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Local Creek Information

Category: Paddling, Travel

November 24, 2010 By Rachel Tucker

Cain Creek North Chickamauga Creek
Clear Creek Richland Creek
Tellico

Cain Creek

Reach: Small bridge to North Chickamauga Creek

County: Sequatchie/Hamilton

Length: 4

Class: III-VI

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)

Feature Rapid – “Big Splatt”

“Big Splatt” is a Class IV, ten foot drop, with a very shallow landing pad. You do not want to pencil in off this drop. A number of sprained ankles as well as a broken leg attest to the dangers of a missed boof on this drop. The approach rapid is a complicated rock jumble that is best run with someone who knows the river. The left slot in the approach rapid is considered unrunnable, and the right path is a shallow rock garden with several potentially dangerous pins. Below the series of tight slots and rock jumbles there is a large eddie on the river right above “Big Splatt”. It is possible to scout from the rock shelf immediately to the right of the eddie. Exit the eddie high and move toward the river left shore. Just left of center you will see a linear curling wave cresting over the drop. Line your boat up just left of the wave and paddle hard. It is important to have plenty of speed followed by a strong boof stroke on your left. This should launch you off the lip and prepare you for the landing. The river below the drop is very shallow and the volume of water channeled into a relatively small area creates a thick pillowy flume of water. If you hit it right, the force of the water rockets you off the launch pad for a gut wrenching ride. The river is deep below the landing pad and affords you plenty of time to regain your composure if you screw up.

“Drain Pipe”

“Drain Pipe” is a Class IV rapid with three technical ferrys in the upper part of the rapid. The second ferry is the most technical and the third eddie stages you for the final drop. Run the river left slot and follow the fin of water down the center of the slot. Resist dropping off too early on the left. Make a hard left stroke leaning to the right as you go off the drop. Avoid hitting the river left wall. The left wall is undercut, and it is best to avoid flipping against this wall.
North Chickamauga Creek

The “North Chick” is an outstanding Class IV-V whitewater run and wilderness watershed just outside of Chattanooga, TN. AWA has worked with the Conservation Fund, Bowater Inc, and local watershed associations to protect this river as a “Pocket-Wilderness” area. “North Chick” is usually runnable when everything else is too high, but as with all technical runs it is best to use good judgment.

Feature Rapid – “Mystery Falls”

Mystery Falls is a unique 10 foot, Class IV drop with a deceivingly straight forward entry line. The river below the drop takes a sharp turn to the right, and you should boof center toward the right bank. This will line you up with the flow of water below the drop. The river channels sharply to right below the drop and the left wall deflects the flow of water into a violent flume. There is a hole to the right immediately after you land, but if you hit your boof correctly, your speed will help you punch through the hole.

Reach: Walden Ridge to Soddy Daisy (Highway 27 bridge)

County: Hamilton

Length: 12

Class: IV-V

Agency:

Notes: For more information, D. Brown, EPRO, 530 S. Gay St., Suite 222, Knoxville, TN 37902

Reach: Double Bridge to put-in for gorge run

County: Hamilton

Length: 4

Class: II-II ÀI

Agency:

Notes: Local expert, Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401

Environmental and Access Issues Concerning North Chickamauga Creek, Tennessee

Issues: Power lines and access

Current Status: Armstrong Energy Resources is proposing to build a dam on nearby Big Brush Creek, with the TVA as the major power purchaser. Power lines from this dam would cross over North Chick, creating a major impact to this pocket wilderness. At the same time, conservation interests continue to acquire property within the watershed. AWA is seeking to purchase land parcels which will guarantee access to this Class IV-V river.

Contact: Ron Stewart, AWA Director (615) 756-3170
Clear Creek

Reach: US 127 Bridge to Barnett Bridge

County: Fentress

Length: 2 À0

Class: I-III

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)

Reach: Barnett Bridge to Jett Bridge

County: Morgan

Length: 5

Class: I-III

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)

Reach: Jett to Lilly

County: Morgan

Length: 2.5

Class: II-III

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)

Reach: Lilly to Nemo

County: Morgan

Length: 10

Class: II-IV

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)

Reach: Jett to NemoCounty: Morgan

Length: 9 miles

Class: II-III

Featured Rapid – “Wooten’s Folley”

This is a class III to IV rapid named for the venerable Dick Wooten. It’s a long story- I’ll have to tell you about it sometime. Clear Creek drops down through a scenic gorge at about 70′ per mile. The rapid is about 75 yards long and can be run at 1500 cfs to 4500 cfs. It washes out at higher flows. There are three entrances: A chute from the left side of the big rock in the middle into an eddy about 4 feet below; there’s a middle drop into that chute and a 180 degree turn into the same eddy; and a third chute on the right bank requiring a tight left turn into the same eddy. Below the eddy there is a large rock slab with an undercut on the upstream end . To the left of the slab are a series of ledges each of which drops about two feet, right of the large slab is a rocky chute and a tight left turn into the two ledges and Daddy’s Creek.

Reach: Big Lick to Antioch Bridge

County: Cumberland

Length: 30.5

Class: I-II

Agency:

Notes: Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Streams of Tennessee, B. Sehlinger and D. Otey

Reach: Antioch Bridge to Devils Breakfast Table Bridge

County: Cumberland

Length: 6.8

Class: III-V

Agency:

Notes: Tennessee Whitewater, by Mayfield

Featured Rapid – “Rattlesnake and Fang”

Antioch to DBT is classic southeastern technical white water dropping at an average 98 feet per mile. The two rapids are back to back and could easily be considered one. The river narrows to one chute between two large rock ledges and feeds directly into a rock wall that the relaxed paddler will get to inspect very closely. One may either eddy right and then ferry back across the tongue, or boof into the nice eddy on the left, then move through the opening into a 2 boat eddy on the left bank. Scout the next drop from here for logs and trees. At 4000 to 5000 cfs go back to center and drop over the 7-8 foot drop. At lower levels pick your spot making sure you avoid the “Fang” in the middle.
Richland Creek

Reach: Laurel-Snow Trail to Dayton

County: Rhea

Length: 4

Class: III-VI

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)
Tellico

Reach: Trout Hatchery to Bridge above Bald River

County: Monroe

Length: 8

Class: II-III

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)

Reach: Bridge above Bald River to bridge below Jerod’s Knee

County: Monroe

Length: 2

Class: III-IV

Agency:

Notes: Local expert (Ron Stewart, Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401)

Reach: Bridge below Jerod’s Knee to Ranger Station

County: Monroe

Length: 5.4

Class: II-III

Agency:

Notes: Tennessee Whitewater, by Mayfield

Reach: Ranger Station to Tellico Dam

County: Monroe

Length: 4.2

Class: I-III

Agency:

Notes: Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Streams of Tennessee, B. Sehlinger and D. Otey

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