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.
Harpeth River (HR) begins in Tennessee's Rutherford County, flows through Franklin, and ends when it joins the Cumberland, which flows through Nashville, the state capital. Its 115-mile length is in the Mississippi watershed. It absorbs many other waters on its way from county to county, including West HR, Little HR, and 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.
HR State Park controls over forty miles of the river, and there are nine put-ins within the park boundaries. There are other public access sites as well; go online to find maps and advice on points of entry. The Park also has information on points of historic interest along its stretch of the waterway, like the antebellum plantation house - named 'the Meeting of the Waters' - near the joining of HR and West HR.
Park signs also tell the story of Pattinson's Mill, an iron works that was built near the Narrows, where the banks are close together and the flow of water accelerates. Ironmaster Montgomery Bell had his slaves blast their way through solid rock to build a tunnel that would divert water to his mill. The tunnel, an engineering marvel in its day, is still there although the mill is gone. A prehistoric Native American burial site called Mound Bottom is also near the Narrows.
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.
Go online for more information on this historic and beloved river-system. You'll find many community activists dedicated to preserving and improving HR for those who use it for recreation. Wildlife lives in and around HR, including waterfowl, fish, beaver, otters, and freshwater mussels and crustaceans.
Harpeth River (HR) begins in Tennessee's Rutherford County, flows through Franklin, and ends when it joins the Cumberland, which flows through Nashville, the state capital. Its 115-mile length is in the Mississippi watershed. It absorbs many other waters on its way from county to county, including West HR, Little HR, and 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.
HR State Park controls over forty miles of the river, and there are nine put-ins within the park boundaries. There are other public access sites as well; go online to find maps and advice on points of entry. The Park also has information on points of historic interest along its stretch of the waterway, like the antebellum plantation house - named 'the Meeting of the Waters' - near the joining of HR and West HR.
Park signs also tell the story of Pattinson's Mill, an iron works that was built near the Narrows, where the banks are close together and the flow of water accelerates. Ironmaster Montgomery Bell had his slaves blast their way through solid rock to build a tunnel that would divert water to his mill. The tunnel, an engineering marvel in its day, is still there although the mill is gone. A prehistoric Native American burial site called Mound Bottom is also near the Narrows.
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.
Go online for more information on this historic and beloved river-system. You'll find many community activists dedicated to preserving and improving HR for those who use it for recreation. Wildlife lives in and around HR, including waterfowl, fish, beaver, otters, and freshwater mussels and crustaceans.
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