Henderson Creek,

Liberty Hill Rd to Laurel-Snow Parking lot (Hendy!)

this is going to hurt

this is going to hurt
Photo of tim l by andy m

River Description

For two nearby streams with mucho gradiente, check out Richland Creek and Morgan Creek.

The put in is located at the Rhea/Bledsoe border on Liberty Hill Rd. As of Fall 2002, property surrounding the put-in is for sale. Being a land bridge, I'm worried about possible disputes if homeowners come in. Hopefully not. The take out is in Bowater's Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness.

Henderson is the largest tributary of Richland Creek and holds within it the highest quality trip of the holy trinity, Henderson, Morgan (north pole), and Polebridge. The start is a flatwater paradise after one class IV that is usually portaged, but don't leave just yet. This creek holds some high quality class V drops spread throughout a mile of nice, steep, pool-drop gradient. Add with that the seven mile length, beauty, and remoteness, and you have one of the best Chattanooga area creeks to visit. More than likely your group will be the only one out there taking it all in, so enjoy it! The rapids are an excellent mix of boulder garden and slides. The first drop is a sieve portage but is easy to spot. Right after that, enjoy a sweet blind 7 foot boof, and a big 20 foot fast slide leading right into Spinal Adjustment. Always shallow and always backbreaking, Spinal Adjustment is best run river right, hugging the bank. After some good IV+ boogie with a spectacular boof, enjoy Spoonman, a tight boulder choke with a tricky hole at the top. Keep your bow up (see the video vertical addiction)! The runout is a juicy double drop. The mega rapid is Fire Escape. Four part rapid starting with a big hole on river left, working back river right to an 8 foot ledge with pinning possibilities, sliding down a boulder to far river left, then back river right again for the final 10ft boulder choke. Wow, that was a mouthfull (See video below). A few more are left before the confluence of Polebridge. After this mile of "whitewater armageddon" enjoy a calm class III-IV section before entering a some tight boulder gardens, noted by the three bridges. These rapids usually have some trees in them and are best scouted. Go right at the island just below the bridge. The left slots have been known to grab boats with their sieves. Another bit of class III until you reach the old Dayton Reservoir, which marks the beginning of the Richland run. At high levels, the Richland rapids will not come lightly. Check Richland Creek description to complete the trip description.

Total drop of 1020ft. The heart of Henderson is 350ft in a little less than one mile.

For further information visit: www.waldensridgewhitewater.com