Four Mile Creek

I have run 4-mile creek several times this spring. A few addendums to the wonderful write-up already posted.

1 - The first low head dam can be run, but do not go to the extreme right. There's about a 20 foot section at the far right edge that is passable, but do not go all the way to the right, go all the way to the left of the 20' opening, and you can push straight through. If you go all the way right, you'll have to turn 90' left to avoid a tree, which can be done, but it's difficult. There's currently a low hanging branch (with thorns, UGH!) immediately in front of the perfect channel to go over, but it can be pushed up & out of the way with your kayak paddle easily. Once through the dam rapids, immediately head left to avoid being hung on the rocks when the water level is down.

2 - The second 'broken dam' has the best channel about 1/3 of the way out from the left edge. The lip of the concrete slope is lowest there and will prevent a drop off, and you can sail right through after sliding/grinding down the concrete incline.

3 - Right before the Lane's Mill bridge, there's a 90' bend to the left where the runnoff from the gully that follows lane's mill road enters 4-mile. There is a VERY large & nasty tree pile here with serious undercurrents that could easily hurt someone. Stay to the extreme left and it's easily passable, but right next to the trees, it's quite treacherous/dangerous.

The best part of this run is definitely from lane's mill to darrtown road. The rapids through here from the ledges make it a lot of fun.

All in all if you put in behind Yeager Stadium (easier to put in than the Bonham road bridge by far) and go to Darrtown Road, it's about a 3 hour run. From the Lane's Mill to Darrtown road, it's about 40m or so if you want to cal at that point for a pickup.

If you do want a longer run, start in Hueston Woods on the south edge of the loop, and you can put in there for a leisurely 3 hours to make it a full day trip of about 6 hours total in moderate water depth. There is one spot about 1/2 mile or so in from here with trees across the river that you have to portage around on a rock bank, but other than shallow areas, there's nothing in the way of obstacles til you get to the dams after Bonham road.

Also, there are a LOT of no trespassing signs on the upriver section posted everywhere. Stay in your boat and be respectful of private property. I've never had an encounter with a landowner in this area, so I do not know how they would react.