Piney River - Pinewood Canoe and Camp

• Date: June 5, 2016                                              
• Distance: 4.8 Miles
• Weather: Rain the night before, partly cloudy while on the river
• Time on the River: 3 Hours
• River Conditions: Class 1
• Distance from Nashville: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Close By: I-40 and Dickson, TN
• Put-In: Pinewood Camp property off of Piney River Road
• River Gauge:  USGS Piney River at Vernon, TN minimum runnable level 75 cfs
• Take-Out: Pinewood Camp
• Outfitter: Pinewood Canoe and Camp 931-729-1042

It has been a few years since Lex and I have paddled the Piney River and it’s still just as gorgeous as last time we were on it.  Even thought it had rained the night before the water was clear and not at all muddy. The difference between the Harpeth and the Piney when it comes to water clarity is like night and day.

            We used Pinewood Canoe and Camp for our shuttle to the put-in and they were doing a steady business for a Sunday morning. The cost is $12 per person for the shuttle if you have your own canoe and we did not need any reservation. They mentioned that when things get busier during the summer, it would be best to call ahead.  Pinewood did have some overnight campers and more visitors in the afternoon that came to play in the water.

  

The put-in creek that flows into the Piney

          The put-in is only a few miles from the camp and is located on a creek that flows into the Piney. Pinewood has constructed a nice ramp for paddlers to get there boats down the embankment. The water to the Piney is somewhat shallow and you might need to walk your boat over the shallows.

The uprooted tree that got the better of us

            The piney has numerous places to stop and play in the water, along with some great bluffs and scenery. We found lots of vegetation along the river with some really nice wildflowers. Lex and I have been paddling the Harpeth and Duck with our 16 foot Old Towne Canoe for the past few outings so the narrower passageways of the Piney, did give us somewhat of a challenge. In particular one tree managed to grab out boat.  The Kayaks seemed to be having an easier time of it.

            It’s always nice to finish the paddle and be able to pack up and get on the road without having any additional shuttles, just one more reason to visit the Piney. This really is a great river and needs to be paddled more than once every few years.