White's Creek (Rhea County), Tennessee, US

1. Rt 68 to Possum Trot/Alloway Bridge (Upper White's Creek)

Upper White's Creek

Upper White's Creek
Photo of Kemper Begley by Craig Rollins taken 01/20/02 @ 2.5 ft on 27 bridge

River Description

Put in on the South end of the Rte. 68 Bridge. There is a parking area and a trail leading down to the creek on a side road that turns off to the east at the end of the Bridge. Then hang on! The first two miles of the stream has a gradient close to 100 fpm. It really amounts to a continious Class-III rapid for the first two miles. It is very tight, technical and with few eddies large enough for more than one boat, and eddies that large are scarce. Trees are always a factor on this run, so watch out. Although nothing exceeds Class III in difficulty, it is very continuous. Self-rescue skills and a solid roll can prevent a lost boat and a long swim.

After the first two miles, the gradient eases a bit and the the creek becomes more pool and drop in nature. Several side streams have contributed water and the stream is double the size at the top. The action still is very quick, pools are short and some of the rapids long. There are at least two trees in the stream in this section that must be portaged, as of April 2000. Action continues all the way to the takeout.
This stream drops and rises very quickly. My opinion is that 2' at Alloway Bridge is needed for a decent run, 2.5 or 3 is better and optimum.
See also Lower White's Creek.

For more information please click on the link below:

http://www.waldensridgewhitewater.com/waldensridge/UpperWhitesCreek.htm