Paddling Brushy Creek in Bankhead National Forest

[vapor]

I was hoping to paddle Brushy Creek on Presidents day since I have the day off. Some time ago I had seen a map showing the put in & take out & now I checked both my books, Paddling Alabama, & Alabama Canoe & Float Trips & can't seem to find the map. I also checked http://www.fs.usda.gov/In...MENTS/stelprdb5157119.pdf so I can't remember exactly where I saw it but I know it exists somewhere. Has anyone seen this section before & know where I might find more info on it?

[Uncle Wayne]

Don't want to dampen your hopes but water levels at present level will make this more of a hike than float. But to answer your question, I have put in at both points to float Brushy; at Brushy Lake and at Beech Creek on FSR 245.

I have two ways to unofficially gauge the "floatability" of Brushy.  On the Hickory Grove road, where most take out,  measure at the bridge on Brushy Creek.   If the water level is within  54 inches of the top of the bridge, you'll have a full float.  Much less than that and you'll do more walking than floating.

If you put in at Brushy Lake, canoe to the dam and check the water flow going over the dam.  If it's 8 inches or more, (more being better) you'll have a good float.  Any less and you'll be pulling the canoe in ankle deep water.

The Beech Creek put in is another option but can only be used after a monsoon rain of 4 to 5 inches.  We've been dry for a couple of weeks so I know that option is out.

One other option is to put in at Rush Creek and float to Brushy and then you're probably only a mile away from the take out mentioned earlier.  But water levels are going to be low this weekend regardless.  I'd suggest the Brushy Lake put in.  If the water level is as low as I believe it will be, you can still canoe around the lake and upstream on Brushy or Owl creek for a ways.

Good luck.

[vapor]

Definately looking to walk my canoe downstream as little as possible if not at all. Any chances the floatable sections of Hubbard, Borden, Sipsey, & Thompson are any better or are they all likely the same? I am not really set as to where I go but thought it would be a great day to paddle Sipsey if they were doable at this time.

[Uncle Wayne]

They'll all be the same.  We hiked a stretch of Montgomery Creek, a feeder to Borden,  Saturday and it almost completely dry.  The whole forest is very dry right now.

If you just want to float some, and don't like the Brushy Lake option I mentioned earlier, put in at the take out point near the HWY 33 bridge over Sipsey.  Mimms Access or something similar.  Paddle downstream to Grindstone Creek, maybe 4 miles, don't remember for sure.  The backwaters from Smith Lake should make it a rather easy paddle back upstream to the Mimms Access.

Good luck.

[kimism72]

I hear there are a lot of log jams between the bottom of the dam at Brushy Lake all the way down to the bridge.

[wirerat123]

I would put in on the Sipsey at the Hwy 33 bridge, and float down into the lake. At most you'll have a couple of drags and after that it should be easy paddling. And if you don't want to setup shuttle, you shouldn't have too much issue paddling back up, and at worst dragging your boat upstream on a fast moving shoal. I have done this before, and it is a nice relaxing paddle. Plenty of overnight camping opportunities, and plenty of exploring time in feeder creeks since you aren't crunched to make a take out by a certain time, and well, the lake is the lake, the canyons and feeder creeks are the nice parts. If you do this, make sure to find the site pictured below. Nice little private lagoon on river left with a waterfall, and a huge under cut to camp under. There is a small opening on river left a little ways passed the first house you see on river right, and once you pass through the opening (Can be hidden) you will come into a little lagoon about 50'x50'. It's a fantastic place to camp and setup base camp for daytime river adventures.

Paddling Brushy Creek in Bankhead National Forest

Paddling Brushy Creek in Bankhead National Forest