planning COMBO trip

[aram.mitchell]

Hey all.
I'm from out of state, but planning a trip to Alabama for a group of 10.  I have three or four days to fill up, and would love to split it canoeing and hiking both.  Wondering if Sipsey can accommodate this for me.  I want to keep it primitive. I'll need to rent canoe's and shuttle service.  Any hints, leads, help, or words of advice?
Thanks
AJM

[aram.mitchell]

Hey all.
I'm from out of state, but planning a trip to Alabama for a group of 10.  I have three or four days to fill up, and would love to split it canoeing and hiking both.  Wondering if Sipsey can accommodate this for me.  I want to keep it primitive. I'll need to rent canoe's and shuttle service.  Any hints, leads, help, or words of advice?
Thanks
AJM

[Joshua Szulecki]

I um, botched it a bit, but I merged this and your other post into one thread here on the general discussion/hiking section, which should give maximum exposure.

As for your question...

Canoes can be rented from the Warrior Mountain Trading Post in Wren, AL, although I've never used them before, so I cannot verify whether the canoe rental process is successful.

We'll need more information about what you like in a hike/float, what type of group it is, what your experience level is, etc... before any informed advice can be provided.

[Southlady]

Sipsey is a really good choice. I usually take my own 'yack.

[WolfVanZandt]

Hmmm......last time I was at Warrior Mountain, they advertised canoes but didn't actually rent them. We asked.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Wolf,

Hmmm... I know people who have rented from them (they actually ended up getting Kayaks despite reserving canoes), and they DO have canoes outside, plus the advertisements.

However, didn't they recently change ownership?

[WolfVanZandt]

I think so. We were checking out the mythical canoe rentals this March. It's also possible that the counter clerk might have been new and might not have known what she was talking about. Stranger things have happened.

[toph]

The Wren Trading Post no longer provides a rental service and I'm not aware of another one in the immediate area.  You can rent one from Mountain High/AL Small Boats in Mtn Brook and haul it up there yourself tho...

[Joshua Szulecki]

Yeah... The canoe rack is gone, as are the canoes, so they really need to take that sign down.

[WolfVanZandt]

I like stopping by there when I'm in the neighborhood because I frequently find surprises among their merchandise (I found a t-shirt design be an old acquaintance there the last time). But the folks there seem pretty laid back and not disposed to get in much of a big hurry about anything.

[Uncle Wayne]

When Lamar left the canoe business went with him or shortly thereafter but the sign remains.  Someone told me you could rent canoes from Werners in Cullman but I have not verified that.