Float the Flint – Kayak Rentals in Huntsville

Float the Flint – Kayak Rentals in Huntsville

Paddling the Flint is one of Huntsville’s locals’ favorite summer pastimes. When it’s hot out, you can always rely on paddling the Flint River to keep you out in the sun while staying cool. Below are 3 of our favorite local places to rent a kayak! Lifejackets are included at all rental places!

First off, what should you bring?

  • Water Shoes (What we recommend)
  • Sunscreen
  • Bathing Suit
  • Bug Spray
  • Food
  • Drinks (plenty of water!)

You’re forgetting this gear. Here’s the most underrated gear you’re missing.

TGL Adventures

TGL Adventures (website)

Location: (Google Maps) Located off of Hwy 72, less than 15 minutes from downtown.
Cost (Per Boat Rented):
Shuttle Only $20
Single Kayak (shuttle included): $40
Double Kayak (shuttle included):$60
Open: April – Sept (Depends on the season and rainfall)
Phone: (256) 693-3693

TGL Adventures also offers luxury Geodomes, primitive camping, and activities on their property. They have several acres and its a beautiful setting.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

North Alabama Canoe and Kayak (NACK)

North Alabama Canoe and Kayak (NACK) (website – Facebook only)

Location: (Google Maps) Located on Hwy 72, less than 15 minutes from downtown.
Cost (Cost per person) CASH ONLY:
Shuttle Only: $30
Adult (shuttle included): $45
Kids 6- 12 (shuttle included): $25
Kids 5 and under (shuttle included): Free (Child rides with you)
Open: Typically May – Sept (Depends on the season and rainfall)
Phone: (256) 529-0357

NACK can get incredibly busy. Weekday reservations are required. Call for reservation. During Christmas, they typically sell Christmas trees!

Brown Bear LLC

Brown Bear LLC (website – Facebook only)

Location: (Google Maps) Located on Winchester, about 20 minutes from downtown.
Cost:
Shuttle Only: $18 per person
Kayak Adult (shuttle/parking included): $45 per person
Kayak Kids (shuttle/parking included): $18 per person
Canoe: $80 per boat
River Access (On property parking and wading/swimming): $10
Open: Typically Apr- Oct (Depends on the season and rainfall) (Oct paddling is by reservation only)
Phone: (256) 885-6546

Brown Bear LLC offers a place to play in the water on the property.

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Swann Covered Bridge

Swann Covered Bridge

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Difficulty: Easy
Distance: No Hiking
Cost: Free

Swann Covered Bridge is an old covered bridge. It used to be a drivable bridge, but has been closed down. You can still cross the bridge on foot and play in the river. There are hiking trails, but we did not get a chance to explore them.

Find nearby hikes:
Mardis Mill Falls
Rickwood Caverns

Don’t sweat all night camping during summer. Find the essentials here.

Swann Covered Bridge is located a little over 1hour south of Huntsville.

Google Swann Covered Bridge or click here for directions.

 

The Bridge

There isn’t a ton to this park, but it’s beautiful. There’s a few hiking trails to walk around on.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

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Rutledge Falls

Rutledge Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
Cost: Free

Rutledge Falls is a great swimming hole and a very wide waterfall in Tennessee. It is located on private property, but the owners are incredibly kind enough to allow people to visit, so please (as always) be sure to leave no trace.

Check out nearby locations:
Machine Falls
Foster Falls

Swiming? This is a great location for some Outdoor Sandals

Directions to Monte Sano Trailhead

Rutledge Falls is located about an hour Northeast of Huntsville near Manchester, TN.

Click this link for directions!

Parking Lot

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

The parking is along the road. There is enough parking for a dozen cars and then it appears that the church nearby allows people to park there if needed. Remember to be mindful of parking on Sundays during church hours and potentially either visit another waterfall, or finding alternate parking in the area.

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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Trailhead 

If you walk from the parking lot away from the church, you will come across an opening in the fence for you to go through. Go through here and follow the path. This is a very easy waterfall to find and there aren’t very many trails here.

Rutledge Falls

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

You can explore the area. I saw people at the top of the waterfall (I had my kid with me and didn’t see how they got up there) and I saw people heading downstream. Its a great place to explore and SWIM!

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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Little River Canyon

Little River Canyon

Difficulty: Easy to Difficult depending on the hike
Distance: Each hike differs
Entry Cost: Free except Canyon Mouth Park and Congo Falls

Little River Canyon is located just east of Fort Payne, AL and is the largest canyon in the state. This canyon’s max depth is over 600 ft in some areas and provides incredible waterfalls, views, and rock features.

Find nearby hikes:
Desoto Falls
Griffin Falls
Yellow Creek Falls

Summer is hot. Find the gear you need.

More Waterfalls
Map directions to Little River Canyon

Little River Canyon is located a little around 1.5 hours from Huntsville, but can be a bit further depending on where you go in the preserve.

Click here for directions to the main parkway. GPS locations for each site are tagged in the sections below under the corresponding picture.

Little River Falls

I have a complete guide to Little River Falls located here.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Hippie Hole

Hippie Hole Swimming Area

I have a complete guide to Hippie Hole located here.

Hippie Hole Swimming Area

Little River Falls Overlook

The overlook is a quick stop for snapping pictures of Little River Falls along the rim right off the road.

You can park here.

Canyon Overlooks

There are 6 marked overlooks into the canyon. As you go further south, the deeper the canyon gets for these marked overlooks. Below I have them listed in order from the furthest north to the furthest south. Click on the name for a link to google maps.

My favorite 2 are Eberhart Point and Wolf Creek.

Lynn Overlook
Hawks Glide Overlook
Canyon View Overlook
Wolf Creek Overlook
Crow Point Overlook
Eberhart Point Overlook

 

Brooks Branch Falls

Looking down onto Brooks Branch Falls is accessible by parking at Lynn Overlook and following the canyon south, or downstream until you hit this waterfall. 

Where I’m standing to get to this waterfall is very difficult and dangerous. I do not recommend for people without expert hiking and climbing skills. You can still see the waterfall from the top without any skills required.

Lynn Overlook Parking

Mushroom Rock

The Mushroom Rock is a famous rock in the middle of the road. If you drive the rim of the canyon, you will pass this. There’s a nice boulder field you can walk around right next to it.

Mushroom Rock Directions

Grace’s High Falls

Grace’s High Falls is the tallest ABOVE GROUND waterfall in the State of Alabama with a height of 133 ft.

This is just a stop for the overlook. Check here for directions to the bottom.

Directions to Overlook

Dee’s Branch Falls

Dee’s Branch Falls has no trail and a steep incline to get down to it. It is short, but you will be bushwhacking and have a risk of sliding the entire time. 

Parking for Dee’s Branch Falls

Congo Falls

Congo Fall’s (Also known as Johnnie’s Creek Falls) is a short stop along the Rim with a waterfall. This stop requires a paid permit which you can get here.

Congo Falls Directions

Canyon Mouth Park

Canyon Mouth Park is a great swimming hole in the summer, has a mile of parking, bathrooms, and other features like picnic tables and grills.

This area does cost (updated (4/13/2023) $15 per car.

You can find out more about Canyon Mouth Park here.

Canyon Mouth Parking

That Spot You Cannot Miss

This is one of my favorite spots in Alabama. There’s no marker, no trailhead, nothing but a spot where you can fit 1 car next to the side of the road. When you park and walk 20 ft it opens up to this view. There are bolts here for either climbers or rappelers. This is an absolute must-stop.

Directions here.

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Rock Island State Park

Rock Island State Park

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Distance: 1.5 miles of trail total
Entry Cost: Free

Rock Island State Park is a state park located in Tennesse. It has a very unique man-made waterfall as a result of damming the river. There are 2 sides of the state park.

More Waterfalls

Rock Island State Park is located a little over 2 hours from Huntsville.

Click here for directions.

Twin Falls Parking

There is a very large parking lot that can fit dozens of cars. The trailhead is at the back of the parking lot and there is an overlook down the road from the parking lot. 

Click Here for Parking Lot Location

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Twin Falls

From the parking lot Twin Falls is very easy to find. The trailhead says it’s over a mile, but in reality, the waterfall is a few hundred feet from the parking lot. There is likely over a mile of trails if you wish to hike the entire trail, but there is no need. The waterfalls is incredibly unique with water gushing from the woods. You can make your way down onto the rocks for a closer view. Be careful, the dam can release water causing the water to rise quickly. There is no swimming at this waterfall.

Parking for Blue Hole

The parking lot for the blue hole is very large with plenty of parking spots. There are bathrooms located here as well as a picnic area. The trail is DIFFICULT. It is easy to find your way down but it is very rocky and you are constantly walking on wet rocks and through shallow water.

Click Here for Directions to Blue Hole

Blue Hole

The blue hole has water gushing from the woods. There are several waterfalls along the route. The water is shallow on the rocks. My children had a blast playing in it! There is plenty to explore here so take your time and go up and down the river.

Beach and Cabins

There are cabins for rent as well as a beach area where you can play on the river. We did not stop here, but thought it would be good to share!

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