Wildflower Hike at TVA's Muscle Shoals Reservation

Sponsored by Fresh Air Family. Led by Charles Rose.

Meet 1:00pm in front of the restrooms at the Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation.

This outing is free to the public, but you should register. This event could possibly be cancelled or postponed due to adverse weather conditions or changes in the leader's work schedule.

To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at chuckrivers@comcast.net or 256-366-1937.

Registering is easy; all we need is:
1. Your name.
2. The number of people in your party.
3. A contact phone number, preferably a cell phone.

This moderate hike will start at the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden, then we will proceed to the TVA Small Wild Area (First Quarters Ravine). Those wanting to go further will continue down the Southport Trail, then the Low Shore Trail to the old Railroad Bridge. Returning to Southport on the paved walking trail, we will then take the Gunnery Hill Trail, viewing two Civil War earthworks and more wildflowers before returning back to the Nature Trails parking lot. The entire route should take around 3-3.5 hours.

The Native Plant Garden is level and the paved trails there are wheelchair accessible. The First Quarters Ravine portion includes some up-hill and downhill. You may leave at any time.

Wildflowers we hope to see in bloom on this date include Southern Lady’s Slippers, Eastern Blue Star, False Garlic, White Fringe Tree, Flame Azalea, White Trillium, Wild Geranium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Celandine Poppy, False Solomon’s Seal, Carrion Flower, Purple Phacelia, Smooth Solomon’s Seal, Virginia Spiderwort, Purple Phacelia, Golden Alexander, Large-flowered Valerian, Virginia Bluebell, Broad-leaf Toothwort, Florida Azalea, Sweet Cicely, Butterweed, Dwarf Larkspur, Trillium cuneatum, Twisted Trillium, Wild Blue Phlox, Giant Chickweed, Red Buckeye, Ohio Buckeye, Wild Columbine, and more.

Directions: The Nature Trails parking lot is just off of Reservation Road on TVA’s Muscle Shoals Reservation.

From Wilson Dam: Go south on Reservation Road for app. 2.5 miles. At the “Nature Trails” sign, turn right into the parking lot.
From Hatch Blvd. (US-43) in Sheffield: Turn at the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation sign (¼ mile north of the Clarion Inn) and go app. 1.5 miles. At the “Nature Trails” sign, turn left into the parking lot.
From Birmingham: Take I-65 N for app. 50 miles to Cullman. Take the AL-157 exit (Exit 310). At the end of the ramp, turn left onto AL-157 N (toward Moulton). Continue on AL-157 for app. 55 miles, passing through Moulton on the way. Merging with AL-20 W (alt US-72 W), continue for another 4.3 miles into Muscle Shoals, AL. Turn right onto US-43 N. Go 4.5 miles. Soon after passing the Clarion Inn (on the left), turn right onto the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. (This is Reservation Road.) Go 1.5 miles and turn left at the “Nature Trails” sign into the parking lot.
From Huntsville: Take I-565 W. I-565 will become AL-20 W. Continue on AL-20 W as it crosses the Tennessee River into Decatur. On the other side of the bridge, AL-20 immediately turns right at the light. Continue app. 40 miles more on AL-20 W to Muscle Shoals, AL. Turn right on US-43 N. Continue on US-43 N for app. 4.5 miles. Soon after passing the Clarion Inn (on the left), turn right onto the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. (This is Reservation Road.) Go 1.5 miles and turn left at the “Nature Trails” sign into the parking lot.