Showing posts with label Graham Creek Nature Preserve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graham Creek Nature Preserve. Show all posts

Friday, November 9, 2018

Graham Creek Nature Preserve Eco Tour



What a beautiful day on the water at Graham Creek Nature Preserve! Fletcher and I signed up for the Eco Tour and had such a lovely morning getting to know people in our community. Jacqueline McGonigal gave a pre-tour educational presentation on the Wolf Bay watershed. The Graham Creek Nature Preserve provided free use of their kayaks for anyone who didn't bring their own. The tour was well orchestrated and attended. We wound our way through the bayou until we reached Wolf Bay then turned back. There's a fantastic aerial map of the water trail on the Graham Creek Preserve website.


The kayak launch and park area are well kept. There's a nice restroom facility and picnic pavilion on the grounds. Free parking.

Park address:
23030 Wolf Bay Drive
Foley, AL 36535


Sunday, September 16, 2018

Wolf Creek Kayak Launch


We loved upper Wolf Bay at Wolf Creek. Even though there are some homes along the banks, there aren't very many people noises. It was peaceful and serene. The map above shows the put-in location and where we encountered a pod of four dolphins!


There were some other kayakers and a family out in their canoe that we spoke with. We also met a woman who was walking her dog along the water's edge. Very nice folks!


The wildlife viewing was amazing! We saw dozens of jumping mullet, heron along the shoreline, and large birds of prey diving into the water to fish, perhaps osprey. Did I mention that we saw dolphins? We saw dolphins! They came very close to us. I was so excited, my heart was racing and all I could do was sit in my kayak, motionless and in awe. I've asked Santa for a GoPro for Christmas so I can give a verbal command and capture those moments on the water without having to dig around in my pocket for a camera.

The launch address is:
9575 Wolf Creek Ridge, Elberta, AL 36530

NOTE: Our GPS took us past the turn-off, which, in retrospect, was marked with an easily recognizable sign. The park entry road was quite washed out, but once in the park, the roadway was flat and even. The water at the launch site was very dark and murky. We actually felt a little apprehensive until we got out on the creek. One of the kayakers we met said that an alligator does hang out around there sometimes, too. So be aware, but don't let that stop you from enjoying Wolf Creek.

Free parking, a picnic pavilion, and a decent porta potty