Cahaba River Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County, Alabama isn’t the only place to see Cahaba Lilies – this we drove to Cahaba River Park off River Road in Shelby County. This Helena park is off the beaten path & full of great trails.
The fastest way to see the lilies is to drive to the end of the dirt road and park. You’ll walk about 1/4 mile to the end of the shoreline and you’ll see the patches of lilies in the middle of the river.
No leeches
Our previous experiences with the Cahaba River have been inconsistent. Some spots are clean and grand, while others are full of leeches and stink.
This spot in Helena was clean and shallow perfect for wading out to the middle of the river to view the blooms up close. We spent 2 hours playing, skipping rocks and checking out the shells.
Where to see the lilies
GPS Coordinates & address for the park.
The lilies bloom now through the first or second week of June. You may be able to see some along the Locust Fork River and also at Hatchet Creek.
Homeschool freebie:
I created a homeschool lesson for my kids last year, it’s still available if you’re interested. It’s quick and easy – just open up the Google Doc form and print as needed. just a quick & easy quiz in Google doc form, just print as needed.
I have some in my yard from a swamp in Northeast Arkansas. We visited Eleuthera Bahamas and were surprised to see them all along the North coastline.
Where is the dirt road? I’ve been to the park only once and only saw the main parking area, some pavilions and a playground.