Piedmont Plateau | Autauga | Best Seasons: Fall | Spring
Swift Creek Park on Lake Woodruff offers access to 225 acres of bottomland hardwood forest and wetlands along the banks of Swift Creek, where it joins the Alabama River. This is a low-traffic site, used primarily as a boat ramp. Forest trails lead through the all-age, bottomland forest with towering white oaks and an understory providing habitat for good numbers of Wild Turkeys as well as for Pileated Woodpeckers. This is an open area for the novice birder, with easy access to both woods and shoreline.
For the experienced birder, there are good opportunities to explore both wooded and wetland areas. Expect to see woodland birds, waterfowl, shore birds, and wading birds such as Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets. Swift Creek Park is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 245-mile Alabama River Lakes Project. This is a small park that can easily be birded in an hour or two.
In addition to a boat ramp and picnic tables, the location provides wheelchair accessible restrooms. There is a very short paved trail that leads into the edge of the thick woods.
GPS: 32.4183431 -86.62947
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alabama River Lakes
8493 US Highway 80 West
Hayneville, Alabama 36040
(334) 872-9554
From intersection of US 82 and AL 14, travel west 9 miles to the sign for Swift Creek. Turn left onto CR 21 and travel 3 miles. Park entrance on right at sign.
Amenities Available: Boat Launch, Picnic Tables, Restrooms
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