Oxford partnership gives great access to the creek
Looking for the perfect, quiet waterway to spend an afternoon kayaking on?
Choccolocco Creek, which winds its way through Calhoun and Talladega counties, eventually emptying into Logan Martin Lake may be just the spot.
Choccolocco Kayak, a collaborative effort between the city of Oxford and Choccolocco Creek Watershed, is located right across Leon Smith Parkway from Choccolocco Park on Boiling Springs Road. From the rental facility there, visitors will be transported by van to kayak put-in access point near Cider Ridge Golf Club. You then float Choccolocco Creek until reaching the take-out access point at the kayak rental facility.
The trip takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Kayak and equipment rentals are available at the main office and parking at Boiling Springs Road. It’s a great beginner to intermediate float, depending on the water levels.
The creek winds through the natural beauty of the region. And what’s more, 75% of the revenue from kayaking goes to support the Choccolocco Creek Watershed, a non-profit group working to preserve the historical integrity of the creek area while protecting natural resources and promoting healthy outdoor recreation.
Choccolocco Kayak is open Friday by reservation 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. with last launch at 2 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 2 p.m. Visitors must be 18 years or older to rent kayaks. Users 8-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult to float in standard kayak. Children under eight must float in tandem kayak accompanied by an adult.
Like all kayak and similar water sports businesses, safety is a prime concern, and they shut down operations during inclement weather or dangerous conditions on the creek—low or high water levels, obstructions on the waterway and other hazards. They do a great job of keeping people informed of any issues on their Facebook page, and if you have any questions, give them a call at 256-847-5191
The season runs until Labor Day Weekend.
For more information about Choccolocco Kayak, follow them on Facebook, or check out kayaking on the “Things to Do” page on the Choccolocco Creek Watershed website,
www.choccoloccocreek.org, or Choccolocco Park,
www.choccoloccopark.com/amenities/kayaking. You can find out more about the Choccolocco Creek Watershed project at
Editor’s note: Choccolocco Creek Watershed and the Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center contributed to this story.
