Paddling the Clinch River

With river access points scattered along its entire length, the Clinch River offers hour long to full day excursions. The northeastern (upstream) portion of the river has a few small ledges and rapids, but below Dungannon floating is gentle and simple enough for beginners. Towering cliffs, floodplain wildlife, and fishing and swimming opportunities abound as you float between forest and farmland on a river which has been named by The Nature Conservancy as the number one river worth protecting in the United States.

The Clinch is home to an astonishing diversity of plants and animals, in large part because it is undammed in Virginia. The river contains about 50 species of mussels --- more than can be found in any other river in the world --- as well as over 100 species of fish. Huge salamanders up to two and a half feet long can be seen crawling across the river bottom. Despite their name ("hellbender") these salamanders are harmless and are a sign of good water quality.

History buffs will be intrigued by the rich human history as well. Daniel Boone lived for several years on the banks of the Clinch in Russell County and used the river to travel through southwest Virginia. Later, the mussels in the Clinch were harvested as a source of freshwater pearls (primarily downstream in Tennessee), with the meat of the mussel being used for bait and hog feed.

Be sure to check water levels before embarking on a trip down the Clinch since drought conditions can make passage of some stretches difficult. Then grab a paddle and explore one of the eight trips listed below, or string several together for a multi-day floating adventure!


Eight float trips
(See directions to access points below.)

Burton's Ford to Miller's Yard

Distance: 7.1 miles
Time: allow about a day
Difficulty: medium
Highlights: scenery, wildlife, fishing, small rapids
Gradient: 11.5 ft/mile

This stretch of the Clinch may be too difficult for raw beginners, but everyone else is bound to enjoy the scenery and small rapids. The Clinch winds between picturesque cliffs and over a few ledges and small falls which may require you to portage in dry weather. Deer drink from the edge of the river while kingfishers fly overhead. If you enjoy fishing, this is a good stretch of the Clinch to ply your trade, full of smallmouth bass and walleye. Keep your eyes peeled for a swinging bridge --- the takeout is just downstream on your right.

Miller's Yard to Dungannon

Distance: 3.7 miles
Time: allow a morning or afternoon
Difficulty: easy to medium
Highlights: scenery, wildlife, fishing, small rapids
Gradient: 10 ft/mile

The section of river from Miller's Yard to Dungannon is perfect if you only have a half day to spare but want to see the best of the Clinch. Like the section just upstream, this run has a few small ledges and falls which will get your heart pumping, but should be no problem for the paddler with a little experience. Again, dry weather may require portage.

Pockets of farmland can be seen along this portion of the Clinch, as well as a few stunning cliffs scattered amid floodplain forests. Great Blue Herons take flight from the shallows as you disturb their serenity, and you'll want to have your pole handy to catch bass, sunfish, walleye, and sauger. On my last float down this section of the river, I saw a fisherman on the bank pull out a bass nearly as long as my arm, then a smaller fish, all within the span of three minutes. The takeout is just below a highway bridge, on your right.

Dungannon to Rte 659

Distance: about 3 miles
Time: allow a morning or afternoon
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: fishing, lavender farm, easy for beginners
Gradient: 10 ft/mile

This short stretch of flat water is a good place for beginners to dabble in the Clinch without worrying about rapids. Fishing is very productive, with smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, sunfish, and catfish commonly caught. As you float, keep your nose alert for the Scott County Lavender Farm, an aromatic small business located on the bank of the river.

Rte 659 parallels the river for several miles, and there are several potential takeout points on private land along the scenic road. Be sure to secure permission from the property owner before using private land as an access point.

Rte 659 to Ft. Blackmore

Distance: about 8 miles
Time: allow about a day
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: fishing, swimming, easy for beginners
Gradient: 3.1 ft/mile

Here, the Clinch spreads out slow and flat, providing a very gentle float for beginners (although you may be forced to paddle if you don't want to be here all day!) A five mile section is known locally as "the retch" --- this area is almost like a lake, extending 14 feet deep and 5 miles long, perfect for a lazy afternoon of tubing or swimming. Sunfish, catfish, walleye, and musky abound in this and other pools while sriped and white bass can sometimes be found here, having swum upstream from the Norris Reservoir in Tennessee.

The put-in location along Rte 659 is on private land, so the length of the float varies. Be sure to secure permission from the property owner before putting in. The takeout point is just downstream of a highway bridge on your left.

Ft. Blackmore to Hill Station

Distance: 7.9 miles
Time: allow about a day
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: rare mussels, fishing, easy for beginners
Gradient: 1.9 ft/mile

This section of the river will provide a long day of unparalleled beauty for beginning paddlers. The scenery is some of the best along the Clinch, and fishing is also good, with bass, sunfish, walleye, and sauger biting. The water is flat and slow, so allow plenty of time to coast from Ft. Blackmore to Hill Station. The take-out point is on the left side of the river, just before you pass under a highway bridge.

The highlight of this stretch of the Clinch is the Pendleton Island Preserve, located just below Ft. Blackmore. This chain of three islands is owned by The Nature Conservancy, who asks that you enjoy the preserve from your boat rather than getting out and disturbing the sensitive environment. 45 species of mussels are found in the shallow water surrounding these islands --- a greater concentration of species than can be found anywhere else in the world. Eight of the species are federally endangered, and all have evocative names like wartytoe, pigback, and elephant-ear.

Hill Station to Clinchport

Distance: 5.2 miles
Time: allow a day or a long afternoon
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: fishing, easy for beginners
Gradient: 2.0 ft/mile

This section of the river is another lazy float through primarily flat water. Sunfish, catfish, and smallmouth bass are easy to find as you pass between farms and wooded floodplain forest. The takeout is on the right side of the river.

Clinchport to Speer's Ferry

Distance: 2 miles
Time: allow a couple of hours
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: fishing, easy for beginners
Distance: 2 miles
Gradient: 3.2 ft/mile

This is the shortest stretch of the Clinch and is easy for beginners, but the noise from the nearby four lane Rte 23 makes this section unpalatable to many paddlers. Fishing is good, though, with bass, sunfish, walleye, and sauger commonly caught. The takeout is on the left side of the river near a railroad bridge.

Speer's Ferry to State Line

Distance: 9 miles
Time: allow about a day
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: local traditions, fishing, easy for beginners
Gradient: 2.5 ft/mile

After Speer's Ferry, the river veers away from the highway and back into the isolated, scenic beauty for which the Clinch is known. The river continues to be flat and slow, giving the paddler plenty of time to observe a unique phenomenon --- sucker shooting season. From April 15 to May 31, local people climb up into platforms high in sycamore trees overlooking the river. Their goal is to shoot redhorse suckers in the shallow water near the shore. A less perilous option is to use a normal fishing rod to catch the longnose gar, redhorse suckers, and carp in this section of the river. The takeout is on the left side of the river near the Virginia-Tennessee state line.

Access Points

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Burton's Ford

From Dungannon, travel east on Rte 65 for 8 miles, then turn left onto Rte 611. Follow Rte 611 (veering right at one point to remain on Rte 611) until it deadends on the bank of the Clinch River.

Miller's Yard

Follow Rte 72 north out of Dungannon for 2 miles. Turn right on Rte 608 and follow the road for about a mile and a half, under a set of railroad tracks and to the river. The access point is informal --- merely a pull off on the side of the road.

Dungannon

From the junction of Rte 72 and Rte 65 in the center of Dungannon, follow Rte 65 east for about 0.1 miles. You will cross a bridge over a railroad track, but before you cross a bridge over the river, take the first right at a sign for a public boat ramp. Take the first left onto 4th Avenue, and follow the road down to a large parking area by a paved boat ramp.

Rte 659

From the junction of Rte 72 and Rte 65 in the center of Dungannon, follow Rte 65 east for half a mile, then turn right onto Rte 659 (Twin Springs Rd.) Rte 659 parallels the Clinch for six and a half miles, offering several access points on private land. Be sure to secure permission from the property owner before putting in.

Ft. Blackmore

From the junction of Rte 72 and Rte 65 in Ft. Blackmore, take Rte 72 south for about half a mile. Just after you drive across the river on a bridge, turn right toward the river to an informal access point.

Hill Station

From the intersection of Rte 65 and Rte 72 in Ft. Blackmore, travel west for 8.2 miles on Rte 65, a very scenic road which follows the bends of the Clinch River. Turn left onto Rte 645. In 0.2 miles, turn left again onto Rte 729, which will bring you to the access point.

Clinchport

From Duffield, travel south on Rte 23 for 5.5 miles. Turn left onto Rte 65 and travel about a mile until you see a pull off to your right.

Speer's Ferry

From Gate City, travel north on Rte 23 for 8.1 miles. Turn right onto Rte 627 and drive about half a mile to the access point (which is near the railroad bridge.)

State Line

From Gate City, travel north on Rte 23 for 8.1 miles. Turn left onto Rte 627 and drive for 8 miles, nearly to the Virginia-Tennessee state line. The access point is on your right.