White's Creek (Rhea County)

Just before you get to Butcher Block (so within the first half mile of the run) there is a hazardous pin rock in the right line of an otherwise non-descript smaller rapid. Level was around 1.1 feet on the take-out gauge. It probably doesn't take a lot more water than that to put it completely underwater. We got a boat badly pinned there, requiring a 3:1 z-drag to remove. Stay left of center to avoid.

(Note: there is an emergency walkout road to the put-in just below this rock on river left. We didn't have to use it, but you can see where it is.)

4/4/17 level was 1.25 on lower bridge. G and Eli OC1, josh ducky, Ct kayak. John H and john in mini me. great level, even the raft could still get down. Clear water and totally doable, G 'get over it' for next time. Tree in lead into what is referred to above as 'danger Will' and 2 you can go over on river right in the island side channel, one piece of wood but not bad below surf city.

Most boaters know some of these rapids by their original names. Simple Simon is actually Eagle Rock to most of us. In very cold winters it is a gathering roost for bald eagles who move south to escape the weather. There are reports of over 7 adults at one time, though I have only seen four at the most.

What this site calls Scout's Honor has long been know as Surf City, a much more appropriate name and one that has stood the test of time.

Since the bed and river left bank are in my yard, I would appreciate using the names that have been in place for most of us locals since the 80's.

Thoughts?

4/20/15 Flow at the putin gauge was just under 2ft and brown. The crew was G, Eli, CT, KC, Russel, Jared and Paul; 2 canoes, the grabner inflatable canoe, and the maxi me. It felt big and pushy but G styled it in the spanish fly. He had big eyes and seemed nervous but ran every rapid (snuck danger will on river right through the trees), swat spot had a big diagnol wave in the middle that pushed him more into the holes at the bottom.

4/14/15 putin gauge had 1/2 ft, and the river was low but doable. G, Eli and CT; all in canoes. G canoed everything and had a great redemptive run at swat spot, we broke it down and caught 3 eddys in the rapid. 2.5 hours and we took out at SS spot.

3-16-15 Sunny and 70 with the trees just starting to bud. The level was just below the .6 on takeout gauge, and half a foot below gauge at putin (rock next to gauge was wet but barley). G canoed every rapid!!, EH -canoe, CT -ducky, SW and JJ in Grabner and SS in kayak. It was low but still doable. Lots of new downed trees along the shore and 2 all the way across the river.

4/30/14 Great trip on this creek, running 9 inches at the take out 10am. Put on at Possum Trot bridge at 12:45pm and took out at 2:50pm total river time about 2 hours. At put in river was running at 1 foot and at take out it was at 1.5 feet rising 1/2 foot in two hours. Crew was G, S, DS, CT, Andrew and I. Simple Simon was the only rapid that was not good to run at 1.5 feet because of many rocks to guide through before the big undercut wall and the crew walked this rapid, CT and I ran it in the Shredder, bumped a few rocks on the way down, could use a 1/2 foot more water. Great day partly raining and around 65-70 degrees. We used two crafts, The Mini Me and The Shredder, both great for this water level.

White's Creek feels like a full on river after Tiny Piney confluence, and while it opens up nice rapids continue.

A cool rapid on White's Creek that falls away to the right.

10/15/14 Flow at the putin was about 3 inches of rock exposed by the bridge piling and takeout guage was .75, this is truly minimum (we want more for next time). G and CT in Maxi me and Eli in canoe. The leaf color was spectacular. We made it down the river with some bumping and grinding but only a handful of times did we have to get out of the raft. There was river wide wood in 3 places but only one necessitated walking. Butchers block was a big easy to avoid undercut. Danger Will still went smooth and easy. Simple Simon (aka the undercut wall rapid) was very low (G walked the bottom part) but we managed to bang the raft through the middle. After the confluence with Piney there was still a few good play spots, even for the raft. Shuttle takes 30 min each way.

This the old feet gauge at the put in.

Here is the new gauge at put in. I will update info for flow levels after we paddle to see comparison to take out gauge.

This is what lower run able take out gauge looks like. It was a good level except a little low for Simple Simon rapid.

George and Debbi rockin Swat Spot

Watch out for the undercut left of rock.

Everyones favorit rapid on this section of Whites Creek.

A good amount of maneuver's @ 1.5 feet before slamming into the large cliff wall on rivers right with a dangerous undercut. At low water this is a good rapid to scout.

Here is my assessment of White's Creek levels.

6 inches is really low but you don't have to get out of your boat to complete the run. Most paddlers would not drive a long distance for this level.

1 foot is low but still good enough to drive for. The play spots toward the end of the run start getting better at this level.

1.5 feet is getting better. You could choose to paddle other stuff at this gauge height like Fall Creek. Other folks have run Piney Creek (Tiny Piney) at 1.5 but I figure it is probably bony at 1.5 feet.

2.0 feet is probably the optimum play level for mere mortals like me on White's Creek proper. Piney Creek (Tiny Piney) is good at 2.0 feet. Fall Creek is getting better at 2.0 feet.

2.5 feet is really nice. Beginners who are unfamiliar with the White's Creek watershed will start to put their roll to the test at this level.

3.0 feet is when Mammy's Creek starts to be runnable and fun. The adventurous crew might consider Upper White's Creek/Lower White's creek combo at 3.0 feet.

3.5 feet and above is when I start taking all factors (air temp, crew ability etc.) into consideration when I choose what style of boat (creeker or play) to bring.

4.0 feet still has play. The holes start getting noticeably larger and some of your eddies are in the bushes. White's Creek regularly sees boaters when it is above 4.0 feet. Some people prefer it that way. It's not a beginner run at 4 feet though.

I hope this helps.
Kemper Begley

Michael Ann Begley hand paddles the signature rapid of White's Creek

Marlo Wright paddles through the best rapid on White's Creek.

Jay Wright in the signature rapid of White's Creek. Level is 2.5 feet on highway 27 bridge pillar gauge

Here is a view looking downstream toward the undercut wall. At this level it is easily avoided by going river left.

Kirk Eddlemon surfing it up at Surf City around sunset

Michael Ann Begley hand paddling the first rapid after Possum Trot Bridge.

Paul Butler paddles past the two holes at Surf City. There is good play here if you're in the mood.

White's Creek doesn't always run in October but when it does the changing leaves add a lot to the scenery. This is lower down after most of the rapids are done. There's a little boof hiding over on river right.

Paul Butler finishes up the rapid at the undercut wall.

Paul Butler runs the rapid beside the undercut wall. White's Creek is beautiful in October.

what a beautiful narrow creek! one of my new favorites. nonstop class2-3 action in a wilderness-like setting. feels very remote.keep an eye out for hazards typically associated with this type of run. looking for hair? not here. looking for a fun creek experience with superb scenery? here. matt hagan louisville ky oc-1

From Clay Wright:

Whites Creek:

First run when 100 ft / mile was thought to be

3.5 to 4.5' great play on the lower.

After a few good waves you get to the first

river-wide hole. Eddy both sides - it's excellent

for all tricks- even loops.

There is one hole on a right bend shortly

below the surf spot which feeds into a left eddy

backed by a rock and wall, and it comes up

fast. Left to right cut required, or out the back

of the eddy.

The 'undercut right wall' is easy to go left of if

you see it coming in advance - stay left each

time you see big cliff on river right and you'll

breeze it.

Several flooded islands make it hard to find

the river-bad. We often found clean channels

far right.

Best front-surfing just below confluence with a

big creek on left. You'll want to walk back up

again and again - a camp on the right makes it

possible (kinda long).

Couple more tree-lined mazes (one far right,

and go L at the RR bridge) and you're done. <

br />

Clay Wright

E at O went from 14g to 53g; Daddy's up to 8g,

2 danger spots of note; 1.) 1/2 between bridge & confluence w/ Tiney Piney there is an undercut bluff on river right, that can be avoided w/ some skill, but beginner may blunder into it 2.) either just above or just below undercut bluff, there is a class II 2 foot ledge that has a bad verticle pin rock at the bottom of the middle right side. I have seen 2 kayaks pin here & the only air they could get was from the pocket created by there head & body. I have heard 4-5 other boats hit it w/ the famous crunch sound, but they came through ok. This is very innocent looking from upstream. Also, always watch out for overhang/logs etc.

paddled from possum trot sec about a year ago at 7feet on the down straem gauge and it was freakin huge and fun watch out for clothes line close to the take out at high water

Skirt was popping off on right side
See the larger version of this picture here.