| Difficulty | III-IV(V) |
| Length | 0.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 200 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 14, 2024 |
Hike up run.
For two nearby streams with mucho gradiente, check out Henderson Creek and Morgan Creek.
The parking lot is located in Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness Area, within the Cumberland Trail State Park. From Dayton, take Hwy 30 towards Pikeville. Take a right onto Back Valley Rd. The bridge on Back Valley has the spray paint gauge. The minimum is about -.8ft starting to get beefy (for hike up) around 1.0ft. Continue on Back Valley Rd until you reach Pocket Wilderness Rd a mile ahead on the left, across from a Church. From the parking lot, hike as high as you feel comfortable. It is about 1.3 miles to the Old Dayton Reservoir. The gate at Back Valley Rd is closed each evening at dusk by the State Park.
The first drop is the 'Reservoir', very straight forward and requires little maneuvering. Some good warm up class III boulder gardens get you started. The first major rapid, 'Timber-rattler' is a steep boulder garden ending with a five foot boulder choke with a somewhat sticky hole at the bottom. Starting right, follow the main flow left punching the first hole. It is shallow on this left side so you will be in contact with boulders. Turning back right, a small pool lets you get up just enough speed for the final drop. This at lower levels however. It's nonstop when Henderson is running. Don't get to carried away at 'Timber-rattler'....the left house-sized boulder is actually a giant sieve usually full of wood. Next, take the river right 4 ft slot or one can run left. Stay right through the class III rapids to set you up for 'Left Down Hut' around the the bend. 'Left Down Hut' is created by a finger slab. If you go straight, then you will be welcomed by a huge boulder awaiting your pin, hence the turn left. The total drop is about 8 feet. A small pool is below and then anothe
...Jan 18, 2013
'Trailhead Boogie' or 'West Prong Line'...i.e., left of island at 'Left Down Hut' has a log in the final drop as of 1/13. I was anxiously traveling down this side at 1.2' while running Henderson and scrambled rather quickly to a pool to avoid my head being taken off. Also, beware of boil and hole which forms at the top of Timber-rattler at high levels. There is a slab on river right which elevates the water level creating a difficult situation. One can easily be surfing next to a nasty undercut. At normal levels it is not much of a problem. I believe cheater lines open up on river left at high water, presenting the option to avoid river right main line and potential problems.
Nov 29, 2005
2005 wood in Richland. Boated Richland this morning (11/29) and there is a tree down near the top of 'Left Down Hut' a tree down in the center line on 'Praying Hands' and two trees across the creek just below 'Weirdo'.