The ecological richness of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta has led some to refer to it as “America’s Amazon.” On the opposite edge of Baldwin County, the Perdido River twists along 20 miles or so of mostly undeveloped territory, its winding path defining the Alabama-Florida state line.

Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a way to paddle through, or float down, these treasures, overnighting along the way in established campsites, secure in the knowledge that you aren’t trespassing and have permission to be where you are?

Here’s the kicker: You can do that. The state, to its credit, has created the opportunity. It’s criminally under-utilized, but the state isn’t to blame for that. It’s there, waiting for you.

In the Delta, the Upper Bartram Canoe Trail provides a network of launches and campsites – including floating platforms! – that let people explore the rivers and bayous of the wilderness north of Stockton by canoe or kayak. The trail is suitable for multi-day paddling excursions, and in fact the state has a handy brochure that lays out some recommended itineraries.

The Lower Bartram Trail offers a few screened-in platforms north of the I-10 Causeway, suitable for shorter getaways that don’t get as far away.

The Perdido River Canoe Trail traces the eastern edge of the state’s extensive Perdido River Wildlife Management Area. This means that the whole time you’re drifting downstream, the land to your right is public property. The Perdido is a blackwater river, its water stained by tannins as it passes through woodlands. It’s generally slow and shallow, making for a laid-back voyage. Trail amenities include public launches, a series of shelters, and countless beaches where you can stop for a while to swim.

The three trails are linked by a very well-organized website, www.alabamacanoetrails.com, which provides tons of information, maps and a reservation system for those camping platforms, which can be booked for $25 a night.

A recent check of that reservation system showed that from mid-July through October, out of all the campsites on all three trails, only one night had been booked at a single campsite. Granted, it’s hot right now, but October will be prime time. Even in cooler months, it’s not unusual to find a lot of open dates.

If you want to fill one of them in, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Difficulty levels vary. It’s easy to get lost in the upper Delta if you don’t take care. In the Lower Delta you’re never terribly far from the Bayway and Causeway. On the Perdido, all you’ve got to do is keep floating downstream.
• No, really: The upper Delta is a tangle of rivers, islands, bayous and channels where the concepts “upstream” and “downstream” aren’t as straightforward as you might think. Helpful navigation aids include cell-phone mapping, dedicated GPS devices, paper map & compass and buddies who know the way. You’d be a fool to depend on any one of them. Two is good, three is better.

• While it’s difficult to get lost on the Perdido, you might have to portage over or around logjams. These tend to come and go, so up-to-date information about what you’ll find isn’t always easy to come by.
• There are rules for using the campsites, such as a requirement to bring your own toilet apparatus and limitations on group size. They’re spelled out on the state’s website.

Some of the state’s most distinct ecosystems await. The launches and campsites are there. The calendar is open.