Chickasabouge Park in Alabama

Trip Overview

Chickasabouge Park is a county park with camping, fishing, picnicing, sports fields, and paddling facilities. It's a great day trip or weekend camp-out destination. The launch point is just up the creek from the public swimming area.

I arrived about 9am on Saturday, May 10, 2003. There were several fishing boats already at the ramp, but they were headed down-river, so of course I headed up-river.

After about 15 or 20 minutes, I left all signs of civilization behind, and there were no sounds except the birds and the wind in the trees. The creek averages about 15 or 20 feet wide, and maintains that width for miles. I kept expecting it to become too small to navigate, but it just kept going.

About 45 minutes to an hour up-river, I passed under AL 213 bridge, and shortly thereafter under another large highway bridge, but there was no traffic on either highway. I'm not sure why, but for over three hours, I didn't hear any traffic except a siren in the distance. It was amazing, considering that I was within a few miles of Interstate 65, the cities of Mobile and Prichard, the University of Mobile, and lots of homes.

The creek was a typical south Alabama creek, with occasional sandy beaches, dark water, and slight current. The farther up I went the stronger and faster the current got, but it was never difficult paddling against it. There were several fallen trees across the river, and often I had to maneuver under or around low-hanging branches.

One of the unique features of this creek was the lack of trash. In every other creek or river in the area, I have seen the ever-present soft drink cans or bottles, beer bottles, old tires, sunken boats, and other flotsam. There was very little of this evident in the creek. What was evident was the wildlife, including otters, deer (on the bank), fish, turtles, and birds.

Accommodations:

Primitive (no power or water) sites for $5 per night, other non-primitive sites also available.

Fees:

Admission is one dollar per person.

Directions:

Take US 45 north exit off I-65 (exit 8-B), to AL 213, and then follow the signs.

Contact:

Contact Chickasabogue Park office at 251-574-2267.