Hiwassee River in Tennessee

Trip Overview

Paddled from Hennegar Bluff to the mouth Chestuee Creek.(approx. 7 mi.)I had a difficult time finding a place to launch. The road is about 20 ft. above the river and the bank is about 7ft vertical to the water. Saw a small branch a little ways upriver. It was a perfect place to get my canoe into the river. Finally got boat into river and was off. Paddled upriver. Water was a little choppy from stiff breeze, slight current. The air was very smoky from our local brush fires. The closest one was about 2 miles north. The State had backfired it earlier in the day and it was putting up a huge smoke plume. As I paddled under the main part of the smoke, ash was falling like a light snow. My son, Josh was on that fire until about 4:30am. He is a firefighter with the Tenn, Dept. of Forestry.

After I got through that section, I came to a series of high bluffs. Paddled close to each and admired the backbone of the earth. Just above the bluffs there are two Islands, (Coon Denton Island and Workman Island). The current picks up around the Islands and you really have to work for about 45 min. Above the Islands you come to Pinhook Subdivision on the north shore and Boyd's Bottom on the South shore. The bottoms are a very beautiful place. Long flat bottoms With the Mountains standing high in the distance. Turned around at the mouth of Chestuee Creek, and returned back down the river. Total mileage about 14 miles, time was nearly 6 hrs.

This is a pretty part of the Hiwassee but I will warn you that there are a lot of houses down on this section and several for sale signs here and there as well. (Yuk) But there is a lot of paddling with nothing in sight except you and the river.

Directions:

Drive west out of Benton TN. towards Benton Station. Cross Ocoee River then go under RR underpass. Just as you go under the Underpass, turn right. You are on River road heading west toward Charleston TN. Stay on this road till the road comes to the river at the bluffs. This is where my trip started.