Roaring River, Tennessee, US

Hwy 135 to Stock Gap Rd. Bridge (Roaring River Gorge)

Usual Difficulty	II-III (varies with level)
Length	7 Miles
Avg. Gradient	25 fpm
Max Gradient	70 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
ROARING RIVER ABOVE GAINESBORO, TN
usgs-03418070	3.00 - 10.00 ft	II-III	3y103d00h50m	0.31 ft (rc= -2.7 )

River Description

GUIDE BOOK: Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Streams of Tennessee, B. Sehlinger

PUT IN: From I-40 go to main Cookeville, TN exit (Hwy 136) & go North on Hwy 136 through the town square. Stay on Hwy 136 North of town for about 10-12 miles. You will pass over Spring Creek, but it is hard to see from 136. Go another 2 miles just past BP station. The PUT IN is on Hwy 136. Pull into pull off on left before you cross the bridge. There is enough room for 5-6 cars and it is frequently used by locals who swim in the river. This access may be on private land.

TAKE OUT: Go back south towards Cookeville on Hwy 136 to the community of Hardy (about 1.5 miles). Turn right at the convienence store (not the BP) onto Poplar Springs Rd. Go down Poplar Springs Rd. about 5 miles. Turn right onto gravel "Stock Gap Rd." Stock Gap Rd. feels like someone's driveway, but it is a Rd. Travel down Stock Gap Rd. into the gorge about 1 mile, eventually you will be on a bridge. I always park on left side of Rd. on river right. Pull off holds 1-2 cars. Locals have always been polite, but again this is likely private land so be considerate. *****note: this take out gives you 4 miles moving Class I(II) after the gorge. There may be a better take out upstream, but I have never found it. If you can map scout a take out just below the Flat Creek confluence take it.

DESCRIPTION: The 1st 1.5 miles is the non-stop Class III. Then 1 mile of great Class II play. The last 4 miles are Class I(II) with decent current. The put in rapid is called Johnson Mills (Class III) and is a slide/ledge with old mill debri in it. The river rt. side is a 12 foot 30 deg. slide followed by a 5 foot verticle drop at the end. The river left side is where the old mill was and is a 10-12 foot verticle drop into a tight landing area. DANGER: I have never run the river left side as I saw rusted metal barrels in the landing area when I scouted it at dry summer levels. After Johnson Mills, there is a slot drop between a couple of boulders into a pool where the old gauging station is.(Class III) This is followed by Class II-III boogie water then a 4 foot ledge with another old mill site on river right.(Class III) More Class II-III boogie water takes you to a beautiful river left tributary that comes in via a stairstep waterfall. When the river hits a high bluff on river left and turns sharply right get out and check the next rapid for strainers. This rapid is class III but has some badly placed rocks that gather strainers. More class II-III boogie water takes you to a high bluff on river right and another Class III with a 3 foot slot drop on river right. This slot drop creates a great ender hole. Your bow may hit rocks the 1st couple of times, but don't give up as there is a clean spot that will get you verticle. The best stuff will end about 1.5 miles past the put in. The next mile is constant Class II that creates great play. The river still has gradient and is channelized between bluffs with a hard rock slab riverbottom. The gradient is constant and you can actually see the tilt of the river. The effect is a mile long waterslide that creates v-waves & endless collasping waves/holes. Great play. After Flat Creek comes in on right the run flattens out for the remaining 4 miles, but it does have a few more Class II surfing waves one of which gives great spins.

NOTE: ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR STRAINERS. THIS ENTIRE RIVER IS PRIVATE PROPERTY ON BOTH SIDES SO BE VERY RESPECTFUL. SEE SPRING CREEK DESCRIPTION FOR HOW TO ACT WHEN IN THIS AREA. THIS IS THE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES YOU WILL PADDLE. IT IS INCLUDED IN THE TN WILD AND SCENIC RIVER ACT. THERE IS LOTS OF WILDLIFE INCLUDING BEAVERS THAT DROP TREES INTO THE RUN.