Clinch River in Tennessee

by  guest-paddler

A self-supported trip created by guest-paddler

Trip Overview

My husband & I went with another couple. We put in at Kyles Ford and paddled down to the fisherman's park on Hwy 31. This is a distance of about 16 miles. The water is quiet and fairly shallow in most places with several areas of rocky shoals. There were a few sand bars also. We saw a pretty little waterfall about half way through the trip. It wanders through farmland and there was only one bridge almost at the end of the trip. There are several places to put in for brief stops along the river. There are lots of large mussel shells along the small sandy beaches--these are very rare and are protected, so don't pick them up! We saw lots of water birds along the way. There were no other boaters out there that day so we had the river to ourselves. From the bridge onward, it is flat water. This river runs wild in the spring after heavy rains and would be dangerous then. Walleye and small mouth bass can be caught in the spring and fall.

Accommodations:

Rogersville has a Holiday Inn Express and Sandman Motor Lodge.

Directions:

From Rogersville, TN, take Hwy 70N off 11W to Kyles Ford. Turn right immediately across the bridge and take first gravel on right. Park one vehicle there and leave another at the fisherman's park below the bridge at Sneedville on Hwy 31.

Trip Details

  • Sport/Activity: Kayaking, Canoeing
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Water Type: River/Creek (Up to Class II)

Trip Location