McNutt Creek

Jennings Mill to Macon Hwy

DifficultyII-III
Length3.4 mi
Avg Gradient5 fpm
Reach Info Last UpdatedApril 10, 2023

River Description

After a hard rain, 2-3 inches at least, this run can be caught if you are prepared, otherwise it drops quickly. There is no gauge as of Feb 2019 so you will have to judge it by eye. Overall the run does reward the venturous paddler with interesting features and scenary but has a number of obstacles including: dead and live trees spanning the creek, one small dam with sieve hazards, at least one pipe and a second very dangerous dam (at certain levels). The tunnels may give some folks pause, see below.

It is best to put in at Epps Bridge Road. The section upstream is doable, putting in upstream of Jennings Mill Road. However be prepared for a number of portages do to large live trees blocking the flow.  How to put-in at Epps Bridge, including parking, will need to be investigated but river right upstream of Epps Bridge Rd is your best bet. From Epps Bridge the creek passes by some back yards and remarkable mountain-like scenary. Beware of downed trees and pipes. After passing under a wooden bridge be alert for a small dam with water siphoning through one or more gates. The gates are runnable, if free of wood, but are a tight squeeze.  At low water one can get out in the middle of the creek, hop the dam and put in on the slide below.  There are houses on both sides thus beware of potentially concerned landowners.

After more tree and pipe dodging is the moment of truth for this run, the tunnels! Tunnel #1 is 750  feet long and is four parallel tunnels, each very sizeable in width and height. The catch is Tunnel #1 takes a 30 degree bend to the right, half-way into the tunnel. Until you pass the bend, the tunnel is completely pitch black so bringing lights is advisable. While logjams do form at the entrance of Tunnel #1, none have been observed to date. However if there was a logjam in the tunnel and the flow is high, well that is the stuff of nightmares. One way to derisk entering the tunnel is to have a high powered lamp  and try to peer into the tunnel.

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River Features

Put In

Distance: 1.7 mi

To cut out allot of wood obstacles, putin at Epps Bridge Rd. There is not obvious parking and access point so use your judgement.

Take Out

Distance: 5 mi
Take Out

If you do not want to run the double tunnels at the end of the run, take out river left just before the first of the two tunnels and hike up to Timothy Road. It is a brutally steep hike but there is a good trail.

After running the loop tunnels and dam section, the take out is the same as for Barber Creek.  Walk up to Macon Hwy on a paved drainage ditch downstream of the bridge. It seems to be OK to park in the Mama's Boy parking lot.


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