Ready for a fun outdoors trip that doesn't empty your wallet? Escatawpa Hollow Campground off Moffet Road in Mobile offers a 15-mile canoe trip with the option to stay overnight. This adventure would be a getaway from the fast-paced life in the city with a large group or as a romantic trip with your significant other.
The canoe rental is $40 per canoe for the day trip and $70 per canoe for the overnight trip. Two people generally fit in one canoe. Although, if you decide to bring along a child, there is a seat in the middle that easily accommodates one other smaller person. My fiance and I decided to take the 15-mile overnight canoe trip. By choosing to do the trip in two days, enough time was available to fish the banks of Escatawpa River.
The two of us fit comfortably in one canoe along with all our supplies for the night. We brought a large ice chest full of water and drinks, lunchmeat, hot dogs and condiments. We also fit a small tent, two fishing poles, a tackle box, one sleeping bag, two pillows and a back pack filled with necessary supplies and clothing. (We wore our bathing suits for the majority of the time, so the clothes did not take up much room.)
Around 8:00 a.m., our journey began with a meeting at the campground. After unloading all of our bags, we filled out the necessary forms and information for the trip. Another group that included four children and two adults climbed aboard with us in the van that took us up river to the launch point.
Fortunately the other group was doing the trip in one day and had to be back at the campground before 6 p.m. They scurried down the river, which allowed us quiet and calm waters for great fishing.When casting our small-eyed spinning rods, we aimed for fallen tree stumps along the banks to catch largemouth bass. We used live crickets and worms, small corks and weights to fish for the beautiful sun bream.
Around each bend there were sand beaches that provided resting stops, swimming spots and our campsite for the night. We gathered twigs and fallen braches from the woods lining the beach when we decided to set up camp. Roasted marshmallows and hot dogs made a delicious dinner after a day's work of paddling and fishing.
As we woke up from the sun shining through the seams of our tent, we set out for our second, and last, day of adventure. We had to be back to the campground before 6 p.m., so we paced ourselves a little faster than the day before. Throughout the day, we took a break on sandy beaches here or there for lunch and a cool swim in the water.
The canoe trip was a great experience and helped my fiance and I grow even closer. If you're not up for camping out in the wild, the one-day trip might suit you better. Whether you're out to admire the nature's beauty, or want take part in bass and bream fishing, the Escatawpa River canoe trip is an experience you won't soon forget.
page 1 of 1
