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Free
Camping:
Scroll
below to see other Tennessee paddler friendly camping spots.
North Side
of Waldens
Ridge:
2 different
spots see below:
Camping can be had
at the Bowater Newby Branch primitive campground on top of Spring City mountain near Duskin Creek. The campground is the same location for the
Duskin Creek put-in area, and is close to the
Stinging Fork hiking trail. It's easy to find, instead of going straight heading to the Duskin Creek put-in. When you turned left off of Shut-in gap road ,past the Stinging Fork trail head, Outside
Spring City, about a 1/4 mile you will come to a "Y" in the road, take a right and it will take you to the campground.
The campground has some concrete picnic tables, and a porta-potty that is cleaned on a regular basis. Between the months of Mar-Nov. which is same window of paddling for
the local creeks. I have witnessed no
heavy use at the campground
during these months. The campground is also the trail head for the Newby/Duskin hiking trail. The campsite would make an excellent base camp for paddling
and hiking the surrounding area which is loaded with creeks. If the creeks are too low, go hiking the area trails are superb
and calling your name.
Here is the sign to look for off
of Shut-in-Gap Road, you need to
be on the look-
out the rednecks got it and it
is missing for the moment.
Excuse
the low quality the pictures
they were taken with a cheap
cell phone, also the Walden
Mountain Road sign was taken
from leaving the camping area,
not going towards it.
The
locals got the sign, so a W.R.W
sticker has been placed on it.
It is SMALL so be on the lookout
for it, after the Stinging Fork
Trailhead.
Landmark to know: if you don't see the sign abov
Look for this sign on Shut-in-Gap road when leaving the
Piney Take-out,
turn here to go to
Duskin Creek or keep driving to
Bear Pen
Branch or to
Moccasin Creek
Photo provided by Chris King
Then turn right when you see
this sign.
The
sign has been removed by the
locals, if you look closely on
the telephone pole a
W.R.W.W. sticker has been placed on
it.
This is
the same turn , just taken
further away with the camera. I
will leave these pictures up.
The state is going to replace
the sign. But this will help for
the next time they remove it.
The state is going through
some growing pains and is
getting on its feet to manage
this new state resource. . The
Cumberland Trail will be long
hike once completed.
Here is what we can do to
help!
From an email from the state
park ranger who is friendly and
more than helpful and
knowledgeable....also thanks to
his help we can camp here.
"The sign basically
indicates that you can register
to camp here online at
www.cumberlandtrail.org/piney.html
, or you can register by phone
at 423-566-2229. During regular
business hours, our clerk will
register you and distribute your
info to the ranger staff. After
business hours, you will need to
leave a voice mail with all your
pertinent information, including
number of people, vehicle plates
and descriptions, dates camping,
name and contact info, emergency
contact, etc. All of this is
outlined on the outgoing message
on the voice mail system. Also,
there is a 14 day stay limit,
but I doubt kayakers would be
setting up for that long anyway.
Of course, all other state park
rules are in effect, which
include no alcohol, drugs, or
firearms; pets must always be on
a leash, no hunting, and of
course the big all encompassing
"all features protected."
So with that
said, please register, it helps
us out by letting them know that
is a resource we need and
use...pretty simple huh :) One
other note please take trash
bags and haul in what you bring,
and even take an extra one to
haul out something someone might
have left by accident.
Here is a picture of
the sign...stating the generic
park rules...please abide by
them.
To register by phone for
camping at this camping area
call:
423-566-2229
Now the
sad part...we will all be glad
when the state starts to
maintain the campground, there
use to be standing picnic
tables, a hand pump well and
open pit toilets and maintained
roads...it had the feel of
National Park setting in the
early 80's
This is
a shot of the one the last
remaining soldiers from the war
of the rednecks
Here
is a soldier that didn't make it
As
of this winter of 2009 the porta-toilet
has been repaired
South Side of
the Ridge:
Camping can be had at Prentice
Cooper state park outside of
Chattanooga.
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There are some
official camp
grounds at the
Prentice Cooper
State Park and
they are the
Suck Creek
Checking Station
and the Davis
Pond Camp sites.
Paddlers have
been welcomed to
camp in those
camp sites for a
couple of years
now. Both sites
usually have
port-a-potty
facility located
at each site,
plus a hand pump
for drinking
water. Paddlers
can camp along
with the hunters
at the Suck
Creek Checking
Station Camp
Site even during
the managed
hunts provided
there are spaces
available. These
camp sites might
provide for
better security
of items left
unattended in
camp. |
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To know more about the Prentice
Cooper camping
CLICK HERE
Click
on the map to find the location.
Here is some more
information on a camping at
Prentice Cooper
From:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008
1:16 AM
To: xxxxxxxxx@waldensridgewhitewater.com
Subject: Re: Camping at Prentice
Cooper
Yes, camping is free at both
places. The same is true on the
Cumberland Trail backpack trails
or also on either the Pot
Point or Mullins Cove loop
trails.
If you plan or need to come in
and out after dark, you will be
required to camp at the Checking
Station. We have an automatic
gate that closes at sunset and
opens again at sunrise; thus you
couldn't get back to the Davis
Pond camp site. Also, if you
plan on camping during the deer
or turkey hunts, you will be
allowed to camp only at the
Checking Station and no other
place on the area.
If you camp at Davis Pond, you
may not leave the camp site at
night. Camper there are
expected to stay in the camp
ground and not roam around on
the area at night as the entire
area is closed for night use
except during Raccoon and
Opossum season by licensed
hunters actually engaged in
hunting.
Judging by your email address,
you may be into kayaking. In
that case, you may be interested
to know that primitive camping
is permitted along the river
except during the deer and
turkey hunts. No permit is
required there.
Lastly, there is a special camp
ground that is set up especially
for kayakers along a "blue way"
there on the TN River. I
believe that a free permit is
required to camp there. Check
with the Division of Forestry
guys at the Fire Tower regarding
that permit as I'm not even
sure who enforces or looks after
it. About the only thing this
camp site has going for it over
any other place along the river
is that it does have an
latrine.
Mike
Sequatchie Valley Area
There is free paddling
friendly camping at the Big
Brush Put-in in the winter.
Click here
and follow our homemade map
to the put -in
Camp at the Put-in.
Obed Emory Area
This isn't free but it is
VERY paddler friendly
Here is Erik's hostel and is
his contact info is on Facebook.
Here is his link
Click Here for Erik's hostel and
camping
***Warning label***
Whitewater
paddling is VERY Dangerous, and you should get
instruction before ever attempting even to paddle
flatwater. One of contributors to this web site
has personally helped bury 3 kayaking friends, this
isn't a joke. Whitewater paddling can ruin your
life through accidents and can effect your family
and friends throughout a lifetime.
The
information on this page is incomplete,
inaccurate, and very unreliable. Use
with caution. Whitewater paddling is a
dangerous sport and the information here is not a
substitute for actual knowledge and skill.
The authors are not liable for your actions. Go
ahead and kill yourself if you want to, but don't
blame others for you actions and decisions that you
will make on and off the river.
***Warning
label***
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