Georgia Wilderness Society
Adventures on the Elk River Tennessee
October 9 - 13, 2022
Fall usually brings us colorful leaves and good weather, so I took a chance and scheduled a trip on Tennessee's Elk River for October 9-13, 2022. We had a total of 8 people show up, with most camping at Tim's Ford State Park, a few miles west of Winchester, TN, on Tim's Ford Lake.
Participants were: Curt (trip leader) & Irene Cole, Joe Mangum, Terry and Rosemary Ross, Genise & Bernard Spenle, & Basil Youman.
Water level above Fayetteville was 280 cfs & 1.77'. This was low enough to scrape a few times, but only a time or two did anyone actually get hung up in shallow water. Overall, I'd do this trip again. The river runs about a hundred miles, ending in the Tennessee River, so there are plenty more sections to explore.
Wednesday was forecast to have rain around noon, so none of us paddled (two couples had never intended to paddle Wednesday anyway, as they had chores back home to get to). Basil & Joe headed home since we were not paddling that day. But we enjoyed a campfire the first three nights, and my cousin Jack & Jan came over Tuesday night for food and the campfire. Irene and I saw a movie in the old movie theater on the square in Winchester to while away the time Wednesday. We headed home Thursday. I was happy in this first-time paddle on the Elk, and hope others were as well. A local I ran into said he had paddled it all the way to the Tennessee River, so there is much more for us to explore.
Tuesday, several people chose to visit the Jack Daniels Distillery rather than paddle. They enjoyed the tour and tasting. The rest of us, including Basil this time, paddled from Shiloh Bridge to Stumphouse Shoals, about 9 miles. We saw even larger bluffs on this section. Over the course of the two days, we saw osprey, eagle, maybe otter or beaver, and a deer crossed the river just in front of our group.
We did have some logs/stumps to dodge. I misjudged a sideways current at one point, & Irene & I were pushed into a tree, where we bobbled a bit, but stayed upright. Close call. The next couple of boats made it through in better form. The last boat, well, let’s just say the occupants found that boats are meant to be ridden in, not under. Someone else got a bit damp flipping in flat water when leaving a rest stop (I've flipped in calm water at least twice.) Bodies were damp, but spirits were high and we had a good day.
Sunday, the 9th we arrived at the park. This is a pretty park, with two large campgrounds. I chose the southeasterly one, Fairview, for ease of shuttle.
Monday morning, we put-in just below the dam. Basil missed the connection, so he spent the day paddling a little on the Elk, then hiking near the lake. The rest of us enjoyed a 14-mile paddle down to Old Dam Road. The river was very clear and well-stocked with fish, including many trout. Shore fishermen were out near the put-in, and we also came across some fishermen in kayaks and a canoe. The river was mostly flatwater, but had gentle riffles where the water flowed over gravel bars, and a few mild rapids, maybe class one at best. We saw few if any sandbars. The frequent water level rises, from generational releases apparently, keeps the gravel clear of sand. Many limestone bluffs were seen along the Elk, as well as many pipes withdrawing water for farm irrigation (this was a mystery to us at the time, but Google satellite view shows crop rows.)
