|
Fall Creek
“Expedition paddling made easy”
Class III.3
Fall Creek is a distraction type run that can be an alternative put-in / side track for getting to White’s Creek. The put-in is easy to find. Look on your Tennessee Gazetteer on Page 41 for Ozone Falls, after that its gravy, because you can’t miss it. The falls are marked on the map. They made it easy.
Shuttle:
Your takeout will be the same takeout for White’s Creek on Hwy 27 , from the there go up the road heading towards Rockwood,(from Spring City) then turn left onto Hwy 70, the junkyard will be your landmark. Then drive up the mountain, once on the mountain in the community of Ozone you will see a turn off on the left with a big brown sign marking the huge waterfall. The state has established this as part of the Cumberland Mountain state park. Parking is very limited. Limit your cars and try to only take one.
History:
Fall Creek is a small tributary of White's Creek outside Spring City, Tennessee. It was first run by the old Harriman Dagger gang,.
Put-in:
Here is some local knowledge just for you…okay imagine you are looking at the waterfall, with Hwy 70 at your back. Over to your right, you will see a block wall. Once you find the wall I’m talking about. Follow the wall; it will lead you to a path that takes you below the falls. You will need ropes (note to self repelling is forbidden at the falls) to lower yourself and your gear down. It’s not epic but play it safe here being in the state park system it gets a lot of attention.
The Run:
For the most part the gradient is chewed up at the falls, and the remainder is easy Class III in nature. I always thought this was an excellent training ground for someone wanting to become an expedition boater. The run forces you to think outside the box. The run doesn’t have an easy Ocoee put-in. The gorge is deep, and if you are hurt it can be a tough rescue. But the run compared to other Walden’s Ridge runs it’s benign. If the paddler liked this setting, he would want to progress to harder more demanding runs, and he would already have practiced some of the skills sets needed. Rope work, thinking about a first aid kit and taking a breakdown paddle etc. Due to the falls being so tall with gradient, it doesn’t flush strainers in the beginning of the section, but for the most part after that I have found it pretty good with no having strainers, and not being a strainer portage fest. Due to the steepness of the gorge it’s very pretty, the only draw back that I can remember is that due to the easy access of the locals, trash is an issue at the bottom of the falls and for rest of the run in the eddies.
I hope you get to enjoy this run though, it’s remote, the scenery is pristine due to the state park owning most of the upper section, and put-in keeps the crowds away. Get in there and enjoy it!
I do need to mention now that Desoto Falls has been run in Alabama I do think Ozone Falls will go
|
