First Saturday Paddle - Walnut Grove Road to Kennedy Park

First Saturday Wolf River Paddle

Walnut Grove Road (map link) to Kennedy Park (map link)

Saturday, January 4, 2025 — 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

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This program is free to Wolf River Conservancy members.  Non-members will be charged a paddle fee of $25.00 per person, which can be paid on registering.  Please register online by noon on Thursday, January 2.

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This 7-mile section of the river will be the initial encounter of the Urban Wolf for many members and river guides alike.  The section is channelized its entire length so should be a quick paddle. We will be passing under roadway bridges at Walnut Grove, I-40, Summer Avenue and Covington Pike so it is entirely possible that we will encounter both organic (trees, branches) and construction debris in these areas. A portage is not expected but is always possible.

THIS IS A COLD WEATHER PADDLE

The air and water temperatures will most likely be cold and possibly wet, so we ask that only paddlers with foul weather paddle experience register for this trip. Dress in layers of quick dry (no cotton) clothing and bring a change of clothing in a dry bag. If you have any doubts about whether you are experienced enough to paddle this section, please check with Jim Gafford, WRC Director of Outreach, 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.

Please plan to make this an all morning and afternoon event. The paddle and shuttle should be completed by 15:00 so everyone is invited for a late lunch (usually Mexican) afterwards. Be sure and bring snacks and water on the paddle.

Our River Guides will share the trip leader 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 (jg54513@yahoo.com or cell/text 901-573-2353) o

For planning purposes, we recommend you register early for the trip. Persons wishing to paddle on this adventure must registration no later then 12:00 (noon), on Thursday, January 4, 2023.

For Those Renting Boats:  Our recommended outfitter for this trip is Mike Dawkins. 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 9:30 am on the banks of the Wolf River just west of Germantown Road and inside Shelby Farms Park.  Please be prepared for an extended shuttle time after the trip.

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. 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 PFD’s. If you are renting 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.