Jennings Creek

Jennings Creek is a tributary of Stinking Creek, which drops into the Clear Fork of the Cumberland.  The entire run herein described is in Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area, and may be subject to closures to certain user groups due to managed hunts and wildlife rest periods.  For more information, chech out http://www.state.tn.us/twra/.

Jennings was first run in May of 2009.  Due to the difficulty of logistics for hiking in, the large rains required, and unusual location, this run evaded a descent for a long time.  The creek drops a total of 470 feet, with most of that occuring in the first mile and a half.  While the steepest mile clocks in at 330 feet, the 1/3 mile on Jennings drops an average of 550 ft/mile, which yields a non-stop class 5 environment with big drops and little room for error.  The remainder of the run after the confluence with Meadow Creek is on Stinking Creek, and this section drops 250 feet per mile through continuous quality class 4 boulder gardens with a blind and pushy feel.  The overall continuity and pressure of this stretch creates a class 4+/5 environment with good flows.  This run would not be much fun at low water, nor at high flows.  Like many microcreeks, medium is what you are looking for.

This creek has a 1.5 mile hike in.  Do not try to pull it off without bringing a detailed map with you and some orienteering skills.   If you do the homework it is reasonable, and if you don't, expect to get lost quick.  An awesome map can be found here:  http://www.twraregion4.org/TWRAWmas/files/RoyalBlueOffRoadVehicalMapMarch2007TWRA.pdf

Starting from the top of Little Cumberland Mountain, take trail 12 to its juncture with trail 8.  Take trail 8 down into the watershed for under a mile.  The trail will cross a small rivulet, and then shortly after, Meadow Creek.  Veer right at the

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