Retrace History When You Kayak Harpeth River
Saturday, September 6, 2014
By Kerri Stout
The waterways of America play an important part in the history of the nation, so it's not surprising that going down rivers brings you close to many important sites. Kayak Harpeth River in Tennessee and you'll find a history lesson as well as a pleasant day on a scenic stream. Although some prefer whitewater adventure, many more choose the lesser challenge of rivers just like this one.
The Harpeth River, hereafter called HR for brevity, is 115 miles long and is a tributary of the Cumberland. This makes it part of the Mississippi watershed. It starts in north-central Tennessee in Rutherford county, flows through the city of Franklin, and picks up several streams along the way. It's joined by the West HR, the Little HR, and the South HR.
The class II waterway has areas of pretty fast flow and other stretches that are wide and placid. The hazards that can make canoeing and kayaking dangerous are mild on the HR. It's just challenging enough to be educational for those who want to improve their skills at handling boats in swiftly moving waters with holes, rocks, and rapids.
There are many public access points on the HR, including 9 in the HR State Park, which follows HR for 40 miles. The Park includes several spots of great historic interest, such as an antebellum plantation house near the confluence of HR and West HR, called 'the Meeting of the Waters'.
Another is an engineering marvel in its time, a 200-yard-long tunnel through solid rock that was built by slave labor. A local ironmaster needed water to power his mill and diverted part of the HR through his amazing tunnel. The mill is near the part of HR known as the Narrows, where the banks run close together and the water flows rapidly. There is a prehistoric Native American burial site called Mound Bottom in this area, too.
Another part of history was the Natchez trace, a famous frontier trade route. This rough road through forest and swamp was used by farmers to take grain, produce, and livestock to eastern markets. Its hazards were many, including wild animals, bandits, and horrific mud during the rainy seasons. A pair of outlaw brothers, the Harps, are sometimes linked to the name Harpeth, but maps recorded this name in the region long before the brothers terrorized the Trace. It may be derived from the Native American language.
The whole length of HR is open to canoeists and kayaking, but the lower river is where visitors can rent boats and other gear for a day on the water. With an official 'scenic' designation, HR is well worth exploring for anyone who likes paddling, scenery, and local color. Go online to find maps and put-ins guides, historical notes, and descriptions of HR posted by those who've made the trip.
HR is one of our nation's beloved natural resources. There are community organizations dedicated to preserving and improving it for people, freshwater mussels, beaver, otter, fish, crustaceans, and other wildlife. Go online for more information on the River, rental outfitters, points of entry, or other attractions in beautiful Tennessee.
The Harpeth River, hereafter called HR for brevity, is 115 miles long and is a tributary of the Cumberland. This makes it part of the Mississippi watershed. It starts in north-central Tennessee in Rutherford county, flows through the city of Franklin, and picks up several streams along the way. It's joined by the West HR, the Little HR, and the South HR.
The class II waterway has areas of pretty fast flow and other stretches that are wide and placid. The hazards that can make canoeing and kayaking dangerous are mild on the HR. It's just challenging enough to be educational for those who want to improve their skills at handling boats in swiftly moving waters with holes, rocks, and rapids.
There are many public access points on the HR, including 9 in the HR State Park, which follows HR for 40 miles. The Park includes several spots of great historic interest, such as an antebellum plantation house near the confluence of HR and West HR, called 'the Meeting of the Waters'.
Another is an engineering marvel in its time, a 200-yard-long tunnel through solid rock that was built by slave labor. A local ironmaster needed water to power his mill and diverted part of the HR through his amazing tunnel. The mill is near the part of HR known as the Narrows, where the banks run close together and the water flows rapidly. There is a prehistoric Native American burial site called Mound Bottom in this area, too.
Another part of history was the Natchez trace, a famous frontier trade route. This rough road through forest and swamp was used by farmers to take grain, produce, and livestock to eastern markets. Its hazards were many, including wild animals, bandits, and horrific mud during the rainy seasons. A pair of outlaw brothers, the Harps, are sometimes linked to the name Harpeth, but maps recorded this name in the region long before the brothers terrorized the Trace. It may be derived from the Native American language.
The whole length of HR is open to canoeists and kayaking, but the lower river is where visitors can rent boats and other gear for a day on the water. With an official 'scenic' designation, HR is well worth exploring for anyone who likes paddling, scenery, and local color. Go online to find maps and put-ins guides, historical notes, and descriptions of HR posted by those who've made the trip.
HR is one of our nation's beloved natural resources. There are community organizations dedicated to preserving and improving it for people, freshwater mussels, beaver, otter, fish, crustaceans, and other wildlife. Go online for more information on the River, rental outfitters, points of entry, or other attractions in beautiful Tennessee.
Posted byBertie at 4:55 PM
0 comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)