Wetumpka A Birdwatching Paradise

GPS: 32.531840 -86.20883 | 212 S. Main Street | Wetumpka, AL 36092-27485

Gold Star Park is a small park in the city of Wetumpka featuring an excellently designed and executed walking trail with very good birding right along the Coosa River. The trail encompasses a surprising variety of habitats – forest, riverbank, and several elevated sections that lead through excellent bird habitat. White-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadees and several varieties of woodpeckers are to be expected in this city park. Along the bank of the river, look for waterfowl and kingfishers.

Tips:

• The park has a playground, picnic areas and benches along the river trail.
• For a great photograph of the bridge, park in town and walk down the stairs next to Provisions Wine and Cheese. The trail goes by the “Old Calaboose” which was the first jail in Wetumpka (c. 1820)and passes underneath the Bibb Graves Bridge.

GPS: 32.5085368 -86.2510403 | 2521 W. Fort Toulouse Road | Wetumpka, Alabama 36093

Fort Toulouse-Jackson National Historic Park is situated where the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers meet to form the headwaters of the Alabama River. The park preserves relics of over 6,000 years of human history within its 165 acres of woodlands and fields bordering the two rivers. The fields are home to Eastern Meadowlarks and Northern Bobwhites. Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers and American Kestrels can also be stopped here. The open swamp on the right of the entrance road has Anhingas and Prothonotary Warblers. After entering the park, pass the recreated fort display and park on the left near the entrance to the Bartram Arboretum, named for the famed naturalist William Bartram. The one-mile-long Bartram Nature Trail winds along ridge lines and river bottoms at the southern end of the park. A wide variety of songbirds, such as Northern Parulas, vireos and gnatcatchers can be heard along the trail as it winds down to a bluff above the Alabama River. Look and listen for Barred Owls throughout the year.

Tips:

• There are two forts in the park, a 1751 French fort, and an 1814 American fort, along with a 1,000-year-old Mississippian period mound.
• Visit “The Graves House", a Carolina Tidewater Cottage built around 1830, where you'll find a bookstore and museum featuring archaeological collections from French colonial, early American and prehistoric Indian items.
• There is a 39 site RV campground overlooking the Coosa River.
• Park grounds are open every day of the year weather permitting. The park visitor center is open Monday through Saturday except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and state holidays. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm daily
• Admission Fee is required

GPS: 32.5598553 -86.20246

Corn Creek Wilderness Park is a heavily wooded park on the banks of Corn Creek and the Coosa River. This beautiful and isolated site offers good birding opportunities. You can walk the overgrown 1+ mile of trails in the mixed pine and hardwood forest for woodland birds. The junction where the creek flows into the river of course offers various opportunities for seeing water birds. Scan the skies for birds of prey. Great birding opportunities also can be found all along the gravel road up to the bluff.

Tips:

• The park is also called Corn Creek Coosa River Park•
• The 7-acre neighborhood park has many benches and picnic tables for family gatherings, and the weekends can be crowded when the weather is nice.
• The park offers crystal clear waters, small rapids, a waterfall and lots of shoreline for fishing or launching a kayak or canoe

Jordan’s Journey

Jordan’s Journey, which connects to the Swayback Trail, is Alabama Power’s “The Preserves” park. This60-acre park is a day-use area along the shores of Lake Jordan. It is designed for hiking (~ 3 miles), fishing, walking, birding and spending time with family and friends. There are gazebos, benches and fishing piers for the public to use from dawn to dusk. Follow Jordan Dam Rd to Boat Ramp Rd. The park has basic facilities. The Swayback Trail is known for its mountainbiking and trail running. The trails are not well-marked and facilities are very limited