Controlled by the dam, the river flows anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 cubic feet per second. Lower flow days mean a little more paddling and smaller rapids, but some of the best sightseeing thanks ...

And as a recent two-night kayak trip illustrates, Alabama’s Upper Bartram Canoe Trail offers a whole lot else to see while you’re there: Gnarled cypress trees leading the shift into fall colors.

The U.S. Olympic Team trials for slalom kayak and canoe were held at Montgomery Whitewater, a new artificial watersports complex. The city hopes to draw more tourism, while the sport seeks new fans.