Warrior, Locust Fork
2) US 231/79 to CR 160
| Difficulty | II-III+ |
| Length | 5.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 23 fpm |
| Gauge | Locust Fork Near Cleveland, Al. |
| Flow Rate as of 31 minutes | 2.34 ftrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 29, 2019 |
River Description
PUT IN INFORMATION
The 'NEW' putin is on the north side of the US 231/79 Bridge near Blountsville. Put in on the RIVER RIGHT side now. Boaters used to launch on the south side, but that putin is now off limits as the owners are not friendly to trespassers. Please spread the word. Put in on the north (river right) side of the bridge.
TAKE OUT INFORMATION
The take out is on river right at the CR 160 bridge. The hike up the hill is short but steep. There isn't much room for parking here. There is an optional take-out at Swann Bridge that skips Powell Falls and Ender Hole, but also skips the steep hill at the 160 takeout. If you take out at Swann Bridge, park on river right and take out there.
RIVER DESCRIPTION
The Locust Fork is an excellent and popular whitewater run in northern Alabama. The late, great William Nealy even got his start here back in the 1970s and highly recommended the run should you find yourself in the area.
The river is mostly Class II+ at levels of 2.2'-3.5' and transitions to Class III around 3.5' and up, though they say things get pretty pushy but not too washed out at levels between 4'-6'. Above Swann Bridge, 1.8' is the absolute minimum, and 1.6' is the minimum to scrape down from Swann to CR 160.
After the put in there are a few Class II warm up shoals before the first named rapid, House Rock. House Rock is undercut and the main flow pushes right into it, so best to ferry right and catch the eddy before House Rock catches you. Next up is Tilt-a-Whirl which features some boulders with a pour over on river right and a nice big wavetrain below. Just above Double Trouble the river will widen with trees scattered in the middle. Follow the main flow on river right working your way left to miss the rock at the bottom of the turn; this is S-Turn or Tree Rapid. Land on the island to scout Double Trouble. At higher water you can sneak DT left
...River Features
House Rock Rapid
Tilt - a - Whirl
Double Trouble
Bullard Shoals
At lower levels Bullard Shoals is long, rocky and technical. Start center and work your way left. At levels of 3' and up Bullard grows some large waves.
Swann Bridge
Covered Bridge that is an alternate put-in or take-out. Park on river right.
Powell Falls
Skirum Creek Rapid
Ender Hole
County 160 Bridge
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportJust a comment on the naming of a particular rapid. When I began paddling in the early 80's what is now called S turn or Tree rapid was always know as raceway rapid. Just a friendly comment from a paddler that paddled during that time. Not sure when the name was changed or who decided that it will now be called one of the two names being used, but would be nice to pay respect to those that knew it back when.
NEW Putin for the Locust Fork. RIVER RIGHT side.
NEW putin for the Locust Fork. RIVER RIGHT north of the bridge.
There has been some confusion about where to put in for the Locust Fork in Alabama. The 'new' putin is north side of the bridge on 79. Put in on the RIVER RIGHT side now. We have been using this north side as the putin for over a year but not everyone is familiar with it yet. The 'old' putin is off limits and the owners are not friendly to trespassers. Please spread the word.
Big waves at Bullard Shoals
The main flow pushes right into this undercut.
Jay runs Double Trouble
Chuck Neese running left side of Powell Falls at a level of 3.3
Amen to that !
Powell Falls. We scouted together so didn't have any boaters in the shot. It is best run off of the point or what is typically the island.