Duck River Henry Horton State Park to Milltown Road

Portage Lillard Mill Dam

Estimated Length:  7.9Miles                                                    

Date: Oct. 23, 2012

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 and Henry Horton State Park

Put-In:  Henry Horton State Park                  

Take-Out: Milltown Road

Overview:

Lex and I had looked at the extended forecast and knew that this was going to be a gorgeous day. So we work diligently to keep our calendars open so that we could get on the river. But as life takes over…. I ended up having to work. So, Lex called a buddy and I was easily replaced.

This stretch of river is something we had been wanting to do for a while but had avoided due to the Lillard Mill portage. Sometime events work out right and maybe the powers that be where watching out for us because I could not have been much help to Lex with this portage. It is steep and treacherous.

Lex’s thoughts on this piece of river are as follows:

· Nice scenery but nothing outstanding, typical Duck with bluffs and tree lined banks.

· River seemed slower than normal because of water backing up as it approaches Lillard Mill Dam. Lex and Clay had a fair amount of paddling to do!!!

· This is a quiet section of river, there was not much boat traffic on this beautiful Oct week day.

· Gravel bars and islands are few and far between.

· Very difficult portage

 

A day on the river is still better than a day at work!!!!

  

For more detail on this paddle trip go to the Duck River Paddle Page