The Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council are providing this information as a public service. Anyone using this document must assume all personal risk and liability.

Project team: Roger Vines, County Extension Coordinator, Coosa County; Bruce Dupree, Extension Specialist, Art Design, Auburn University; Chuck Browne, County Extension Coordinator, Lee County; Shane Harris, County Extension Coordinator, Tallapoosa County; David Kelley, Volunteer; and Fred Couch, Alabama Scenic River Trail President.

Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University), an equal opportunity educator and employer. Revised Nov 2011, ANR-1400

@ 2011 by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved.

Distances to Coosa County from around the SoutheastBirmingham 66 miles Montgomery 42 miles Huntsville 167 miles Mobile 212 miles Atlanta 146 miles Chattanooga 175 miles

A Look Back

Traveling along the shoals and white- water stretches of Hatchet Creek is

more than a wilderness adventure—it’s a history lesson. In the 1830s, the earliest settlers to the region recognized the creek and its tributaries as prime power sources and built dams and mills for grinding corn, ginning cotton, sawing lumber, and weaving cloth. The foundations of these remain today as moss-covered stone reminders of the day when Hatchet was the industrial artery of Coosa and Clay Counties. Early settlers also took respite from their long work days to relax along the creek. Best known among the fun spots was Traveler’s Rest, a combination blacksmith shop, distillery, and barroom. The coming of the War Between the States brought life-altering changes to the people of the region, while the creek rolled on, responding only to the march of the seasons.

In the following years—in good times and bad—the creek remained the common thread that wove the scattered farms into a community. The present railroad trestle built in 1910 near Goodwater was the highest railroad bridge in the United States at that time. Sentries were posted on both banks of the creek during World War II to guard against German saboteurs. A new use for the swift-flowing waters of Hatchet Creek came in 1905 when hydroelectric plants were built along the banks. While moss-covered evidence of these remains today, the later construction of large and efficient power plants on the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers made them obsolete. Today the scenic creek has returned to a basically free-flowing stream inviting adventurers to embrace the serenity of its unbroken walls of green and the roar of its rapids.

www.aces.eduMountain Laurel American

Water-WillowGoldenclubYellow Coneflower

N 32° 54’ 47.2” W 86° 16’ 50.7”

Hat ch e t C r e e k

Socapa t o r y C r e e k

280231

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65

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Coosa County

A L A B A M A 85

C o o s a C o u n t y , a l a b a M a

Ha tche t C

reek

To Montgomery

Hat ch e t C r e e k

Hwy 280 Bridge

Walleye Spotted Gar

Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey of Alabama

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18

1829

29

22

RockfordSpotted Bass

Lawson Mill BridgeN 32° 53’ 05.2”W 86° 19’ 07.3”

Goodwater/Hwy 511 Launch Site

For larger, more detailed images of locations along the creeks, go to Google Earth.

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