Sheltered "kitchen" on the Duck River
General Description & Characteristics -- Tennessee boasts of many famous rivers. On its western border the immense Mississippi River carries the cargo of commerce on giant barges. In the eastern part of the state, several rivers (most notably the Ocoee) provide world-class whitewater runs. The state's largest river, the Tennessee, was dammed up by the TVA in the 1930's to provide hydro power for much of the area.
Despite all these notable rivers, there are few choices in the Volunteer State for a long canoe camping trip, but the Duck River is a remarkable exception. This medium sized river flows east to west in middle Tennessee through some of the state's least populated counties. The scenic hollows and bluffs along the Duck River are shrouded with an abundant forest of oak, hickory, maple and tulip poplar, to name just a few species. The Duck River flows into the Tennessee River (Kentucky Lake).
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- The Duck is the longest river contained entirely in Tennessee, and it is surely one of the crookedest rivers anywhere. From our starting point in Columbia, it is about 106 miles on the Duck River to the take out just a few miles upriver from where the Duck flows into Kentucky Lake. As the crow flies, it is only about 46 miles! Depending on the flow, this trip could take 5-8 days. The launching point would be a public ramp near Pillow Park on Riverside Drive in Columbia, just below the old Columbia dam. The access point at the take out is a boat ramp on Dyers Road, which appears on some maps as CR 920. At this point, the current of the Duck River is already slowed by the impoundment of Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River.
If you want to do a shorter trip, there is a good interim access points in Centerville (north of downtown on highway 100/48) about 60 miles downstream from Columbia. There is also fair access at some (but not all) of the many bridge crossings, as well as some county parks; inquire locally for access points.
The Duck River upstream from Columbia is popular for canoeing; however several channel dams discourage an extended canoe camping trip. For information about this area, contact one of the outfitters listed below.
According to USGS topo maps, there is a channel dam on the Duck River at Kettle Mills in Maury County; however, this dam was removed some time ago. There are some remnants of the structure, so take care when approaching this area.
Interesting Features -- The Duck River meanders in surprising and radical ways through the hills of middle Tennessee. These hills are heavily wooded throughout this run. The hills become lower as the river works its way westward, but the land never really flattens out. Many bluffs will be seen along the river, and some contain caves that might be interesting to explore. A good topographic map will show the location of these. The gradient is gentle (only about 1.5 per mile for this entire run) indicating few or no rapids, but the current can be swift. In seasons of adequate rainfall, numerous waterfalls cascade into the river. Most of these are small, but a few are quite impressive.
Columbia is a city of about 30,000. Just upstream from Columbia a large dam was constructed in the 1970's, but due to environmental and financial issues, the dam was never put into operation, and the river flows freely through what was planned as a large reservoir.
The town of Centerville (pop. 2800) sits on a bend of the Duck River, surrounded on three sides by the river. Centerville is the seat of Hickman County. Centerville was the home of the late Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, better known to most of the world as Minnie Pearl. This small town retains the ambiance of mid-20th century America and can be easily visited from the river.
This section of the Duck River has not been commercially developed for canoeing, so you are unlikely to encounter much recreational traffic, except local fishermen. You will have to arrange your own shuttle and check carefully to ensure access.
The Natchez Trace Parkway crosses the Duck River near the village of Duck River. This scenic and historic auto route is a worthwhile trip before or after your river trip.
The Duck River depends on rainfall in the region for its flow, so it can run low during extended dry periods. Usually, winter and spring are the high water season, with summer and fall being lower water periods. Even in the low water seasons, there is usually enough water for canoeing, but be sure to study the USGS information available from the USGS gauges (listed below).
Camping -- Since this section of the Duck River is not heavily used for recreational canoeing, camping will likely be at primitive sites along the river. There is no public land along the river; however, most of the region is sparsely populated, so remote sites should be easy to find. At low to moderate flow levels, there are many gravel or rock bars along the Duck River. We are told that land ownership here is considered to extend to the low water line, so take care to respect the rights of private landowners by seeking permission.
Additional Information:
| Canoeing Information | |
| Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service | All these are located upriver from Columbia, upstream from
the run described here, but they offer local trips and may be able to assist with other
trip planning.
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| River Flow Data |
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| Parks on/near the River | Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. |
| Towns/Other Locales on/near the River | |
| Books | Canoeing in Tennessee: Scenic Canoe Trips for Paddlers of All Ages and Abilities -- While this book does not have much detail on the Duck River trip we described here, it is of general interest to those looking for canoeing streams in Tennessee. |
| More Pictures | . |
| Environmental Issues/Organizations | Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association |
| Acknowledgments/Contributors | . |
| Miscellaneous |
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