First Saturday Members Paddle — March 2025

This is a 6.4-mile section of the Wolf River between the Fayette County cities of Rossville and Piperton, Tennessee. Participants on this trip will be paddling a wide, unchannelized portion of the river. Individuals will experience a natural, un-cluttered class one river with meandering curves and bends. The channel is clearly visible throughout the entire section, and participants rarely become disoriented or venture off course. WRC has intentionally not placed any of the familiar blue and white canoe trail signs, thereby helping to keep this section as natural as possible. Downed trees and strainers are present and can be easily avoided by individuals with minimum paddling skills.

Dress in layers of quick-dry (no cotton) clothing that can be removed or added to as needed. Protect all parts of your body with either clothing or sunscreen. Don’t forget appropriate head coverings. Wear shoes that attach securely to your feet. Additional items to bring include water, snacks, and a lunch.

THIS IS A COLD-WEATHER PADDLE

The water temperature is very cool, and the outside air temperature will most likely be even cooler. We ask that a beginner paddler save their initial adventure with us until the coming Spring when the conditions would be more favorable. Paddlers on this event should bring a full change of clothing in a dry bag. Head covering, gloves and wool socks are valuable assets. If you have any doubts about whether you are experienced enough to paddle this section, please check with Jim Gafford, WRC Activity Coordinator Extraordinaire, prior to registering. Jim can be reached via email (jim.gafford@wolfriver.org) or 901-573-2353 (cell/text) and will be glad to discuss the trip with you.

Our River Guides will share the trip leader's responsibilities on this paddle. They are a great bunch of volunteers and will ensure you have both a safe and enjoyable adventure. If you have questions about the trip, please contact Jim Gafford (info above).

Please register early for the event to assist with planning. Registration will close at noon on Thursday, February 27. If you want to learn more about the Wolf River, please review the paddling section of our website (www.wolfriver.org/explore/paddling).

For Those Renting Boats: Mike Dawkins is our recommended outfitter for this trip. If you need to rent equipment, contact Mike at dawkinsjm01@gmail.com (email) or cell/text at (901) 485-2531. Please contact Mike as soon as you complete your event registration to discuss equipment rental options and other trip arrangements.

For Those Bringing boats: You will meet our Guides at the river access ramp on the east side of Highway 194, just north of the City of Rossville, TN. Please arrive around 8:00 AM to unload your gear and participate in the front-end vehicle shuttles. The last shuttle will leave at 8:30. We will also run a shuttle at the end of the trip as needed.

Parking Disclaimer: Both the access and takeout parking areas are relatively safe but are unmonitored. You should be able to leave your vehicle in either of these parking areas. Remember to take precautions to secure or hide any valuables that you may leave in your vehicle. Please note that the Wolf River Conservancy is not responsible for loss of or damage to private property.

SAFETY and PFD requirement: Participants in Wolf River Conservancy on-river programs will be required to wear a US Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while on the river. Children must wear child-size approved PFDs. If you rent a craft, the outfitter will provide you with an approved PFD as part of the rental package. There are no exceptions to the PFD requirements. Please note that they must also be properly worn and securely fastened at all times. Please do not use the “belt type” units that are popular with the SUP community. These are single-discharge units and cannot easily be reloaded once deployed.

Although the Wolf River is rated as a class one river (little whitewater), conditions can rapidly change. It is imperative that boaters realistically evaluate their experience and abilities related to the section being paddled before launching into the water. Any concerns can be addressed with our river guides. Any decisions and recommendations will always favor the most cautious and safest solution.

Google Map Links:

Put-In Point: William B. Clark State Natural Area

Take-Out Point: Boat Access - Piperton, TN