East Fork, White River in Indiana

by  guest-paddler

A self-supported trip created by guest-paddler

Trip Overview

We entered the East Fork of the White River below Williams Dam -- the fog was still pretty thick and made for a beautiful start. The river was pretty low as we'd not had much rain in a few weeks.

We had 2 boats, an 18ft fiberglas Mohawk and a small 14ft fiberglass boat. We'd packed lunches and plenty of water to drink on the way. We saw a bald eagle and several heron. One hollow tree had a racoon looking out of -- but just like at Disneyworld, he quickly disappeared before I could snap his picture.

There are several nice cabins and homes along this stretch of the river. The 22-mile trip got a bit long -- even with 3-4 stops along the way. The current was so slow that we paddled just about every foot of the way. A cheeseburger and fries at the end of the trip tasted very very good.

Note: immediately below the Shoals public access ramp where US 50 crosses the river is a shallow, light rapids section of the river -- advice is that once you float on past you would be unable to paddle back up stream.

Accommodations:

We have made 2-3 trips on the river with the help of White River outfitters in Shoals -- they are very helpful with shuttle service and boat rentals as well as advice on river conditions and things to watch out for.

Fees:

No fees or permits required -- shuttle service is recommended as returning for the boat trailer is via a very winding road and will add over an hour to your day.

Directions:

Williams Dam can be reached either from Bedford or Shoals -- it is located on US Hwy 450 in southern Indiana.

Trip Details

  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Water Type: River/Creek (Up to Class II)

Trip Location