The French Broad River Paddle Pointers Be a Good
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BE A GOOD STEWARD PADDLE POINTERS The French Broad River is known for its clean water and Follow these 12 tips to help keep your next paddle trip safe: pristine rural shorelines. Here’s how you can play a part in keeping the river beautiful: Know Your Limits—Paddle water that is appropriate to your skills. Not sure about • Stay on the path. Shorelines are fragile ecosystems; where to find it? Talk to a local paddle shop owner about good places to paddle please restrict launching and landing to designated for every skill level. areas only. Keep an Eye on the Weather—Storms can spring up quickly in the south bringing • Leave no trace behind. No littering—whatever you lightning, high winds and choppy water. Point your bow toward shore whenever ON THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER pack in, pack out. you hear thunder, no matter how distant. • Look, don’t touch. Do not disturb any natural or cultural Whether you are stepping into your boat resources you may encounter. or board for the first time or have logged Follow the Law for recreational vessels of the United States. • Respect private property. Do not trespass above the high water mark. enough hours on the water to rival • Be a happy camper. Camp only in designated areas. Bring Flotation—Always wear a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket, type the guides in the Valley, having a little • Don’t play with fire. No campfires unless otherwise stated. two or three at minimum. Children under 12 years of age must back-pocket information is key. Here is wear a lifejacket.* some simple information about some of the Tennessee River Valley’s best Wear a Helmet—If you fall in, a helmet can protect paddles–where to show up, how to get TVA’S DAMS your head from hard or sharp objects that may be there and what to bring along for the ride. The French Broad River lurking below the surface. is a major tributary to the Watch for River Hazards—Watch for fallen tree One of the most amazing things about the Tennessee River, and the limbs, barbed wire, bridge piers and other Tennessee River system and its tributaries is river system drains a large hazards that can snare or entangle you. how easy it is for you to get to places to relax and area of over 4,000 square play. As part of our mission of service, TVA manages its miles including some of the Be Visible...and Audible—Keep alert to public lands and waters to support recreation so that the steepest and highest terrain other boats. If you believe another boat Tennessee Valley remains one of the best places in the in the eastern United States. has not seen you, blow your whistle* and country to live, work and play. Flows from the French wave your paddle to alert the other boat. Broad help support water A flashlight* is required quality immediately below the if you plan to paddle THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER dam but also for hundreds after sunset. The French Broad River is the third oldest river in the world and is a part of the of miles along the main- Dress for Success—Wear clothing sufficient to Tennessee River Valley system. With its headwaters in North Carolina, the river is stem Tennessee River. The prevent hypothermia and/or sunburn. 228 miles long in its entirety, including 102 miles within the state of Tennessee. It Tennessee Valley Authority provides flood control, joins the Holston River in Knox County above Knoxville, where it then becomes Wear Sunscreen—The CDC recommends applying hydroelectric power and the Tennessee River. a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 to help prevent other benefits by managing sunburn and skin damage. On this East Tennessee portion of the river, you’ll enjoy the easy-going, scenic the flow of the French Broad beauty as you travel through pastoral countryside and bluff-lined shores. Paddling River through the operation of Don’t Paddle Alone—Paddling is an activity that is and fishing are very popular activities, and there are opportunities for hiking Douglas Dam. always better with friends and family, anyway. in Seven Islands State Park, Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area and Trotter Bluff Small Wild Area, which were set aside by TVA to preserve its unique When paddling near a dam, Never Drink and Paddle—Alcohol impairs coordination and judgment. please know: Water release environment for amphibians and wildflowers. Communicate Your Plan in Advance—Plan ahead, and let someone who’s not There are currently five access points along the French Broad from Douglas Dam schedules can change without going to be aboard know your paddling agenda. Be aware that some sections of to the head of the Tennessee River, but expect more to come as conservation notice due to unanticipated the river may have no cell phone service. efforts and community momentum are securing more resources for the public to changes in weather conditions *U.S. Coast Guard Requirement enjoy. Assuming a 3 mile/hour average speed, you could enjoy short stretches of and power system requirements. the river in an afternoon. There are campgrounds along the French Broad River, The depth and swiftness of the river including Douglas Dam Headwater and Douglas Dam Tailwater campgrounds. can change rapidly. Your safety PARTNERS: depends on obeying all posted safety regulations and warnings. Information about the generation TVA PUBLIC LANDS releases from Douglas Dam can The public lands entrusted to TVA for stewardship are available for hiking, be found on TVA’s Lake Info app birdwatching, camping, fishing, hunting and other informal recreational pursuits. or TVA’s website at www.tva.com/ You just need to remember that camping is allowed for up to 14 days, and that you Environment/Lake-Levels/Douglas. need to follow state hunting seasons and regulations. Also, motorized vehicles, Or you can call (800) 238-2264 cutting or removing vegetation or removal of cultural artifacts are not allowed on (toll-free) and select option 4 for TVA public lands. For more information visit www.tva.com/publiclandrules, or call predicted unit schedules and 07 for the TVA’s Public Lands Information Center at (800) TVA-LAND (toll-free). Douglas information by phone. tva.com | facebook.com/TVA | @TVAnews | @TVA 18 -1773 0 618 FRENCH BROAD RIVER Cl ift Rd River Distance Name Parking Next Access Mile (Miles) Anchor Down RV Resort 33.30 Paved (fee) Above Douglas Dam N/A 331 Douglas Dam Campgrounds 32.40 Paved Above Douglas Dam N/A Mountain Cove Marina 32.40 Paved (fee) Above Douglas Dam N/A Douglas Tailwaters 31.60 Paved Highway 66 3.30 640 11W Highway 66 28.3L Paved Seven Island Wildlife Refuge 10.50 11E Ashville Hwy Seven Island Wildlife Refuge 17.8R Gravel Mutton Hollow25W Landing 2.20 11E 25W Mutton Hollow Landing 15.6L Gravel Cruze Landing 3.35 Cruze Landing 12.25R Gravel Island River Drive 9.45 Island River Drive 2.80R Paved Ijams Nature Center 3.60 Ijams Nature Center 651.4L Parking @ Ijams Island Home Airport 1.20 441 40 Island Home Airport 650.2L Parking McWherter Landing Park 1.5 139 Creek McWherter Landing Park 648.7R Paved Suttree Landing Park lin 0.30 mp Knoxville e Du ik Suttree Landing Park 648.4L Paved Volunteer Landing Marina 0.50 P M s i Volunteer Landing Marina 647.90 Paved Neyland Drive Ramp 1.5 ain d s Creek d Pl w 11 R ry e m s r ik l e a Neyland Drive Ramp 646.40 Paved N/A 0.0 a l b P i w e y lli ra i H t v S ro R W Data Source: Knoxville Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (https://knoxmpc.org/) n g n d Volunteer Landing Marina o or t Th s 275 l Holston River Park Anchor Down RV Resort Suttree Landing Park o Smit r H (Boyd Island) h Scho Douglas Dam Campgrounds D o rside Maples Rd l d Rive R Rd 158 odak McWherter Park 3. K 3 M ile 139 Cruze Landing s 66 62 Pl J nce P Spe E a Island Home Airport S k Marbledale d Douglas m I S Koda k R S w sl K eve e e an e n Tailwaters v y d Hom Av o s e Rd I n ie Ijams Nature Center d ak s Campground 9 L r W la . A 5 n y h l d l 3 v M i s R e . e t d 2 i e K l e e M s k Mountain Cove Marina i i Meade’s l e Seven Island P 1 s 0 Quarry Mutton Hollow Wildlife Refuge .5 e M Rentals Landing iles y Ave m Baker Creek Highway 66 Neyland Drive ood o M H s M s u e Ramp E e il t il d d M Island River Drive R .3 n to 2.2 M 3 a n ow Isl ll Milican Creek 33 Ho ranch B Two Rivers Landing d ry RV Resort R D ts igh Little Pigeon River He n rli be im SEVEN ISLANDS BIRDING PARK TVA DOUGLAS DAM RESERVATION Boat Ramp Trailhead K 338 66 Seven Island ek Alder Branch Canoe Access TVA Public Land Wildlife Refuge re k C e s Douglas re d Tailwater 168 C oy Campground Recreation Areas ap B S G ev e Kelly Ln n I Marina s Douglas l a n Tailwater Neubert 441 d s Campground 0 1 2 3 4 R d Douglas Dam Miles Mutton Hollow Campground Landing DIFFICULTY Based on the International Scale of River Difculty, the French Broad River is primarily d R Class I (moving water with small waves and few obstructions) and Class II (easy rapids with wide, ow oll H ton clear channels and some maneuvering required).