Caney Fork, Tennessee, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | II-IV(V) (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 Miles |
The river left eddy is interesting due to the "waterfall" that drops into it. This falls is actually shooting thru the cliff on river left. This water is coming from the backwaters of Great Falls Lake and the Collins River on the other side of the cliff.
At the bottom of the wavetrain is the infamous Rock Island rodeo hole. The hole is fairly friendly at 2000 cfs, and rather munchy at a full release of 3800 cfs. Most get intimidated around 7500. Beware catching the left eddy, as the left wall is undercut and the eddyline feeds right into it.
Depending on the lower lake levels there may be two or three more small rapids below the rodeo hole. The next rapid contains a wave that is surfable at higher flows, but just above a dangerously undercut wall.
Warning - much of the channel flows into this wall. Get swimmers right.
Walk back up or take out in Rock Island State Park 'boat launch'
After rains: Starting at the base of the dam there is a 20' shelf with 0, one, or several lines
dependant on the flow.. Check with the locals for more detailed info. 4200 minimum for 'the
spout'; other lines (Mill-side and swing-side) start up around 4800. The rapid below constricts
the river and the 3 holes can be violent. The rock is sharp and unstable, watch for seives in the
first rapid. At flows above 10,000 the holes wash but the right wall at the bottom becomes a
concern. There must be water flowing over the dam for the falls section to be running.
Directions:
From South Nashville or Chattanooga: Take I-24 South from Nashville or I-24 North from
Chattanooga and exit at Hwy 55 in Manchester, the McMinnville/Tullahoma exit. Proceed North on
Hwy 55 toward McMinnville. In McMinnville, Hwy 55 will turn into the 70S bypass. Continue on the
bypass through McMinnville and go 12 miles North of McMinnville and take a left on hwy 136. Go
about 1 mile and take a left on 287 in entrance which will be on the right.
Rock Island State
Park.
TVA Center Hill Reservior Levels. Look for a level of 650 or less.
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | Brave Wave Ledge / Undercut |  |
reach
state
reachlink
0. Rock Island State Park - Bridge above Blue Hole picnic area to picnic area, Caney Fork Tennessee, US (mobile)
User Comments
to at least ~1300 (1 generator); it's not nearly as big or as impressive as at 2 generators, but
there's still something there to be had.
Clay and I paddled Rock Island Dryway at 30,000 cfs today- BIG! New<br>
Forum: BoaterTalk<br>
Date: Mar 08 2004, 0:16 GMT<br>
From: ejrockisland<br>
<br>
Super fun high action- Steep drop at 30,000 cfs. Highest it has ever been run and quite
intense!<br>
Glad Clay is here!<br>
EJ<br>
<br>
<br>
Rock Island is rain dependent after the<br>
lake drops. It usually will not run<br>
during late summer and fall.<br>
However this will depend on the<br>
rainfall for the season. During wet<br>
years Rock Island has been observed<br>
to run for a few hours daily into late<br>
August .<br>
<br>
Whitewater event organizers may<br>
sometimes secure guaranteed flows<br>
from the TVA. check the event calendar<br>
to see when events might be<br>
scheduled.<br>
You can only find out the level the day<br>
prior after 6:00 pm by calling TVA or the<br>
power house. However if releases<br>
have been running consistently then it<br>
usually means flow can be counted on<br>
the next day. Be advised that no one<br>
can accurately predict flow until after<br>
6:00pm the night before or unless<br>
there is a scheduled event.<br>
<br>
Call the TVA at 1-800-238-2264, punch<br>
4, then punch 36. Listen to the last<br>
available 8 hours of discharge, and<br>
then listen for the next days<br>
schedule. Two or more generators<br>
mean excellent boating. At 2000cfs<br>
and up you will find great play. <br>
<br>
above 650. feet the hole is washed out. They<br>
have recently been holding Center Hill higher<br>
than they used to after periods of rain.