Press Release

Open Woods Days Scheduled for Forever Wild’s Sipsey River Swamp Recreation Area and Nature Preserve

May 02, 2006

Open Woods Days will be May 13, June 17, July 15 and August 19, 2006

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ State Lands Division has scheduled four Saturdays this spring and summer for Open Woods Days at the Forever Wild Land Trust’s Sipsey River Swamp Recreation Area and Nature Preserve. This beautiful tract, located in Tuscaloosa County near Buhl, AL, off highway 82, consists of over 3,000 acres of bottomland forest along the Sipsey River – one of Alabama’s 10 Natural Wonders.

The Main Gate will be open from 6:00 AM until 2:00 PM, for these four Saturday events.  During Open Woods Day, the public is welcome to drive into the tract along the designated main gravel road leading from the Jack’s Drive parking area, to the south gate. These events are intended to improve access for public fishing and canoeing on the Forever Wild Tract and the Sipsey River. No ATVs Allowed.

Canoeing, birding, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife photography are welcome on these dates.  Hiking, bicycle riding and horseback riding are discouraged on these dates because of the vehicular traffic that will be present along the Main Road.

These Open Woods Days are subject to the river not being in flood stage.  In the event that the Sipsey River is out of its banks and flooding the roads on the Sipsey Tract, the event will be canceled and re-scheduled for a later date.

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