Piney River - Piney River to Walter Nunnely Bridge

Estimated Length:  6.9 Miles                                     

Date:  July 21,2012    

Weather: Sunny with Afternoon Showers

    High 80”s

Time on River:  3 Hours

River Conditions:  Class I      

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 

Take-Out: Walter Nunnely Bridge

Pinewood Canoe and Camp 931-729-1042

Lex and I got out of our comfort zone and left the Duck River a few weekends ago and traveled down the Piney River and we are sure glad we did. Our intended trip was to follow Paddle #22 as laid out in Patty Shultz book “Paddling around Nashville”. We met our canoe buddy’s at the take out located by the Walter Nunnely Bridge on Rt. 230. The river is about was 100feet from the parking lot with a steep incline but manageable. The road that is mentioned in Patty’s book to take you down to the river from the parking lot was washed out and neither one of our trucks could navigate down it. We then loaded up all the gear into one truck and proceeded to the put-in.  After some searching we found the spot that Patty refers to as the put-in located on Piney River Road. Over time foliage does take over and the path down to the river was barely identifiable. Once you got to the river it was a 5 foot drop from the river bank to the water with no place to really set up for the paddle.

We decided it was time to find a new place to launch our canoes. After about an half hour of driving up and down the back roads of Hickman County we located where the Pinewood River Canoe and Camp folks put-in. This is actually a feeder creek to the Piney River. After some negations they let use their put-in facility. My recommendation is to first go to their camp, sign the wavier and pay the $3 fee. They will then give directions or shuttle you to the put-in. It is a 50 foot down hill carpeted ramp to the water. The water is a bit shallow until you get to the Piney, so be prepared to get out and pull your canoe.

 Once we got on the river all was well with the world and the put-in hassle was behind us. The Piney is a narrower river than Lex and I are use to, which kept us on our toes. There are some quick turns to maneuver, strainers to avoid and places where the current picks up.  The river was a bit shallow in places and we did drag along the bottom. If the river had been up another 3 inches it would have been perfect. The water on the Piney is clear and clean. Some great rock formations are found on this section of river, along with the usual Middle TN cattle farms and forests.

We did stop about ¾ of the way down river to sign the necessary paper work with the Pinewood River Canoe and Camp. This worked out perfectly because as soon as we got under cover the rain started. It was just an afternoon shower and it gave us time to eat our lunch. The paddle after the Camp slows down a bit but the scenery on this section of the river is worth it.

In summary we really liked the Piney River. The technical aspects of the river was just the right amount of a challenge for us and the river is shallow enough that if we did take a spill the water was not going to be over our heads. This river is definitely not as busy as the Buffalo but has some of the same qualities and is closer to Nashville. 

Red River - Around Adams TN

Estimated Length:  7.5 miles (estimated)               

Date:  May 26, 2013

Weather:  Sunny and in the low 80’s

Time on River: 3 Hours

River Conditions:  Class I            

Distance from Nashville: 1 Hour and 15 minutes

Close By: Adams TN, Port Royal State Park and Red River Canoe Rental

Put-In:  We used the shuttle provided by Red River Canoe

Take-Out: Red River Canoe 

Outfitters:  www.canoetheredriver.com

Highlights:

Lex and I did this paddle back in May and I am sorry that I did not post it sooner but……

The Red was moving the day we paddled and seemed a bit high. We did not find many gravel bars along the way to stop and play but at the same time we did not have to get out and walk the canoe due to low water. The weather was great and the river was not over crowded.

The outfitters at Red River Canoe Rental are great about shuttling those of us with our own boats. Every time we have been here they seem to be doing a booming business with both campers and paddlers. It is so nice to get off the river and have the necessary conveniences, a bathroom, place to change and you can even purchase snacks and drinks.

Lex and I did the upper section of river that took us from private property that Red River Canoe has access to down to their campgrounds. This section of river is a combination of  bluffs and farmland. It is so nice to have help loading and unloading the canoe. The only negative is that with everybody getting on the river at the same time its sometimes hard to spread out and leave the crowd behind. Transportation is an old school bus that has lots of character, remember to bring a sharpie so you can add your signature. When you finish the paddle make sure to check out the “Tree of Soles” as you leave. 

Duck River - Warner Bridge to Halls Mill

Estimated Length:  7.6                                                                 

Date:  June 23, 2013

Weather:  Sunny and in the 80’s

Time on River: 5 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

Highlights:

This is our second time to paddle this section of the Duck river and I am so glad we did it again. The river was running at a decent pace and the water level was perfect. We did not drag once!!!

Our friends from Murfreesboro joined us so the shuttling of cars and canoes was smooth. It is less than a 10 minutes drive from Warner Bridge to Hall’s Mill. Both the take and put-in are an easy access. You can drive almost down to the waters edge.

What makes the paddle an exceptional trip is the waterfalls, located where Fall Creek joins the Duck River.  When we first did this paddle in Oct of 2012 the creek was not flowing as forceful as it was today. What is great is that you can walk right up to the falls, sit down and, let the water cascade over you. 

The rest of the paddle was typical Duck, with high bluffs, gravel bars and tree lined  river banks. What is amazing to me is that on this beautiful Sunday in June we did not see one other person on the river. We did run into some boaters when we ended our paddle at Halls Mill but otherwise we had the river to ourselves. 

 

On the River this Weekend

      The paddling  season has started!!! I was such a wuss this winter and just could not handle the cold. But it has warmed up and Lex and I are planning 2 trips this weekend . The first will be a short trip on the Harpeth putting in and taking out at the Narrows of the Harpeth at the Harpeth River State Park. Our plan is to get on the river sometime around 10am. If anybody would like to join us please shoot me an email so that I know to be on the look out for some company.

   On Sunday we are going up to the Red and using the Red River Canoe Company to shuttle us. We are running the upper section of this river so that we end at the campsite run by the Red River Canoe folks. In total this is about a 12 mile paddle. We have reservations on the 9am shuttle to take us to the put-in for Sunday morning.

     I think the weather is going to be perfect and would love to have some company!!!