Birdwatching – The northwest loop of the North Alabama Birding Trail boasts more than a dozen sites located primarily in the Shoals area. Winding back and forth across three major sporting lakes along the Tennessee River, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick, these sites offer fantastic birding opportunities. Several sites are noted for their impressive congregations of winter birds – waterfowl, eagles, gulls – as well as a long list of rare or vagrant species to the state. Leighton Ponds, with its assemblage of flooded sinkholes, is one of Alabama’s best interior sites for shorebird migration. The Natchez Trace Parkway with its wooded, scenic byway offers Barred Owls and Wild Turkey. Another site on the historic Trace, Rock Springs, is renowned for its concentration of fall migrating hummingbirds. These sites and more make for great birding in the Shoals area. (256) 383-0783. www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com
Birdwatching in Sheffield
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Riverfront Park, 1416 Alabama Avenue, Sheffield, AL 35660. This park boast one mile of inviting shoreline on Pickwick Lake. Variety of recreation available, including boat launch, fishing piers, docking facilities, picnicking, walking trails, splash pad, playground and restrooms. Kiwanis Boundless Playground located here. Park used for hosting major fishing tournaments and youth fishing rodeos. (256) 386-5615 
Old Railroad Bridge, 2100 Ashe Blvd., Sheffield, AL 35660. This pedestrian bridge is 1,580 feet long and 14 feet high, offering a beautiful view of the Tennessee River. The pier dates back to 1832, the superstructure to 1903. The original bridge opened in 1839 as a toll bridge with trains crossing on the upper deck while wagons, pedestrians and livestock crossed over the bottom. Today, the pedestrian bridge provides a venue for special events and a beautiful view of the Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake. Adjacent to the bridge, access several miles of walking, jogging trails on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
“Rock of Ages Trail” Take a driving tour past 18 cherished churches of Colbert County. These church buildings are at least 100 years old with the congregations in most cases being even older. The architecture ranges from simple log, to primitive wooden, to rock and brick. Of varied denominations, a brochure presents these churches as the “Rock of Ages Trail.” (256) – 383-0783
Historic Sheffield (Two Distinct Districts: Montgomery Avenue and The Village) North Montgomery Avenue with its wide, tree-lined streets is the setting for many historic homes in Sheffield. The city was incorporated in 1885 and soon after, fine Victorian homes were built, followed by large, craftsman style bungalows. National Register Historic District. Historic Sheffield Walking/Driving Tour brochure is available. (See Events for Summer Walking Tours.) w
Cypress Moon Studio, 1000 Alabama Av., Sheffield, AL 35660. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio moved from its original location in 1978, converting this former Naval Reserve building on the Tennessee River to a multi-studio complex. Many of the most important recording artists of the era created their gold and platinum records here, including James Brown, Joan Baez, Jimmy Buffet, Bob Dylan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Julian Lennon, Melissa Etheridge and Little Milton. The building now houses a film production company with the historic recording studio still in use. (256) 381-5745. 
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Museum, 3614 Jackson Highway Sheffield, AL 35660. This iconic address is one of the most photographed locations in the Shoals area for music pilgrims from around the world. Established in 1969 by a group of former FAME session musicians this was the location where the Rolling Stones, Cher, Bob Segar, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkle, and many others created some of the most popular hits of the 1970’s. The session musicians were dubbed “The Swampers” in the lyrics of Lynrd Skynrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” (
