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John Sides

This is a great swimming hole, definitely worth the quick hike if you're at Little River Canyon! In good weather, can get a bit crowded. If you're the kind of person who prefers solitude, and you're up for scrambling over boulders, hike another 30 min or so down river to find a few smaller, but more secluded swimming holes.

Paddling the Cahaba is a must for Birmingham outdoor enthusiasts. My favorite section to run starts at the Grants Mill put-in (under the bridge where Grants Mill Rd crosses the Cahaba), and finishes at the Old Overton take-out, near the Liberty Park exit off Interstate 459. To run this section, you'll need two vehicles so you've got a shuttle. Takes about 2-3 hours. Be sure to check the Alabama river flow page, here: http://flowpage.alabamawhitewater.com/