Nelsons Gap

Run: Locust Fork of the Warrior

Section: Nelson Gap

Class: I/II Put-In: Litttle Cove Rd

Gradient: ~30' total Take-Out: Pearman Rd

Length: 4.2 miles Precip. Gages: Boaz Weatherbug

Shuttle: Murphree / Hwy 278 / Pearman Delorme Gazeteer: P. 25 E10

Water Q: Primary Gage: Locust at Cleveland 231/79 bridge

Links: TOPO MAP Required Level: 2.5', higher is better

PICTURES Indicator Gage:

TRIP REPORT Required Level:

GOOGLE MAP (see below)

Notes:

Alabama has some interesting geography. I shouldn't have to tell you that. One of its oddest features forms this run. Anyone who has looked at a topo map around here eventually has noticed Nelson's Gap at the Intersection of Marshall, Blount, and Etowah Counties. I remember the first time I looked at on the old Delorme USA software, it looked like the Locust flowed uphill. What's actually going on is almost that bizarre - the Locust is cutting through to get onto Sand Mountain. That's correct, this is the only place I know of in Alabama (in the US?) where a river flows onto, not just off of, a mountain. Well, the water knows what it is doing even if we try to impose our man-made names on it.

from Jason Jackson, who has actually made the run:
The level in the pictures was a blasting 2.1 on the Locust gage. This would be an absolute min. level for sure. I don't think I had to get out of my boat for low water, but there was some wheel chair action in several places. I would most likely set the min around 2.5 or 2.8 although the higher the better on this run (I do have a high tolerence for boat/rock interfaces). There were many trees, but no real large log jams. I think this section could be a great run if the access was better.

This section is a must for Alabama geography buffs and a good option for a beginner that might not want to get on section 3 or 4 of the Locust. It is a serene detachment from the busy, crowded world around. The scenery is very nice with no real sign of development for most of the run. No homes are visible until the last 1/2mile of the run. Once in the “Gap” the bluffs shoot up hundreds of feet on each side of the river and several nice rock formations in the river bed make for some very interesting sights. The fishing is good and the water quality is not bad.

The only real put in option is the bridge is on Little Cove Rd. It has a fair place to park at the corner of Bristow Mill Rd and Little Cove Rd. and a good place to launch into the water on river left. Bluff Drive as a take out option would involve a 1/3 to 1/2 mile walk that is somewhat thought of as private land even though it is still a county road (really a stretch to call this 4wheeler trail a road). The owner is a nice guy, and doesn't live on the land. If a person wanted to take out here I don't think you would have any real problems. When you see the old bridge pillars you will see the confluence of Clear Creek on river right just down stream. This will mark the Bluff Drive take out. The other option is about 2 miles of flatwater to Pearman Rd and a very user friendly take out at the "Old Snead" mill pond.

Phil Foti offers:

... the interesting thing was indeed geology....just up from the put-in looking across a pasture, the Locust has the character of a river approaching it's terminus... it forms a series of ox bows and becomes braided, from all appearances it has the common river morphology of a river that has dropped off into a coastal plain or delta region... and then as the flow/gradient picks up at Nelson's Gap, the appearance becomes more familiar to what we are accustomed to seeing.

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Run:	Locust Fork of the Warrior
Section:	Nelson Gap

Class:	I/II	Put-In:	Litttle Cove Rd
Gradient:	~30' total	Take-Out:	Pearman Rd
Length:	4.2 miles	Precip. Gages:	Boaz Weatherbug
Shuttle:	Murphree / Hwy 278 / Pearman	Delorme Gazeteer:	P. 25 E10
Water Q:		Primary Gage:	Locust at Cleveland 231/79 bridge
Links:	TOPO MAP	Required Level:	2.5', higher is better
	PICTURES	Indicator Gage:
	TRIP REPORT	Required Level:
	GOOGLE MAP (see below)
Notes:
Alabama has some interesting geography. I shouldn't have to tell you that. One of its oddest features forms this run. Anyone who has looked at a topo map around here eventually has noticed Nelson's Gap at the Intersection of Marshall, Blount, and Etowah Counties. I remember the first time I looked at on the old Delorme USA software, it looked like the Locust flowed uphill. What's actually going on is almost that bizarre - the Locust is cutting through to get onto Sand Mountain. That's correct, this is the only place I know of in Alabama (in the US?) where a river flows onto, not just off of, a mountain. Well, the water knows what it is doing even if we try to impose our man-made names on it. from Jason Jackson, who has actually made the run: The level in the pictures was a blasting 2.1 on the Locust gage. This would be an absolute min. level for sure. I don't think I had to get out of my boat for low water, but there was some wheel chair action in several places. I would most likely set the min around 2.5 or 2.8 although the higher the better on this run (I do have a high tolerence for boat/rock interfaces). There were many trees, but no real large log jams. I think this section could be a great run if the access was better. This section is a must for Alabama geography buffs and a good option for a beginner that might not want to get on section 3 or 4 of the Locust. It is a serene detachment from the busy, crowded world around. The scenery is very nice with no real sign of development for most of the run. No homes are visible until the last 1/2mile of the run. Once in the “Gap” the bluffs shoot up hundreds of feet on each side of the river and several nice rock formations in the river bed make for some very interesting sights. The fishing is good and the water quality is not bad. The only real put in option is the bridge is on Little Cove Rd. It has a fair place to park at the corner of Bristow Mill Rd and Little Cove Rd. and a good place to launch into the water on river left. Bluff Drive as a take out option would involve a 1/3 to 1/2 mile walk that is somewhat thought of as private land even though it is still a county road (really a stretch to call this 4wheeler trail a road). The owner is a nice guy, and doesn't live on the land. If a person wanted to take out here I don't think you would have any real problems. When you see the old bridge pillars you will see the confluence of Clear Creek on river right just down stream. This will mark the Bluff Drive take out. The other option is about 2 miles of flatwater to Pearman Rd and a very user friendly take out at the "Old Snead" mill pond. Phil Foti offers: ... the interesting thing was indeed geology....just up from the put-in looking across a pasture, the Locust has the character of a river approaching it's terminus... it forms a series of ox bows and becomes braided, from all appearances it has the common river morphology of a river that has dropped off into a coastal plain or delta region... and then as the flow/gradient picks up at Nelson's Gap, the appearance becomes more familiar to what we are accustomed to seeing.