Cumberland, Big South Fork

River access points are shut down. My friend and I tried to run from confluence to Leatherwood Ford today and parking area is off limits. Had planned on running it around 860 or so cfs in a shredder but were unable to secure safe and secure access without harassment. We ended up speaking with an LE officer with the BSFNRRA who equated it to being like wally world on National Lampoons Vacation. Neither one of us found it too funny the river being off limits. In any event river access closed until further notice. I'm not sure how to do this on here through AW but Simon Krzych I'm interested in speaking to you if you dont mind. Several river related questions. Please reach me at wsteel15@gmail.com. Thanks again everyone. Hope to see you on the river.

https://www.nps.gov/biso/learn/news/big-south-fork-national-river-recreation-area-temporarily-closed.htm

Reading the comment below, yes...Big South Fork National River Recreation Area is closed due to the Corona Virus. Great Smoky Mtns National Park is closed too. Just a reminder to check park websites before venturing into national parks or recreation areas.

We paddled to the O&W bridge with a canoe and two rafts on April 5th, 2020. The level was 1910 and the water was a beautiful bluish-green. 1910 feels pushy, but is a great level. The O&W road was crowded, but we did not see anyone else on the water.

Ass Kicker

If you've ever wondered what Double Drop looks like at minimum flow, this is it. Somewhere around 400cfs.

Ran the BSF three times this spring and couldn't count the number of tires in the beaches. This run is in dire need of a river cleanup.

Paddled this 3/12/17 level was ~9.5ft. or ~3500 cfs a bit pushy with chaotic waves and many boils. I portaged almost every major rapid. I enjoyed the flow at ~950 cfs or ~6.5 ft. much better 2 weeks prior. It was a beautiful sunny day didn't see anyone else on the river. Put in near burnt mill bridge maybe 1 mile downstream along the trail. overall was still an excellent day on the water would have ran more rapids but was running solo. Hiked in from Leatherwood ford day prior, John Muir trail, excellent hike as well.

4/5/15, 2400 cfs, overcast skies but highs in the 60's. G, Adam, Robert, Chris, Eli and CT. We mixed it up with the maxi me, the new grabner tandem inflatable canoe and the spanish fly. The grabner did great on the bigger water and ran pretty dry over the big waves. We all ran the left side of double drop, and Adam and Eli ran multiple laps on the El while we ate lunch. This is a great level for cleaning up some of the scrapey rocks and the holes arnt that stompy yet. No swims just smiles.

On Thursday we launched from Burnt Mill Bridge to Leatherwood. A mixed group, from Canada eh? , of canoes and me in my kayak. Half of the group stopped at the Confluence and hiked out to the car parked on the road past the Scott County Airport. The kayak and two open BlackFly canoes went on downstream. Matching post for Clear Fork section exists. Level was about 1800cfs which was lower than what I usually see on this section (2000-3000cfs more typical for me in the past). We enjoyed the heated changing-room at the takout, but noted the set of stairs leading from the high-water line at O&W Bridge as a possible takeout in the future to avoid the 2 miles from OWB to Leatherwood Ford. From the confluence it's approx 3/4 mile to the first of the big three and that 3/4s mile is mostly straight. When the river first starts to turn back to the left, below the Confluence, is where Double Drop is getting close. Scout from river right. We had more room for the larger canoes in a higher eddy rather than the eddy that I normally scout from in my kayak. The first drop was fine, center or slightly right of center into the boiling funny-water before the second drop. We ran the second drop angled towards the massive boulder pointing our bows river-left to square-up to the curler wave coming off of the boulder. One canoe flipped and we separated swimmer from boat in the pool to keep him away from what appears to be a sieve just downstream. Washing Machine gave us no trouble. Scouted the El from a taller, large boulder in an eddy upstream and then also walked downstream on river left to get a better look at the curler on river left side of the maw of the hole. Boat-scouted the rest of the river. Decent surfing waves for my Nomad8.5 in and below The Narrows.

This line is only available at around 600 cvs or higher. This is the far left slot.

Sep 1st 2014 The river was running at 1,050 CFS with a time on the river close to 4 hours. The water crafts where 2 Spanish Fly's, Mamba, Mini Me and the Maxi Me. Great day full of sunshine. We had Eli, Crisler, and Golder as our Guides/safety's and G, Steve, Chris, John Christen and I as the crew. G ran the river great in his Canoe, switching out on just a few rapids that Golder and I ran. Steve started out great, than had a few trips and lost his composure, letting Crisler paddled the Mamba the remainder of the river. I flipped the Spanish Fly on a rapid a few down below the Ell.

4-10-14 Ko. Ste. Artist Charlie. Mostly good for canoe. Fine for hand breaker.
Simon not on this trip. 1900 cfs

6/30/12 Leatherwood Ford The Canyon Section. Water was running at 890cfs George and Simon with Eli as our guide. We took the Prob 12 and the Detonator. Two hour drive from Coal Creek. George had a perfect run with no falls on the Probe 12 and Simon fell 3 times on the Detonator. Great day with lots to learn.

9/30/11 O&W Railroad section. Water was running at 5.5ft and the run is around 2 miles with a time of one hour more or less. George and Simon with Eli as our guide. We used the Probe 12 and Mini Me. Easy 10 min shuttle and we ran two laps. 65 degrees overcast and comfortable with drysuits. Next time we will run the full Canyon Section. Shuttle contact is (606)526-7238

5/23/12 Leatherwood Ford The Canyon section. Water was running at 1,100 CFS 6 mile section and we did it in 3 1/2 hours. George and Simon with Eli as our guide. We took the Probe 12 and The Shredder. George and Simon flipped on the Shredder and Eli flipped the Probe 12. Great day on the water.

7/1/12 Leatherwood Ford the Canyon Section. Water was running at 625cfs and was really nice to see how much the river changes with less than 300cfs drop. George and Simon with Eli as our guide. We ran the Probe 12 and the Detonator. Gerge had another perfect run without any falls on the Probe 12 and Simon fell 2 times on the Detonator. Water was low but still great on a canoe, almost better without as much pushing water and more rocks to man over around. Great day learning how to paddle a canoe.

The Confluence Put-In road by the airport will be closed on Saturday, September 8, 2012 from 1:30pm till 5:00pm eastern time due to the 9th Annual Wings Over Big South Fork Air & Car Show. The put-in road is under the safety area of the stunt planes and must be kept clear. Run your shuttle before 1:30, paddle the river, and retrieve your vehicle after 5:00pm.

www.wingsoverbigsouthfork.com

2200 cfs run summer time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ4JVgJAHi0

Kudos to you! I hadn't thuhgot of that!

Ok South Fork regulars. Let's see if you can add to this list of sieves on the run.... New

Forum: BoaterTalk

Date: Dec 30 2003, 2:14 GMT

From: hardboater

1. Center, top drop of Double Drop - water slides into an undercut which actually sieves out due to sitting cocked funny on a slab rock.

2. River right side of the pool between Double Drop and Washing Machine.

3. The recently learned of top left of the Kreckles.

4. Bottom right of the Kreckles - water sieves out a crack in the bottom right side of a really boily/swirley room with an eddy harsh fence blocking exit.

5. Bottom left wall of Ass Kicker - 3/4 of the way down

6. The obvious one that everyone knows about in river center about 1/3 of the way through the Canyon - always has wood jammed in it....

7, 8, & 9. The far river right of #6. The river drops into a box canyon and filters out through sieves on the right, left and underneath.

10. Right above the big river right eddy 1/3 of the way through the rapid above O&W (the longest rapid on the run). Water filters through a slot too small for a boat and into the eddy.

11. Far river left at the very top of O&W.

Crazy how many sieves there are on this class III-IV run. And this post doesnt even touch on the undercuts......

This was my first time down the canyon and..... words cannot describe the wow factor. Emerald green water and the orange sandstone cliffs - sweeet. I guess we caught it @ 1400 a really nice level with lots of play spots - watch out surfing the shallow pour overs/waves. Really nice ender hole about halfway down and one MACH 3 killer surfing wave.

Had a few guys from knoxville with and worked the jackson crew in their tight little behinds. Flow was around 370-350 for the day. Got to see a boat getting worked for a moment in washing machine. When i went through the drop i went under and then poped up below. Pretty sweet to make my way under the suface in the BLUNT. Even for such a long drive and little water it turned out to be a great day on the water. Rapids were still fun and there were tons of slots to play around with. If ya haven't done it its worth it for the fact that its so beautiful in there. Can't wait until a good flow so i can take my squirt boat. It looks to be like a great place to tap into.

2nd drop of Double Drop at low water. The sieve is in full view at this level on river right.
This is the entrance to the canyon section of BSF.

Photo taken from Honey Creek Overlook.

This is the second drop of Double Drop. When levels drop below 1000cfs, watch out for the pin rock on river right.

Composite Photo

This sieve is at the very top of the rapid, river left side. At folws over about 2,000, it's under water.

Cold days leading into ice and at some points nearly accross the river in big pools
more of the ice
Icecicles galore, but the water was bathtup warm...well maybe not

I paddled BSF on 7/23/2005 at about 1300cfs. Washing Machine was truly what it's called, a 'Washing Machine.' The entrance to the Ell was a lot pushier and fun. Moonshoot was the best surfing spot on the whole river. I had forgotten how much fun BSF can be at low water.

Several new paddlers take a shot at the slot.

View from the Honey Creek Overlook of the Big South Fork Gorge. This is the Honey Creek Rapid area.

A perfect line on the El, executed by Merridee Harper. Note the carnage along the bank. 4 swimmers out of six boaters...

This picture was taken after Lauren Burress which is only 8 years old ran the Canyon Section of the Big South Fork River in Tennessee at 1,400 cfs. Fall 2004.

Jason Foley, Codi, Mike and Becky running Double Drop Rapid on the Big South Fork in Tennessee.
Jason Foley and crew running the second drop of Double Drop Rapid backwards at 1,200 cfs.
Eric, Doug, and Jeff at Ass Kicker Rapid. Photo by Jason Foley and Gordon Byrd.
This is one of the most dangerous places on the Big South Fork River. Omer is checking out a kayak that someone lost in the Sieve. Go left at this rapid or die. Photo by Jason Foley and Gordon Byrd.
Steve Watters getting sucked down after running the first drop of Ass Kicker Rapid. Photo by Jason Foley and Gordon Byrd.
Foley, Codi, Mike and Becky at the bottom of Asskicker Rapid on the Big South Fork River in Tennessee. Summer 2004
This Rapid is the third rapid below confluence and is a great place to boof when the water is above 1,000cfs.
The bottom of asskicker rapid on the Big South Fork River in Tennessee, Summer 2004.
The bottom of Asskicker Rapid on the Big South Fork River in Tennessee.

Doug Simpson running Double Drop Rapid on the Big South Fork River between Burnt Mill Bridge and Leatherwood Ford Bridge at 2,400 cfs. Spring 2004.
Doug Simpson runs Double Drop Rapid on the Big South Fork River between Burnt Mill Bridge and Leatherwood Ford Bridge in Scott County Tennessee at 2, 400 cfs.
Steve Watters running Ass Kicker Rapid on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in Scott County Tennessee between Burnt Mill Bridge and Leatherwood Ford Bridge, Spring 2004 at 1,000 cfs.
Doug Watters, Eric Dunphy and Jeff Tibbals running the Ell backwards on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in Tennessee between Burnt Mill Bridge and Leatherwood Ford Bridge, Spring 2004 at 1,000 cfs.
Gordon Byrd at the O & W Rapid.
Gordon at Ass Kicker on the Big South Fork. Check out the Butterfly in the picture!!
Gordon Byrd at Asskicker.
Gordon going into the first drop of Double Drop Rapid on the Big South Fork River in Tennessee, Spring 2004 at 8oo cfs.

The BSF gorge and canyon sections are runnable at least as low as 350 cfs at Leatherwood. I haven't tried to go any lower, but they're still fun at that level.

the pin spot is located at the second drop, it is a large seive with a pin spot.

the pin is in play below about 1000 CFS and gets worse as the water level gets lower.

I posted two pics (taken by Wilko) of a boater in the pin spot river right at the second drop. The Boater did not paddle thru the hole at the second drop of this rapid, was stern squirted and then surfed into the pin.

this is the way the pin typically happens. I have pulled three of my friends from this spot and observed two other pins in this same location.

I believe running the second drop on the right is much safer than running the hole. another option is to run far channel left, but is more difficult than running right, from the squirrelly water between the drops.

it is difficult to get out of your boat in the eddy beside the pin spot. if you are going to set safety, hike down from the top of the rapid, or make sure ppl wait until u have time to run the rapid and get out of your boat. the eddy is deep and squirrelly.

Clean lines don't make for good video. Thanks Terri.

Mark tosses a few ends at Double Falls

James Thaxton and Hugo taking a break after a run through the Ell on the Big South Fork in Tennessee.

sorry about the water on the lens...

Gordon Byrd surfing at Three Sisters Rapid on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in Tennessee.
Danny Goodin and Odie Ellis going over Double Drop Rapid on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in Tennessee at 800 cfs.

Photo taken from an airplane of 'The Big Three' showing Double Drop, Washing Machine, and The Ell.

My favorite levels are from 700 to 1200 cfs (technical verticle drops; watch out for Ryan's Eddy) and between 3500 and 4500 cfs (continuous big waves; Honey Creek rapids and Pine Creek CAnyon Yippee!).

Gordon Byrd running the Ell on the Big South Fork River between the Burnt Mill Bridge and the Leatherwood Ford Bridge on the Gorge section in Tennessee at 1200cfs
Gordon Byrd stern squirts the Ell on the Big South Fork River at 1200cfs. This is on the section between Burnt Mill Bridge and Leatherwood Ford Bridge in Scott County Tennessee.
Bryan Rushing at the Ell on the Big South Fork River in Tennessee at 1200cfs. This is on the section between the Burnt Mill Bridge and the Leatherwood Ford Bridge.
Bryan Rushing crashes through the Ell on the Big South Fork River at 1200cfs between the Burnt Mill Bridge and the Leatherwood Ford Bridge on the Big South Fork River in Tennessee.
Omer Hall at the Ell, a class 4 rapid on the Big South Fork River between the Burnt Mill Bridge and the Leatherwood Ford Bridge in the Gorge section at 1200cfs.
Jason Foley going over Double Drop Rapid on the Big South Fork River between Burnt Mill Bridge and Leatherwood Ford Bridge in Scott County Tennessee.
Bob is taking a break from raft guiding on the Big South River.

This is Double Falls, also called Double Drop.

The Ell will swallow you, boat and all if you hit the seam just right at 1900cfs. The Ell on the Big South Fork River between the Burnt Mill Bridge and the Leatherwood Ford Bridge in Scott County. That's Dave Wilson sitting in the eddie below cheese grater rock.

Jeremy Perry going deep after the first drop of Double Drop Rapid.
Adam Thomas gets swallowed up at Double Drop.
Gordon Byrd runs the Double Drop of the Big South Fork.

Dave Wilson surfing it up at Moon Shoot.
Dave surfing at Moon Shoot.
Dave Wilson taking his raft group down the second drop of Double Drop Rapid backwards.
Dave Wilson takes Jake Miller, Haleigh Byrd and the rest of the raft group down the Ell on the Big South Fork.
The Ell eats rafts at this level.
Bob guiding his group down the Big South Fork at 4oo cfs.

Adam Thomas runs the last part of Ass Kicker Rapid on the Big South Fork.
Dave gets caught in the hole at Ass Kicker.