Pine Creek (Caney Fork R. trib.)
to Center Hill Reservior(Cow Pie Creek)
| Difficulty | III-IV+(V) |
| Length | 1.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 70 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 12, 2025 |
River Description
Pine Creek - drains into the Center Hill Resevoir just south of Smithville.
Put in: From Smithville, 3-4 mi on hwy 56 South then L on Keltonburg RD (288)
to L on Big Rock Rd.
From RI: follow 287 north pass the park and R on 288, follow several (7?) miles to R on
Big Rock RdTo R on Pine Falls Rd, bear left at fork to dead end. Cross fence on foot
and find falls down hill.
Take Out. Back out to Big Rock Rd, R and cross creek, check level, R on Four
Season's
rd. 2-3 mi look for small rd veering off to rt in front of trailer.
Bear rt. down hill at gate.
Kinda rugged, but not bad to top of big steep down-hill. I park
here and walk up the steep section.
This road will be the first real road you see on left when paddling out.
Pine Creek Falls - 30' with roll-off.
Need LOTS of water for soft landing but sweet even when flooding
(unlike the rest
of the
creek).
3 slidey class III-IV (V) cascades follow and the walls narrow down into tight-walled
canyon.
At low flow, walk back up and out for a 'no shuttle' day!
(Make sure scout the walk-
up
before you drop into the last rapid, L-R ferry required and vert walls below here)
Below this nozzle and mini-ampitheater, the rapids mellow to class 2 but vertical canyon
walls stay constricted
for 1/2 mi. Scenic place.
1/2 mi lake paddle to dirt road on L with a steep 200 yd hill.
Perfect 'rained all day while we surfed Rock Island' kinda run.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportPine the way it was ... 1' was plenty of water, now the middle of the lip broke off so it takes 1.5' for a right line (what remains of the old lip) into a soft landing. Not sure of depth in middle anymore as of 2018.
1' on put in bridge - low level for Falls, good for the run
Middle of Falls fell in! We ran mostly right and a few mid left at 1' and had one bottom-hit off the left side. Fence and house being built near falls, so put in at Big Rock Rd bridge (scrapey under 6'') and be courteous of campers at Falls. The last rapid 'Ampitheater' packs a stiff hole at the bottom that is not portagable at this level. The first boater through can set safety below on river left for the hole. I would go in higher next time, but with caution ready to hike back up to the falls.
New ownership! Fence and house being built near falls, so put in at gauge bridge (scrapey under 6'') and be courteous of campers at Falls.
To take-out:
1.5 miles past bridge take a Right
2.5 mi down that turn Right on Prater
bear right down dirt road at gate, follow to top of steeps - park and check road quality to lake take-out.
Falls - consider 6' minimum, but has been run down to 0' (scrapey, not soft).
Perhaps 1' max for the gorge run.
C
Elevation at the bridge is about 860. Lake is about 650. 1.5 miles.
Normally 30', but only 25 or so when Rock Island jumps to 30,000cfs. Rest of the river unrunnable at this level, so Pat Keller, Bryan Kirk and I ran the falls 6 times apiece in fading light.
Normally 30', but only 25 or so when Rock Island jumps to 30,000cfs. Rest of the river unrunnable at this level, so Pat Keller, Bryan Kirk and I ran the falls 6 times apiece in fading light. For the full-sized version of this picture, click here.