Lock No. 8

Lock No. 8 on the Black Warrior River offers a convenient boat ramp and access point for paddlers, canoeists, and small boaters near the town of Akron, Alabama. The ramp provides two lanes for launching, with paved parking and a nearby restroom facility.

The Black Warrior River is a substantial waterway, measuring 168 miles long with an average flow of over 10,800 cubic feet per second. As a large, slow-moving river, it offers a pleasant and scenic paddle, though boaters should be aware of the river's overall size and moderate current. The total elevation drop of 182 feet along the river's length results in a gentle average gradient of 1.1 feet per mile.

Lock No. 8 Park, which includes the boat ramp, is a federally-operated facility with a picnic shelter and artesian well on-site. Reservations can be made through Recreation.gov. Paddlers and boaters can use this access point to explore the river and surrounding area, taking advantage of the ramp's convenient location and infrastructure.