Stinging Fork, |
|
| Usual Difficulty | IV(V) (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 7 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 120 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 250 fpm |
Very beautiful, looks like fun, but with a well-deserved nasty reputation. Many good boaters
apparently figure it's simply not worth it
Gomer wrote, in Boater Talk:
"Over a mile carry-in to the Falls. Counting the lead-in drop, I'd say it's a double drop of
perhaps 60'. Probably best to run it with a lot of water so you'll land in a foam pile instead of
on a static surface. There's a small rocklip in the lower part of the main drop that can launch
one into an automatic boof, and, as GaCreeker says above, that's not desirable. The last time I
was there (many moons ago) a good friend severely injured his back and never returned to the
sport at the level he was at prior to that incident.
You can run all the way down to the takeout for the Piney River. It is a total of about seven
miles with the first 2.5 being on Stinging Fork and the last 4.5 being on Soak Creek. Stinging
Fork has a gradient of close to 280 ft/mile. Other than the falls, Stinging Fork has a twenty
foot slide shortly after. There are some nasty undercuts, but some good ledges and rapids as
well. There is wood. Soak Creek averages 100 ft/mile, so expect some good class 3 boogie with
possible strainers and shoaly regions.
Ga_Creeker's contribution was, simply:
"Don't boof it. I know of several people that have hurt their back on this one."
Anyone having more details regarding this run is encouraged to either provide them (via the "Add
a comment" button which should appear for registered, logged-in users of this site) or (AW
members only) sign-up as a StreamKeeper to 'adopt' this section of river.
For further information visit: www.waldensridgewhitewater.com
| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stinging Fork [TN] |
Stinging Fork Falls
|
High | Robin Sayler | |
| Stinging Fork [TN] |
Stinging Fork Falls, TN - 1983
|
low | Ken and Fran Strickland | |
| 7y299d22h47m | Stinging Fork Creek [TN] |
Stinging Fork Falls
|
low water | Jimmy Kincaid |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | Stinging Fork Falls | 5.1 |     |
| 1.5 | Slideways | IV | |
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Stinging Fork Stinging Fork Falls to Piney River (mobile)
User Comments
photo of their run graced the wall of Bruce Hare's Chattooga Whitewater Shop for many years. From
Robin Sayler: "The 'classic' picture of Stinging Fork Falls was of Pat McNally, taken by Singley.
Pat, Alan, and Mark Hall were there in the mid '70's in the middle of winter, at REALLY high water.
They couldn't run anything else, so they hiked in to SF. They all ran it multiple times, and Alan
even has a picture of Mark running it backwards, though unintentionally. There is a not-so-good
picture of Alan running it around somewhere."
Note: Robin fractured his back when he, Bobby Gaar, Danny Tipton and I were there in 1983.
Ken
Stinging Fork - Howard and I ran this creek after finding a photo of some guy running it in a
Mirage . .. Not much till the unassuming, twisting lead-in to the 40' cascade. Only one other drop
worth mentioning, just downstream. Boring run, but perfect 'everything else is flooded' kinda run.
Whites and this make a great pair.
Stinging Fork
This one is noted for the big drop that can break backs, as noted by a group from Kentucky who
first ran the drop in the late eighties. Later Clay Wright perfected the line on the drop. Later
Jeff Richards, Bailey Johnson and myself put-in at the headwaters and ran to the take out (the same
take out for Piney Creek) hoping to pioneer and open up the run. Mainly a disappointment, all the
gradient is chewed up at the falls. If you want this drop you are better off hiking the trail to
the falls, and get out the camera. Then hike back to the car. It is a long paddle for one Drop,
there is a slide after the big one and after that it starts to slack up. It is a very pretty run
even compared to all the others in the region.