Caney Fork, |
|
| Usual Difficulty | II-IV(V) (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| 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.
No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. | Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | Brave Wave Ledge / Undercut |  |
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Caney Fork 0. Rock Island State Park - Bridge above Blue Hole picnic area to picnic area (mobile)
User Comments
Clay and I paddled Rock Island Dryway at 30,000 cfs today- BIG! New
Forum: BoaterTalk
Date: Mar 08 2004, 0:16 GMT
From: ejrockisland
Super fun high action- Steep drop at 30,000 cfs. Highest it has ever been run and quite
intense!
Glad Clay is here!
EJ
Rock Island is rain dependent after the
lake drops. It usually will not run
during late summer and fall.
However this will depend on the
rainfall for the season. During wet
years Rock Island has been observed
to run for a few hours daily into late
August .
Whitewater event organizers may
sometimes secure guaranteed flows
from the TVA. check the event calendar
to see when events might be
scheduled.
You can only find out the level the day
prior after 6:00 pm by calling TVA or the
power house. However if releases
have been running consistently then it
usually means flow can be counted on
the next day. Be advised that no one
can accurately predict flow until after
6:00pm the night before or unless
there is a scheduled event.
Call the TVA at 1-800-238-2264, punch
4, then punch 36. Listen to the last
available 8 hours of discharge, and
then listen for the next days
schedule. Two or more generators
mean excellent boating. At 2000cfs
and up you will find great play.
above 650. feet the hole is washed out. They
have recently been holding Center Hill higher
than they used to after periods of rain.