Harold Banks Canoe Trail

Harold Banks is a man of many talents – historian, forester, storyteller, explorer, and outdoorsman. But in Tallapoosa County, he is best known for his red canoe and his expertise on the river. In 2009, he became the first person to solo paddle the entire 258 miles of the Tallapoosa River from its origins in Paulding County, Georgia, to its end at Fort Toulouse near Wetumpka, Alabama. In 2015, the 25-mile stretch of the river located in Tallapoosa and Chambers Counties and cherished by Harold was named in his honor. He resides in Dadeville, Alabama.

A peaceful, family friendly adventure, the trail is a combination of flat water and shoals rarely above class I (easy) in the International Scale of River Difficulty. But the level, flow, and volume of the Tallapoosa River are seasonal and dictated by Alabama Power and its hydroelectric Harris Dam located upstream near Wedowee, Alabama. Paddlers are strongly encouraged to monitor the online water level gauges kept by the U.S. Geological Service at the Wadley Bridge and the boat ramp at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park.

There are three recommended sections of the Harold Banks Canoe Trail, with different access points and distances of 8.25 miles, 9.75 miles, and 6 miles respectively. See the link below for details.