52 Weekends, 630 Miles: Alabama’s Scenic River Trail is the Longest in the Country
Along AL’s Scenic River Trail, you’ll bask in pristine, untouched wilderness, float by bustling cities, small towns, and historic landmarks, and see plants and wildlife you won't find anywhere else. Image: Facebook / ASRT
“Alabama the Beautiful” lives up to its name, stretching from the Appalachian foothills to the sparkling Gulf Coast. Lesser-known but just as impressive is its 130,000 miles of waterways, home to the nation’s richest freshwater biodiversity. Flowing through it all is the Alabama Scenic River Trail.
The longest National Water Recreation Trail in the U.S., it begins at the Georgia state line, winds the length of Alabama through the Mobile-Tensaw Delta (“America’s Amazon”), and ends at Fort Morgan Peninsula. The Alabama Scenic Trail ( ASRT) is a nonprofit that works to make its 630 miles, plus 6,500 connected waterways, accessible to all.
Through programming, guided paddles, and curated itineraries, the Alabama Scenic River Trail aims to entice more people to experience Alabama’s beauty from the water. “We call ourselves Alabama’s official paddling resource, stewarding opportunities for both recreation and enhancement of Alabama’s waterways,” Savannah Schmidt, ASRT’s Communications Specialist, tells us. “We have the most navigable water in the U.S. as a state, and it’s a huge asset for Alabama.”
Whether you’re looking to get the kids out on your first family paddle, get your heart pounding along white water rapids, or go for a nighttime paddle on glow-in-the-dark kayaks at the beach, the ASRT can help you plan your trip.
The ASRT breaks down the best trips by season with its “52 Weekends on the Water” itineraries, jam-packed with everything you need to know from paddling skill levels to nearby outfitters and even recommendations for non-paddlers who want to enjoy a day around the water.
“Our itineraries tell you where to eat, where to shop, and ideas for other fun experiences downtown, and it’s an awesome way to see parts of Alabama that you might not have thought to go to before,” Savannah says.
The warming temperatures, blooming scenery, and abundant wildlife make spring the perfect time to get acquainted with the river trail. Float under the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, paddle along the Coosa River in Gadsden, or take to the whitewater rapids in Wetumpka. These vibrant towns have even more to explore by land, and the ASRT has your itinerary ready here.
As spring shifts into summer, mark the changing of the seasons with the breathtaking blooms of the rare Cahaba Lilies at Hargrove Shoals in central Alabama, a crown jewel of Alabama’s biodiversity. The famed spider lily only grows in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, but dammed rivers have greatly diminished its fragile habitat of rocky shoals and flowing water.
The Cahaba River is the longest free-flowing river in Alabama, and has the best spots to catch the lily’s brief but spectacular bloom, which usually lasts from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day.
Not surprisingly, summer is a busy time for the ASRT, and its summer paddling programs are great opportunities for beginners to learn new skills and get comfortable on the water, with river guides and outfitters ready to help. “One thing a lot of people don’t think about is outfitters provide a shuttle from point to point,” Savannah says, “So that’s why doing it with an outfitter as a novice is way better.”
Summer is also a great time to explore the wonders of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and, of course, hit the beach. There are outfitters throughout South Alabama ready to give you a Gulf Coast experience unlike any you’ve had before.
As the leaves begin to change, go for a peaceful paddle in Lake Guntersville’s secluded Morgan Cove. Surrounded by mature trees and teeming with wildlife, it’s a gorgeous spot for leaf peeping.
Winter is for waterfalls. “The Land of 1,000 Waterfalls,” to be exact. Bankhead National Forest in Northwest Alabama is a waterfall wonderland after a good winter rain.
While the ASRT strives to make Alabama’s National Water Recreation Trail accessible for everyone, the Great Alabama 650 opens the trail to elite athletes and professional paddlers to test their limits. It’s the longest endurance paddle race in the nation and, many argue, the toughest in the world. The race spans 650 miles of water, starting in Weiss Lake in Northeast Alabama and ending at Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay.
The annual race takes place over 10 days in October, but many competitors finish in half that time, including legendary paddler Salli O’Donnell, who, at 66, gave her male counterparts a run for their money.
“She was neck-and-neck with the tandem male teams that won last year,” Savannah says. “She is an incredible woman.”
Paddlers make the trek to the Heart of Dixie for the Alabama 650 from Canada, Estonia, Germany, and the U.K., to name a few.
While racers can use any paddlecraft they choose, and can switch boats as they see fit, completing the race by stand-up paddleboard is an alluring challenge for some, like Craig Sawyer, the Guinness World Record holder for the fastest time traversing the Thames on a paddleboard. He plans to do the 2026 Alabama 650 entirely by paddleboard, but he won’t be the first. Two men and one woman — John Knippers, Brad Friesen, and Lindsey Tilton — have already done it.
Water may meander all across the Yellowhammer State, but making these waterways accessible is easier said than done. Savannah explains that across Alabama, there is great potential to enhance the river trail and create instant outdoor recreation opportunities for locals. Unfortunately, there isn’t a municipal budget to bring many of these projects to life. That’s where the ASRT’s Waterway Enhancement Program comes in.
Each year, the ASRT awards grants up to $5,000 to fund grassroots initiatives that enhance accessibility and community engagement along Alabama’s waterways. Whether it’s establishing a kayak launch site, developing an educational program, or upgrading equipment, these projects are locally led efforts to get more people on the water.
“We really focus on connecting with community groups who have never applied for a grant before, because we can walk them through the application process,” Savannah explains.
The ASRT strives to serve as a stepping stone for these groups to learn as they go, in hopes that they can go on to obtain larger grants down the line, all in the name of ongoing community enhancement.
Just last year, grant recipients built a new kayak launch and rental station at Lake Guntersville State Park, provided specialized adaptive equipment for individuals with disabilities with the Bear Creek Collaborative, and provided free and low-cost paddling experiences for families with Black Kids Adventures, Inc., among several other projects.
Applications for the 2026 Waterway Enhancement Program are due March 13. To learn more, visit the ASRT website.
If you’re eyeing a particular spot along the trail but need some extra guidance, the ASRT has you covered. Through its sprawling network of trail angels, it connects paddlers with local volunteers who help you plan your trip — from waterway navigation to finding a campsite or assisting with a supply run.
Trail angels choose when and how they participate, and they are never required to pick up or meet a paddler. They simply act as a local point of contact to help a paddler on their way. “Our trail angels are a great resource for paddlers of all experience levels,” Savannah says. “You can contact them in areas where outfitters aren’t accessible or during the off-season, or if you have your own boat but don’t really know where to start.”
Who’s ready for a paddle? Plan your float along the Alabama Scenic River Trail here!
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Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.