Canoeing in the South Cumberland Area
Patrick in Atlanta emailed a question today about coming to the Park October 21 and wanting to find a place to canoe. Good question.
Under normal weather conditions, all of the streams in the Savage Gulf area and the Fiery Gizzard are wet weather streams at best and September-October is one of the driest times of the year. This year we have also had an exceptional drought. There are no canoeable streams in the Park under normal conditions.
There is canoeing at Grundy Lakes and the Park Rangers frequently sponsor canoeing programs using the canoes and gear donated to the Park by the Friends of South Cumberland.
Outside the Park, there are a couple of other options. One is canoeing on the Collins River north of Savage Gulf and Stone Door. The river is accessible at several points along Highway 56 North (head to McMinnville from Beersheba Springs). I personally do not know the condition of the river at the moment, but my guess is that the water is quite low.
Another option would be to canoe the Elk River below the TVA dam at Tims Ford Lake. The public access area is off of Highway 50 between Winchester and Lynchburg. The first public access take out is at the Ferris Creek Bridge which is 8.5 river miles below the dam. Look at the Tennessee Gazetteer, page 22, C2.
This is not very close to the Park, but it is a fine float as well as a good tailwater trout fishery. Recreational flows are normally maintained on weekends. The river can be floated under any flow conditions with a couple of Class 1 riffles.
River flow conditions can be determined by calling 1-423-751-2264. You will be connected to a TVA computer. Stay on the line. A voice will say, "Welcome to the TVA Information Line...." followed by instructions on how to use the system. When you hear this greeting, dial the number 4. [This selects the flow information service.] You will then hear, "If you know the two digit number for the dam you are interested in...." Now dial 50. This is the code for Elk River, Tims Ford Dam.
Lake canoeing can be done on Tims Ford and also on Woods Reservoir which is part of the AEDC Air Force Base in Coffee County.
Cheers,
Ron Castle
Under normal weather conditions, all of the streams in the Savage Gulf area and the Fiery Gizzard are wet weather streams at best and September-October is one of the driest times of the year. This year we have also had an exceptional drought. There are no canoeable streams in the Park under normal conditions.
There is canoeing at Grundy Lakes and the Park Rangers frequently sponsor canoeing programs using the canoes and gear donated to the Park by the Friends of South Cumberland.
Outside the Park, there are a couple of other options. One is canoeing on the Collins River north of Savage Gulf and Stone Door. The river is accessible at several points along Highway 56 North (head to McMinnville from Beersheba Springs). I personally do not know the condition of the river at the moment, but my guess is that the water is quite low.
Another option would be to canoe the Elk River below the TVA dam at Tims Ford Lake. The public access area is off of Highway 50 between Winchester and Lynchburg. The first public access take out is at the Ferris Creek Bridge which is 8.5 river miles below the dam. Look at the Tennessee Gazetteer, page 22, C2.
This is not very close to the Park, but it is a fine float as well as a good tailwater trout fishery. Recreational flows are normally maintained on weekends. The river can be floated under any flow conditions with a couple of Class 1 riffles.
River flow conditions can be determined by calling 1-423-751-2264. You will be connected to a TVA computer. Stay on the line. A voice will say, "Welcome to the TVA Information Line...." followed by instructions on how to use the system. When you hear this greeting, dial the number 4. [This selects the flow information service.] You will then hear, "If you know the two digit number for the dam you are interested in...." Now dial 50. This is the code for Elk River, Tims Ford Dam.
Lake canoeing can be done on Tims Ford and also on Woods Reservoir which is part of the AEDC Air Force Base in Coffee County.
Cheers,
Ron Castle
Labels: South Cumberland Canoeing
posted by Ron Castle @ 2:17 PM
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