Cypress Creek in Alabama

Trip Overview

This report refers to the upper stretch.

Three hour run, thereabouts. Low water, although no problems w/ bottom-outs, etc. Upper Cypress Creek (you'll pass Forks of Cypress getting there) has various problem areas resulting from recent winter flooding. Many of the familiar bends in the river have changed a bit, requiring a bit of back-paddle on occasion due to heavy treefall / treedrag around islands and beaches. No obstacles other than trees on Upper Cypress. Good run, very few gnats or mosquito critters. Clear smooth water with occasional swifter currents (although not swift by any other rivers' definition, lol). Lots of small-rocky beaches, islands, and bends. You'll hear the traffic on Cox Creek a good while before the take-out point (Cox Creek Parkway bridge over Cypress Creek, although you can continue down to Wildwood Park for a longer, 7-8-ish hour trip).

Directions:

Uhm, take Jackson Road north across Cox Creek Parkway (near the Cypress Creek bridge) and continue driving past Forks of Cypress. Turn left at the three-way intersection, dropping in at the heavily-white-rocked bridge over Cypress Creek. You'll want to see a map if you haven't been before, as paddling above this bridge can be troublesome and shallow.