Duck River - Leftwich Bridge to Howard Bridge

Estimated Length: 5.8 Miles                             

Date: June 21, 2015
Weather: Sunny and in the low 90's
Time on the River: 4 hours
Put-In: Leftwich Bridge
Take-Out: Howard Bridge
Out Fitters: Higher Pursuits

Father’s Day was spent on the river!!! Two of our sons, one daughter-in-law, and one Grandson made the paddle with us today. We started the morning at Higher Pursuits where we rented an additional kayak for our group. They were great in helping us get everything ready for our paddle.


 At 5.8 miles this section of river was the perfect length to take a 20 month old toddler. There were lots of places to stop and play along the way and we brought some lunch to keep up our strength. Lex and I had paddled this part of the Duck before and had really enjoyed it. We saw “Buzzard Cave” from the river but did not make the trek up to it, I know that it would have been too much for our Grandson to handle.  The highway traffic gets a bit loud when crossing under I-65 but that’s to be expected.

The access points are easy to maneuver and parking is more than adequate. Because of its easy access, motorized long boats are popular on this section of river. Everyone had a great day on the river and by the end of the paddle we all felt a bit like our Grandson, tired! I am not sure if it was from the paddling or keeping up with a toddler. 

Harpeth River - East Flank Park to Rizer Point

Harpeth River - East Flank Park to Rizer Point

Estimated Length: 5.2 Miles                     

Discharge Day of Paddle: 91 cfs
Date: June 17, 2015
Weather: Sunny and in the low 90's
Time on the River: 2 1/2 hours
Put-In: East Flank Park Canoe Access
Take-Out: Rizer Point Canoe Access

Lex and I took off mid-week to see how the Harpeth was running through Franklin. Middle Tennessee had not had any rain lately so we were curious to find out if we would be bottoming out with the kayaks on the paddle.  We had also heard a rumor that a tree was laying across the width of the river somewhere between East Flank Park and The Williamson County Rec center. Our paddle could turn into a bit of a downer if we were not prepared.

When we got to the take-in at East Flank, sure enough another paddler had written on the map kiosk about the downed tree located after Pinkerton Park. We were ready to tackle it with whatever necessary to make it down river. So we went ahead and launched our kayaks.

The access point at East Flank Park is becoming more and more popular as families use it to bring their kids to play in the water. But once we got on the river, traffic was at minimum. Even with the river flowing at 91 cfs we did not have to get out and drag our kayaks. I did notice that in some spots the river smells were a lot stronger than when we did this same run about a month earlier. Not sure if that is because the river water levels are lower or that the air/water temperatures has risen.  We did sight three different deer on this trip and one had her baby with her.

We did find the downed tree, but enough of it had been removed so we did not have to portage. If we had been in the Old Town Canoe it would have been a different story. The take-out at Rizer Point is great but the distance to the car gets a little long after a couple hours on the river. In all it was a great mid-week diversion. 

Duck River - Warner Bridge to Halls Mill

Estimated Length: 7.6 Miles                                

Date: June 7, 2015

Weather: Sunny and in the 80’s

Time on the River: 5 Hours

River Conditions: Class I

Distance from Nashville: 45 minutes

Close By: Halls Mill Diner, Henry Horton State Park,
Chapel Hill

Discharge of Duck River at Shelbyville: 249 cfs

Outfitters: Halls Mill Country Dinner Kayak/

                    Inner Tube Rentals 931-294-3474

Busy Access Point

What a What difference two years can make!!! This part of the Duck has become very popular. With the opening of the Halls Mill Diner in 2014 and the addition of the Kayak/Inner Tube Rentals, the access point at Halls Mill was jumping. I guess that is what is to be expected with the growing number of paddlers in the Middle TN area.

Halls Mill Country Diner

This section of the Duck is still one of our favorites. It has everything a paddler wants: high bluffs, beautiful scenery, some fast sections, gravel bars to stop and play, and a waterfall. Even though there were a good number of people getting on the river, this run is long enough that there are stretches that you are by yourself.

I do wish that motorized boats would be outlawed on the Duck. I know not everybody will agree with me but the river is not that wide in places, or that deep and they are noisy!!! On this paddle we saw two air-boats and while they do not make any wake they are extremely loud. We also saw numerous motorized long boats. It would be great if the TWRA were to compromise and make some sections of this river non-motorized, most paddlers would be grateful.

Air-boat on the Duck River

Beautiful Bluffs!

In all it was a great day on the river!!!

Friends Hanging Out On the River