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Sawmill Creek
Waldens Ridge
Water Quality (1 bad 3 good)
Scenery (1 bad 3 good) 
Maps:
Watershed Map (to find
location and size of creek)
Click Here Special thanks to Steve Zerefos for
making the map. Topo Map:
Click Here A special thanks to Randy Hale of NorthRiverGeographic
for the map
Class III.0
Length 5+/- miles
Description: Small
run, usually dry with potential for strainers
Sawmill Creek, I discovered this
about 10 years ago when I owned property up near the
Hang Gliders area; off of Window Rock road on Flattop
Mountain. It was discovered while around hiking in the
woods back then it was a couple of forks, that came
together to make the creek. Well those branches are now
underwater and form a lake. And just like
Dunlap Creek, the dam
takes a lot of juice out of this diminutive run that is
the headwaters for the Big
Soddy Drainage. I never paddled Sawmill, it was
pretty once you got away from Henson Gap road. It's big
enough to paddle. I just never paddled it
due to it having a real lack of steep whitewater.
I was jaded then. Today it might be a nice run for
someone not wanting hair, and needing a place to go when
all the other creeks in the area are blown out.
The Put-in
The Put-in is on Henson Gap Road.
To get there drive on HWY 111 , leaving Soddy-Daisy
Tenn, heading towards Dunlap. Get off on the Lewis
Chapel exit, take a left, go over HWY 111, then you will
come to a fork in the road. Lewis Chapel ends and from
there it turns into Henson Gap Road. Here you will see
the Henson Gap Fire Hall. Park here. Henson Gap then
heads down a ¼ mile and crosses Sawmill Creek. This is
your put-in.
The Take-out
The take-out is on Grant Road off
Henson Gap Road. On the LEFT coming from the put-in. NOT
THE RIGHT (that takes you to the Cain Creek-Cooper Creek
put-in) Ask for permission to park .
See page 24 of your Gazetteer
Here is a picture of the dammed headwaters
Here is a shot of the headwater's creek bed, it's
actually bigger than the
McGill Creek put-in.
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