Cane Creek,

Fall Creek Falls State Park to Highway 30

Usual Difficulty	IV-V (may vary with level)
Length	7 Miles
Avg. Gradient	94 fpm
Max Gradient	252 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
CALFKILLER RIVER AT HWY 111 BELOW SPARTA, TN
usgs-03419800	1000 - 10000 cfs	IV-V	17h46m	115 cfs (rc= -0.1 )

River Description

Fall Creek Falls State Park.


From Boatertalk, 12-2-02:
Put in: Cable trail from Cane Creek Falls Nature Center and Overlook
Wear your helmet, and 5.10's - very steep.

Take Out: Hwy 30 bridge at 285 jct.

Paddle up at put-in for best view of 80'+er in TN

Rapids include:
Pine Tree Falls,
Crack-slot,
Twin Towers (this hole flanked by huge rocks the site of many disasters),
Corner Pocket (hole on left),
Airplane turn,
Hallway Falls,
Rear Entry (now snuck left)

Miles of class 2-3 then 1-2 follow, can be scrapy, always long.
When the river splits 4 ways, pick R or L channel - still brushy but deeper

watch for logs


Daniel Talley adds Wrom: PNKMBIPBAR

Thursday night it had rained a dab, only around an inch in these parts and not quite enough to get stuff goin to par. Richland Creek was running, but I wanted something new. Being disappointed in the situation, I strapped the boat on top of the car and headed west to Fall Creek Falls. For years I've been wanting to run Cane Creek, and being a semi-large watershed I figured it would have some water. It did, not much but enough was there for some sunny November fun.

From the falls to the confluence of Fall Creek was a blast. Several IV+ made for some good fun, and I'm sure at higher levels class V would not be an overstatement for some of them. It had some of the best boulder garden drops I've seen, constant s-turns back to back with great climaxes at the end.

After Fall Creek, it flattened out for a good 3/4 mile with an occassional class III. Then I came upon around three or four excellent drops, you know, those that have three or four slots to choose from, and only one of them not having a sieve with a tree in it. The trees were pretty bad in this 1 mile stretch, having to get out two or three times.

The rest of the run I just sat back, enjoying the scenery on many many class-II shoal rapids. All was well, aside from the overwhelming feeling that I was running out of water. I thought to myself, surely I haven't outrun the water, as I crossed through several large pools, almost mini-lakes.

Suddenly, I couldn't quite see the exit to the pool. Luckly I found a small exit, but yes, I was running out of water. The next thing I know, the water becomes very silty with an aqua color and I run this little wave train straight into a cliff. The cliff has three or four vertical slots where the water was entering. Over to the right was a 6-ft whirlpool, nothing violent, but interesting nonetheless. Getting next to the cliff, the air pressure made for an interesting sound.

Over to the left was the dry riverbed that I walked for 100 yards or so and luckily found a road that eventually led to hwy 30. 45 minutes later a nice nursery owner took me back to my car.

Interesting day. Maybe next time I'll wait until later in the season when that cave fills up and I can paddle happily to the bridge.

Anyone else had similar experiences with this run or nearby watersheds? and two, is there a gauge in the park?

-daniel

Clay Wright helped out with:
Paddle behind falls at low levels - no, haven't run em.
Logs plague this run, but several class 4 and 5 rapids in virgin forest canyon. Watch for "Twin Towers" - named for the World Trade Center similarities. Was for the 2 big rocks flanking the drop. Now for the Big f*&$in hole. Set rope river right.

3 mile paddle out through scrapey-scenic class 1-2. Under 0'', much flow disappears.