Time with family and friends. Time with nature. Time to drink it all in and refresh your soul.
If you live in Tennessee or are coming to Tennessee a day on the river should be on your bucket list.
It is a hidden gem. It is as beautiful as any river in the U.S. Often it feels a bit like being in Montana.
Clean, clear , crisp cool water !
Who doesn’t love a day in the sun. The river is created by water released from Center Hill Lake. It comes off the bottom of this TVA lake so it maintains a constant 58 degrees. On a hot day the water can be a refreshing kick to your soul.
It starts with figuring out what Kayaks to use. If you own them load up and hit the road. We don’t own enough kayaks and usually have to borrow from a friend to keep the cost down. I’ve found over the years kayaking friends will generously loan you theirs as long as they aren’t already using them.
It is an easy drive out of Nashville about an hour by car from the Nashville International Airport. Hop on I-40 and go East. Put in your GPS Center Hill Dam and enjoy the journey ahead. Soon enough you’ll find yourself at the bottom of the Dam ready for the day’s adventure.
Make sure to check the dam release schedule which you can find at this link: https://www.tva.com/Environment/Lake-Levels/Center-Hill The best time is about 45 minutes after they release water as it will make for an easy coast downstream. If you are a couple hours behind a release schedule the water will be adequate but much slower.
If you hit the release at the best moment for departure expect about an hour float and very little paddling. If water is released a couple hours before you start plan on a 2 1/2 to 3 hour float and lots of paddling. (Though still just as enjoyable)
Rental kayaks cut off late afternoon, so if you want the river to yourself the later you go the better chance you’ll have of the river to yourself.
If you need to rent Caney Fork River Rentals is right next to the Dam and can meet your need.
TIP: It’a about a 3 mile float to the first major pull out at Happy Hollow. Caney Fork River Rentals can work with you to follow you down to the pull out, drop your vehicle off and shuttle you back to the dam. They will charge $20 for the drop off fee, but it really makes life easy to already have your vehicle at the ready at the pull out.
Here are a couple of pics of life on the river. The pictures were all taken on days when dam releases had started 2 or 3 hours prior to us hitting the river.
One of the first things my wife and I ever did together was to go kayaking on the Caney Fork River in Middle Tennessee. We found a common love for our home state and it’s beauty. It’s kind of a small part of who we are as a couple.
Our place where we love to go to relax and reinvigorate.
Here’s hoping you’ll discover it’s beauty, find your relaxation and be reinvigorated for whatever lies on the road ahead of you.
If the water’s too high due to rain head on up to Edgar Evins State Park and just float the lake. Just as nice.
Happy Trekking !
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