In Elmore County, rivers and historic sites tell different stories about the region. The Coosa River is part of the county's drainage system. A few miles south of Wetumpka, the Alabama River is formed where the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers meet. On the Alabama River, Cooter's Pond Park combines nature watching with activities along the riverbank.
Rivers, Trails and Nature
At Cooter's Pond Park, a boardwalk runs along the Alabama River, and there is also access to picnic areas and boat ramps. The park is a good place to spot songbirds, bald eagles and ospreys. Waterfowl are especially prominent in winter. Depending on your interests, the park can be a place to take a break by the water or go birdwatching.
On the Tallapoosa River, Forever Wild Gothard-AWF Yates Lake WMA protects three miles of riverfront. Possible activities there include hunting, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing and wildlife viewing. The area currently has two hiking trails with a combined length of 7.4 miles. Options range from walking trails to activities on the water and nature watching.
The John B. Scott Forever Wild Trail is a 4.7-mile loop. The trail starts and ends at the north parking lot on Goldmine Road. When planning, the trail's shape is useful to know as well as its length: the loop begins and ends at the same parking lot.
In Millbrook, within Elmore County, the Alabama Nature Center offers five miles of scenic trails and access to the interactive Discovery Hall. Outdoors on the trails and inside the exhibit, visitors can discover nature in different ways.
Crenshaw Community Park has a baseball field, a playground, a basketball court and a covered pavilion. After the school year ends, Crenshaw Park also hosts a summer program for children and young people ages six to 15. The program is seasonal and runs during this period; the age range helps visitors determine who it is for.
Archaeology, Architectural History and Tradition
Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park is located in Elmore County and is designated a National Historic Landmark. It is also an important archaeological site. Visitors can see a Native American mound that is about 1,000 years old; the park also includes a reconstructed French fort dating to 1751. The different dates bring the site's historical layers to life. The William Bartram Nature Trail also runs through the park, bringing nature and history together in one place to visit.
The Elmore County Museum is located in Wetumpka's original 1930s post office. Its exhibits cover Native American history, local industry, agriculture and education, military service, and everyday life. The topics range from the development of the region to everyday experiences, giving the museum a broad historical perspective.
The Elmore County Black History Museum is housed in the historic Elmore County Training School, a former Rosenwald school. Architectural history, family research and local craft traditions come together here: the museum preserves an archive of African American obituaries and funeral programs from Elmore County, which is open to the public for genealogical research. The Thread My Needle Quilters also meet at the museum to quilt by hand in traditional styles.
Discover more destinations: Millbrook, Titus, Wetumpka, Jefferson, Chilton County, Tuscaloosa, Madison, Geneva County.
For the main travel overview: Alabama.
