Caney Fork

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park is Tennessee's newest state park. It includes both sides of the Upper Caney Fork run minus the first mile or two. It includes both sides of the bottom 40% of the Bee Creek run. It includes the both sides of most of the Lower Upper Caney Fork run that puts-in at Scott's Gulf Road.

4/2022 - winter flooding the last few years scoured the gorge clean of the big log-jams and scrubby stuff growing in the river, so it's easier than ever to boat-scout your way down. You'll see the big flat stone bench on the right above Devil's Kitchen and be able to boat-scout your way down finding new channels and lines .. as you can see further downstream without brush / log piles blocking the view. This is a great window we have to explore a bit - ran several new channels yesterday that had previously been blocked from view or blocked by logs. At 1.4 on the gage, the ''entrance ramp'' rock center right at Hell's Kitchen was quite an up-hill hump, and there's plenty of water going down in front of it again. Consider a different entrance at lower flows, as it would be hard to access a pin here except from the middle eddy below it. When you get the the creek blow-out / avalanche on river right in the bottom 1/4 of the run.. consider a scout river right as the old ''wing-dip'' boof river left is gone and the hole in the middle is as sticky as ever. The road work on Scott's Gulf take out was substantial - thanks Friends of Scott's Gulf ! - but it is settling a bit now and higher clearance / 4wd or AWD still preferred. We made it in 2wd with a big truck but the puddles are growing and ruts re-forming this Spring. The only wood to report was the far right channel after Polly Branch - and it was river wide but we just snuck under it river left.

This is a good run at this level, with some long pools punctuated by class II+ Rapids. The pools seem to be created by man made log dams that can act as strainers. We went over one and pulled out of two others that were not passable at this level. These log dams are located at places where huge boulders narrow the stream to the bank. The run took us about 4 hours with Caney Fork's gauge showing 1000CFS. I plan to run it again to get some pics. Ronnie and Linda Cox made the run.

This wave comes in around 3.2' and gets great at 4'. There's a smaller wave / hole upstream at lower levels, this was 5' guesstimated.

Recent floods opened up the river from brush, couple new rocks in play but nothing major I noticed. Branch sticking out of bottom left side on Hell's Kitchen, easy to miss but scout if low water in case it's connected to something. . New log in narrow slot at the bottom of ''first hallway'' - easy to see from above and miss to left. Road better than usual but last right turn too rutted and rocky for low / SUV type vehicles, can walk up from bottom in about 20 minutes on road or blue blazed trail up from campground. Dec 4 2018

Caney Fork: Quality boulder garden class 3-4. It starts with a nice slide (if you scrape good on the slide its pretty low flow), Then there is flat water for about the first mile. When the boulders start it gets steep pretty fast. I remember a hand full of class 4's throughout the run and lots of class 3 boogie, feels like over 50 rapids throughout the whole run. It is continuous, with small pools and lots of rapid’s, the longest pool was just before the takeout. The shuttle takes about an hour and 10 minutes depending on how long you spend 4x4ing to the takeout (about 20 min of class 3+ driving). This run would be a big day for U and crew, it’s a long run (13 miles) and there are lots of technical rapids. It would be doable with a more in depth safety setup than we usually employ.

One of the last drops is 'thread the needle' and as of 5/14 has a tree just blow the main squeeze. Easily ducked on the right, marked with orange tape you might see if you are looking for it from the top.

There is a tree in one of the last rapids (big bounder chutes down the right) marked with orange tape you can see from the top.

Surfed 'Trailer Park' wave in Todd Town at 3.8' and it's one of the best surf spot in the area. A glassy wave above a hole with steep shoulder. Loopable from 3.3 up. Even at 2.2 there is some fun play to be had at the ''Todd Town loop'' section from just upstream of the trailers to around the next bend where a jeep road brings you back up (with one right turn) to the car.

We timed a run from Todd Town to takeout at 62 minutes in long boats. That's the fastest I've done and the level was not high (1.6?).

I've been tracking the correlation between the Clifty Bridge (put-in) gauge and nearby online gauges. Here is the resulting spreadsheet that I will update every time I hear of a Clifty level or see it with my own eyes: bit.ly/w8kZej

Use the gauge with caution in the early fall. We found two significant caves in the river bed that combined took 2/3 of the water. After the long pool, we lost all of the water entirely. We had to hike out 4.5 miles, only to find great flow coming out of Bee creek. The gauge was reading 832 cfs at the time and the bridge gauge had debris on it. I can't wait to get on it at a better level, it is a beautiful run.

Another data point for the gauge correlation. 'LiqiudO' on Boatertalk reported the gauge at Clifty at 2.1. Near that time, the Calfkiller was 5.8 and rising pretty fast and Daddy's was just under 1000 and also rising pretty fast. I bet the Caney Fork was rising too, but that's just speculation. Wish I didn't have to work tomorrow!

Playboaters: The 'Trailer Trash' hole makes great park n play at levels of 2.8 and higher. Sessions from 3.0 to 3.4 have generated huge loops, helix's, Mcnasty's - every trick in the book. Downstream there are some good waves - one is really fun down to 2.2 and others rise up at higher flows. You can walk out on the jeep road to the right at a big flat pool, then fork right back to the Todd Town access point or no-shuttle fun.

I think it's safe to say that this week was the first week that the Caney Fork ran after a long, droughty summer and fall. Then came two back-to-back storms that dropped a total of roughly 5 inches of rain at the nearby Crab Orchard rain gauge, enough rain to bring Island Cr up to 3 feet (but that's a different story). I was a bit nervous that some of the caves into which the Caney Fork sinks during dry periods had not fully filled up - and that we'd lose some of the flow somewhere between the put-in and the take-out. If we lost any flow today, it wasn't noticable.

The level was 1.55 on the Clifty Bridge AND the US 70 bridge, which, IMO, is on the low side of good. Daddy's was running about 1000 cfs and dropping somewhat slowly and the Calfkiller was just below 5.5 and dropping rather quickly. We forgot to check the gauge at the put-in when we picked up the car ... I guess the beer from the nearby Watering Hole Bar/ 'take out beer store' started taking effect.

Until next time! AZ

Here's another visual to post to better the correlation between the CF and the Calfkiller and Daddy's. A well-know, pro, and local boater reported 1.15 at Clifty Bridge ..... it was a 'low pfd' (personal first descent). I think most people would consider this to be way too low, but the point of this post is to improve the gage correlations and not to argue about ELF levels. Daddy's was at 325 cfs and rising fast. Calfkiller was at 5.0 and rising fast. The Caney Fork had run regularly this spring, but the past 3 weeks had been relatively dry.

Ran this stretch for the first time on Jan 6, 2007 at 1.4. It felt medium-low (but plenty sufficient) and it seems to me that the gauge probably hasn't changed since the recommended optimum of 1.6 to 1.8 was posted on this website. A NOTE ADDED AT A LATER DATE: after several more runs on the Caney Fork, it now seems to me that 1.4 is getting pretty low.

This is a pretty run with a strong wilderness feel to it. At 1.4, it felt a lot like the Watauga without the falls and a slight, but significant notch down in difficulty. It's a classic plateau run geologically which translates to classic plateau whitewater. It doesn't lack shallow, low-angle slides and rapids at the top, then turns to mostly boat-scoutable, but long boulder gardens for the remaining 80% of the run.

There was wood in the approach to the Kitchen that could be snuck to the far right and the road to the takeout was passable to high clearance vehicles. This is undoubtedly a place I want to see again and I look forward to the next time. Have fun!

I didn't paddle it this time, but somebody posted a visual on Boatertalk. When they reported 1.9 feet (assumed to be the gauge on the Clifty bridge and not the US 70 bridge), the Calfkiller gauge was at 6.0' and dropping steadily and Daddy's was at 900 cfs and also dropping steadily. Three and a half hours later, they reported 1.4 (a big drop!). At that time, it looks like the Calfkiller was at 5.8 and Daddy's was just over 800. As you can see from my recent posts, the Caney Fork had been running regularly over the past two months or so. I hope this information helps.......

Got on this run almost 2 weeks to the day later. This time it was 1.55. It was a great level for the Kitchen, though 3 people in our group got surfed in the hole on the left just above the bottom hole .... none of us ever thought anybody would ever get surfed there. One person was in there for a solid 30 seconds and had at pull a front ender --> piroutte to get out. But all of these guys just tried to float through the finish line ... and got served. The rest of the run felt kinda low, but still sufficient.

Daddy's was in the mid-low 700's and dropping moderately fast when we left the house and the Calfkiller was 5.7 and dropping steady.

I'm looking forward to the next time!

We ran this on 3/9/2008 and the gauge at Clifty was at 1.7. Excellent level - plenty padded out but not pushy .... except for Devil's Kitchen. Daddy's near Hebbertsburg was just over 950cfs and dropping steadily and the Calfkiller was at 5.5' and dropping slowly. There had been a huge rain event 6 days before and a smaller rain event (.5 - .75 inches of rain) two and a half days before.

Bankfull on Boatertalk had this to say about the CF drainage and the run's response to rainfall. Very useful:

It has somewhere around a 200 square mile drainage (50% bigger than Watauga). If if wasn't for all the karst around, it would be the Tennessee Class 4 staple. But the last months of the year are usually spent filling all the massive cave systems.

But once the system is filled up, 1/2 inch can do it every time. If daddys hits 500 or more and the Calfkiller is at 5.5 feet or higher, game on.

Calfkiller is really the best barometer for the run, as it has a similar drainage and has the same karst issues. When you see 2 inches at De Rosset and the calfkiller doesn't budge, you know things aren't filled in yet. But once it starts holding at around 5.1 - 5.3, a half an inch widespread will do it every time.

Here's a link to the DeRossett rain gauge that shows the past 6 days:

http://amazon.nws.noaa.gov/nexhads2/servlet/CreateDCPChart?nesdis\_id=244B32BC&nwsli=DERT1&minimumdate=6&maximumdate=0&location=Precipitation+Data+For+DE+ROSSETT+RAIN&pe\_code=DERT1PC

http://www.rivers-end.org/curtis/Caney\_Fork.mov

Here's a little video from this weekend. It's about 3 min, 9mb. I threw it together quickly. The one camera underexposed the video quite a bit, and upping the exposure in post-production made it look grainy, but it looks better than it originally did. Rich from St. Louis and Andrew from Nashville shot the video while Paul (TeamELF) and Kemper set safety.

I'm surprised at how flat the rapid looks from Rich's angle, but the angle Andrew had made it look almost as steep as it is. The tree move definitely adds some pucker factor.

The music isn't for everyone, but it's what was in my head when I was editing it. Might turn the sound off or use headphones if you're at work. Hope you enjoy.

Be aware of possible vehicle damage at put-in. We paddled this stretch on 3/3/2007 and there were several ATVs driving back and forth across the river just upstream of the ledge at the put-in. About 1/2 mile downstream, we could hear the ATVs on the river left road and saw some debris that was kicked up by their tires land in the river. When we were later unloading my friend's truck that was parked on river left at the put-in, we noticed a few small bumps/dings on the side of his truck. Daylight on the next day revealed more damage to the body and windows. Our best guess is that the damage was caused by debris kicked up by ATVs and/or motorcycles that are frequently tearing up the earth at the put-in. I recommend finding another place to park.

New Wood nov 18th 06
between approach and Devil's Kitchen on left all the way to center. We snuck far right, but manky pin spot mid right makes it possible walk.

Do any of ya'll know of a runnable aprox. 40-45 footer on the upper upper Caney Fork beyond Sugar Creek, has it been run or this section?

At the put-in, we thought that we had plenty of water for the run. The old bridge gauge was reading 1.3’. In spite of many tributaries feeding in, it seemed like we were losing water as we paddled. It looks like a little more water is needed to fill the sieves near the end of the run & keep from scraping soooo many rocks.

3.3

It's even bigger, and we need some new gage to go higher. Trailer-trash hole was sweet for loops and the waves below kept us busy much too long. This short stretch (put-in to 1/2 below trailers) would be a great park and play!

You can walk out to Todd Town rd.

Walked Hell's Kitchen - approach makes it hard to find the tongue and the right is UGLY. Also walked 2nd to last big one, where you normally hit a boof on the left and there is a sieve on right: awful hole center and tough to stop above it. Many, many big fluffy rapids (8' waves common) some big holes to miss, and knowing the clear channels through the trees was a real plus. Probably the closest thing to your typical BC boating on the East Coast (without the vert wall and waterfalls).

Ran from Hell's Kitchen to TO in 1 hour10min including 2scouts. Would have played more if we had the time.

2700 on 'virtual gage' -

CW

If your paddling the caney fork know how to get out of there if something goes wrong. If something goes wrong right away there is a small trail on river right that you can hike up to a trailer park this is a good option all the way into devils kitchen after devils kitchen then next option is about 1.5 miles down stream at clifty creek Its about 2 miles to the bridge on the road you run shuttle on. the walkin is easiest on river right of the creek staying high for the first 3/4 of a mile then dropping down to the creek bed you can paddle across severl large pools by then your getting close to some old logging roads on river left follow the logging road until it crosses the river again and then walk/paddle up the last 1/3 mile to the road.(I know this from experince....there may be an easier way to get up it may be easiest to follow the creek bed all the way) the third option also starts at clifty creek. There is a walking trail that ends there and starts at the take out its about a 4 mile walk from clifty to the take out.

hope these may help someone someday.

CV

3.0 run success! (Obed 12,000, Collins 4000)

Good waves whole top mile and great loop

hole by trailer-park on river right (3/4 mile into

it). Walked Hell's Kitchen due to swirly

approach, playboats, &freezing temps but

holes blown out - just huge.

This level requires committed boat-scouting,

big water hole avoidance, cross the river

scrambles due to midstream forests of trees,

and a wary eye for last-chance scouting

eddies. EJ estimated 2000 at put-in. Scott

Fidel called it 'Brittish Columbia class 4+'. I'd

say Lost Paddle at 3000 with trees growing

all in it - for miles. Lots of 'catch on the fly'

surfing - all those pesky undercuts buried.

We spent 2 1/2 hours - some play, but racing

darkness. Walking out would suck - plan on

3-4 hours.

Clay Wright

Nov 15th 2002

The Caney Fork gage isn't the easiest gage to find, or read for that matter. The gage can be seen from the upstream river left side of Clifty bridge. Look upstream for an old stone bridge support. The gage is bolted to the downstream side of the support.
Scotts Gulf Road is as tough as any rapid you will find on the Caney Fork. 4wd with good clearance is recommended, however you can get down it with a 2wd as long as you have good clearance and know how to drive on seriously unmaintained roads. Nevertheless, 2wds WILL have problems in two or three very rutted/muddy spots that will become impassible from time to time. If you don’t have any problems, the drive down Scotts Gulf Road will take about 20 minutes one way. Good luck!!
There is plenty of parking and empty beer bottles at the Upper Caney Fork put-in. From time-to-time cars are broken into, so be careful. The paddler's gage is on an old bridge pilon located on river left upstream of Clifty brige. The gage can be seen from Clifty bridge. And finally, look at all the boats, one of them doesn't make it to the take-out!
There's plenty of parking and beer bottles at the put-in. Look closely, one of the boats doesn't make it to the take-out.
You can run the put-in rapid almost anywhere. If you screw it up, it might be a good idea to be the shuttle bunny instead of running the river.
Devil's Kitchen throws everything but the kitchen sink at you. After a long lead in, a technical entrance, there's the nasty hole and undercuts waiting at the bottom. Good times, yes, good times.........
Here's Marshall Fox making the final drops in Devil's Kitchen. Devil's Kitchen throws everything but the kitchen sink at you. After a long lead in, a technical entrance, there's the nasty hole and undercuts waiting at the bottom. Good times, yes, good times.........
Mike McGee cooking in Devil's Kitchen. Devil's Kitchen throws everything but the kitchen sink at you. After a long lead in, a technical entrance, there's the nasty hole and undercuts waiting at the bottom. Good times, yes, good times.........
Tim Madson going a has the right ingredients in Devil's Kitchen. (corny huh?) Devil's Kitchen throws everything but the kitchen sink at you. After a long lead in, a technical entrance, there's the nasty hole and undercuts waiting at the bottom. Check out the hole and undercuts on river right!! Good times, yes, good times.....
Dan Guthrie running on of many many drops on Caney Fork
Mike McGee running one of many many fun drops on the Caney Fork
The land around the Caney Fork has more in common with swiss cheese then anything else. Immediately after a rain, it is not uncommon to find water flowing from the most unexpected places.
Deveil's Kitchen has a fairly long entrace filled with chutes and zig-zagging from river right to left to right to...... well, you get the idea. You can shorten the portage of DK by hopping your way down to the last eddies before the main drop.

Shot of one of the last rapids on the run from the Yellow Bluff Trail overlook
Devils Kitchen Rapid, first big rapid on the river. Its within the first two miles of the run and marks the beginning of the first long stretch of rapids. It has a committing lead in rapid. Easy walk on the left.
This is the lead-in to Devils Kitchen. Its really all one rapid cause there really are no real eddies and only seconds before your in the main drop.
This is a stretch of class 3+ boogie below the kitchen before the numerous class 4 boulder garden rapids appear that the Caney Fork is infamous for.
This is a view from the Yellow Bluff trail. Only a .3 mile walk from Scott's Gulf road and its the next trailhead past Virgin Falls trailhead on the left. Well worth the walk.
Typical of the big boulders strewn about this stream. Choose your path wisely in places like this because the lines are sometimes tight and peppered with undercuts.
For the full-sized version of this picture, click here.

Park and play holes!!! At 1250 CFS on usgs

a great view from the dry line
before the hike out & near hypothermia

Stephen boofs in Devil's Kitchen from right slot

See notes section of map for details.