Duck River Cortner Mill to ThreeForks Bridge

Estimated Length:  6.8                         

Date:  Nov. 8 2011

Weather:  Sunny and in the  70’s

Time on River: 2 1/2 hours            

River Conditions:  Class I            

Distance from Nashville: One hour         

Close By: Shelbyville 

Put-In:  Cortner Mill

Take-Out: Three Forks Bridge

Highlights:

Cortner Mill river access is located on the Parish Patch Farm and Inn. The Inn has limited hours of operation and requires reservations but it’s a lovely setting and their menu looks very appetizing. The put-in for this section of the Duck is right in front of the Inn, so there is lots of parking and you can walk right up the river’s edge. There is access to put-in at the Normandy Dam a few miles up river but you will have to portage around the dam at Cortner Mill. 

The water was running fast and high the day we tackled this upper section of river.  What we thought would be a 3-4 hour trip was completed in 2 1/2.  With the high water, the river became a bit more of a technical challenge. Lex and I canoed this section earlier in the summer and remembered it as being a slow leisurely float. This time we encountered more riffles and deadfall. There are not as many bluffs as other sections of the Duck but has more pastoral views. With farms just beyond the line of trees on the rivers edge. 

Three Forks Bridge take-out is easily recognized from the river but does require a series of steep steps to get back up to the parking lot. Now that the cold weather is here, we not sure when our next trip will be but the goal is to canoe at least one day every month of the year. So come join us…..

Duck River Leftwich Bridge to Howard Bridge

Estimated Length:  6.2 miles                 

Date:  Oct. 30th

Weather:  Sunny and in the 60’s

Time on River: 3 hours

River Conditions:  Class I            

Distance from Nashville: 45 minutes

Close By: I-65

Put-In:  Leftwich Bridge - easy access to the river

Take-Out: Howard Bridge - easy access to the river

Highlights:

The morning started a bit chilly with the temperature in the 40’s but warmed up considerably, by mid-day we were all shedding our sweaters and jackets. The Duck river was picture perfect today, with no wind the water looked like a lake.

 









The leaves falling from the trees on the river bank made a blanket  of color floating on the water.

The highlight of the trip was a stop at “Cheek Bend Caves” alias “Buzzard Caves”. The cave is located just before the river flows beneath I-65.  Spotting the opening from the river was not half as difficult as making the step climb to the entrance.

The cave was perfect for those of us that do not like dark/damp places. Once you step inside and let your eyes adjust, the exit at the top of the bluff was visible without a flashlight. I would still recommend taking one so you do not stumble on the rocks. The view of the Duck River from the bluff was gorgeous.

We did run into some hikers that had walked the 2 mile trail to the caves. Our approach was a lot more fun.

I wonder how much longer we can canoe until the weather chases us off the river till spring. If you ever want to join us please email me and I will let you know where our next river adventure will be.

Duck River Warner Bridge to Halls Mill

Estimated Length:  7.6 Miles

Date: Oct. 9, 2011

Weather:  Sunny and in the 70’s

Time on River: 3 and 1/2 hours

River Conditions: Class I

Distance from Nashville: 45 minutes

Close By: Chapel Hill, Henry Horton State Park and Cedar Rock Lodge

Put-In:  Warner Bridge                         

Take-Out: Halls Mill

Overview:

I wish the weather would stay just like this and we could skip winter all together. It was beautiful today. This stretch of river surprised us with its majestic bluffs, great rock formation and a waterfall!!!

We put-in just down stream from Warner Bridge. As we got out of the car we spotted a  dog that was stranded on a log jammed up against the bridge pylon. After a serious discussion of how to rescue the animal without tipping us into the river or getting bit by the dog, Lex and I managed to lift him into our canoe and back over to shore. The poor thing was freezing. It looked like it had spent the night with half its body in the river. He did have a collar and was well feed so we knew he had a home close by. Later when we came back to get our car he was nowhere to be seen and must have gone home for some dinner.

The staff at Cedar Rock Lodge have a great since of humor. We ran into some of their buddies as we started our trip down the river.

As usual we had the river to ourselves. We did have to portage at one spot where a tree had blocked the river. This section of the river does have some extremes, at places is was very broad which we had to paddle thru with muscle but then it would  narrow and test our canoeing skills.

The gem of the trip was the waterfall. We did run into a father and son fishing at this location. What a great place to have lunch. The pictures speak for themselves.

Duck River Haskins Chapel Road to Henry Horton State Park

Estimated Length:  8.6

Date: Oct. 1, 2011

Weather:  Sunny and in the 60’s

Time on River: 3 and 1/2 hours

River Conditions: Class I

Distance from Nashville:  45 Minutes

Close By: Henry Horton State Park

Overview:

Fall was definitely in the air as we started our paddle from Haskins Chapel Rd. to Henry Horton State Park. Even though the temperature was chilly the sun was out bright making for a beautiful blue sky.  The leaves have not yet turned but when they do I hope the colors will be vibrant, maybe in the next couple of weeks. I see another paddle trip in the near future.

No other boats were on the river the whole length of the trip. What a difference compared to 6 weeks ago when we made this trip. At that time there were plenty of other canoeists on the river.

The paddle from Haskins Chapel Road to Hopkins Bridge (about 3 miles)  has the most gorgeous bluffs on the Duck River. Every time I come through here it take my breath away.  The next section of river on down to Henry Horton has still has great bluffs but with lots more niches carved into them making some great rock formations. There are a lot of caves along here but all the land owners have signs asking people to stay out and no trespassing.

The only wildlife we saw this trip was a snake that had just found lunch, a small fish and one lone Heron which we followed most of the way down the river. Do Herons ever fly upstream?

Some friends came along who had never been on the Duck River. It may be a while before they return to the Harpeth .

Put-In:  The dirt road access is not the easiest to spot on Haskins Chapel road   It is located between 2 cement barricades and one of them has “keep out” spray painted on the side but once we found it, it was a straight shot to the river.

Take-Out: Henry Horton State Parks one of the easiest river access points along the Duck river.

 

Duck River Carpenters Bridge to Leftwich Bridge

Estimated Length:  8.5 Miles

Date: Sept. 24, 9011

Weather:  Sunny and the temperature in the 70’s

Time on River: 3 hours            

River Conditions:  Class I

Distance from Nashville: 45 minutes

Close By: Less than 10 minutes from I-65 Exit 46

                (all kinds of fast food)

Put-In: Carpenters Bridge (steep bank)

Take-Out: Leftwich Bridge

Overview:

     Do not let the fall weather keep you from planning a trip on the river. Saturday was a perfect day to  be paddling. With the recent rains the water was swift and deep, you did not have to worry about bottoming out and the presence of strainers was minimal. We had the river to ourselves except for the one lone fisherman who was not having much luck.

     As soon as we put in, we spotted a  river otter having his breakfast but we were to slow with the camera. There were lots of Blue Herons and ducks out this morning and the turtles where making their way on to logs as we finished up our trip. This part of the Duck River is within the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area which means there no homes or farmland on the river banks.

     This section of river comes within a quarter of a mile from I-65, so you will hear road traffic for about a 20 minute stretch. This is the only time on the river you will connect with the outside world. The rest of the trip is remote and so very seenic. We love the Duck River!!!

Highlights:

Sequatchie River Highway 127 to Condra Switch Road

Estimated Length:  9miles                           

Date: August 14, 2011

Weather:  Sunny and Hot

Time on River: 4-5 hours

River Conditions: Class I

Distance from Nashville: 2 hours

Close By: Town of  Dunlap about 35 miles northwest of  Chattanooga

Overview: Lex and I took this trip with our son Nick earlier this summer after spending the night in Chattanooga. We had heard the Canoe Sequatchie outfitters where no longer in business so we borrowed a friends kayak. The outfitters are indeed trying to sell their business and are not currently running the river. The Sequatchie Valley is gorgeous, being one of only two rift valleys in the world, the other is in Africa. On the west side is the Walden Ridge and the Cumberland Plateau is on the east.  The rift valley is formed between these 2 parallel geological faults. Not sure what that means but it does make for  a very dramatic back drop when canoeing down the river.

  The part of the Sequatchie we paddled is narrower than its sister rivers the Buffalo or Duck. But more than enough room for us to maneuver our Old Town canoe. The river has great easy riffles and lots of gravel bars to pull over on. The mountains on both sides gave a very regal feel to this paddle trip. We has a great day on the river!

Put-In: Is located at the Highway 127 Bridge, which is where the Canoe Sequatchie outfitters are located. They did not mind us using their facilities to put our boats in and let us park our car in their lot.

Take-Out: Is between Highway 28 and 283 on Condra Switch Road right after you go under the bridge. We left our car along the river close to a corn field. The take-out is difficult due to the steep bank.

Father and Son Getting Ready

Highlights:

•  Lots of shade the whole length of the trip.
• We did not see another person the whole time we were on the river.
• Gorgeous scenery

What to watch out for:

• Deadfall and strainers
• The take out point at Condra Switch Road has a steep incline.

Duck River Halls Mill - Hopkins Bridge

Date: August 21, 2011

Weather:  Hot and Sunny

Estimated Length:  8-10 miles (next time I need to take a GPS)

Time on River: 4-6 hours

River Conditions: No rain in the past couple of day so river was

moving a bit slow.

Distance from Nashville:  One hour

Close By: Henry Horton State Park, the town of Chapel Hill

Overview: This section of the Duck River has a great feel to it. The bluffs along the river almost make you think you are somewhere out west. We would do this paddle trip again in a heartbeat!

Put-In:  Halls Mill has plenty of parking and you can drive your vehicle to the waters edge to unload your canoe/kayak.

Take-Out: Great river access you can drive right up to the river (and if the water is low right on it) but first you have to pay “the lady”. The closest house to the bridge on the  north side of the road is where the you pay $2 per canoe/kayak. Knock on the side door “the lady” will wave you in and take your name and money.

 Highlights

• Some really nice riffs.

• Awesome bluff/cliff ledges.

• Great gravel bars along the river which means easy access to get in and out of to play in the water and stop for lunch.
• None of the local outfitters seem to be running this section of river so we basically had the river to ourselves.

 At times the river was slow (yes you have to paddle) but there were 5 sections of river that where Class I + rapids that made it fun and exciting.

Wildlife





Cute Turtle



Duck

 


Ugly Snake