Canoe the Cahaba

Friends and I were looking for a super-​simple, laid-​back way to kayak/​canoe down the Cahaba one Saturday afternoon (minimal fuss with coordinating boats/​rides, etc but maximal river time). Canoe the Cahaba was the closest option to downtown Birmingham and offered two routes– 5.0 and 9.9 miles. We elected to do the longer 9.9 mile trip and were not disappointed. Their business model is pretty simple: they offer parking and a shuttle –boats in tow– to the appropriate put-​in for your trip. Life vests, paddles and boats are all included and are in good working order. The paddle is easy, rapid-​free so even novice outdoors-​people will feel comfortable. Our 9.9 mile trip took about 6.5 hours with copious down time picnicking, swimming and rock skipping. We had a really brilliant time and look forward to using this outfitter again. The only caveat keeping this place from 5-​stars is the too-​casual way in which appointments are made. The number provided is someone’s cell phone number and the communication is super casual. We ended up waiting over an hour past our reservation time on the day-​of because the guy (possibly the only employee) was held up with a larger group… it would have been nice to sleep in or snag some breakfast if we had known he was going to be behind but 15 minutes turned into 60 without any fanfare. Nonetheless, a great opportunity for canoeing/​kayaking in relatively close proximity to downtown.