First Saturday Paddle - July 2023
First Saturday Wolf River Paddle
Rossville, TN to Piperton, TN
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Launch time: 09:00 End Time: 16:00 (approx.)
This program is free to Conservancy members. Non-members will be charged a paddle fee of $25.00, which may be paid upon registering. Please register online by Noon on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
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 uncluttered 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.
Air and water temperatures are expected to be hot and humid. Paddlers should wear quick dry clothing (no cotton, please) and come prepared to enjoy the coolness of the river water. Bring snacks, bug spray, and sunscreen for everyone, and ensure you have plenty of water for each person on the trip. A full liter per person would not be too much for this time of year. Be sure to protect every portion of your head and body from the hot Memphis afternoon sun during the entire trip. Minor children must be accompanied by a Parent(s) or legal guardian.
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) or Jeff Sojourner at rjsojourner@gmail.com or call/text at (901) 573-6307. Both will be happy to discuss the particulars of the trip with you.
To assist with planning, please register early for the event no later than Thursday, June 29, at noon. If this is your first trip or if you want to learn more about the Wolf River, please read the following documents under the paddling section of our website (www.wolfriver.org/paddling): “River Descriptions,” “Wolf River Access Map” and “Safety Information.”
For Those Renting Boats: Mike Dawkins is our recommended outfitter for this trip. If you need to rent equipment, contact Mike at mikedawk@comcast.net (email) or cell/text at (901) 485-2531. Please get in touch with 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 and 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. 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 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 worn properly and securely fastened at all times. Please do not use the “belt type” units 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.
The Conservancy highly recommends registered paddlers read the online “River Section Description,” “Wolf River Access Map,” and “Safety Information” under the “Paddling the Wolf River” tab at www.wolfriver.org.
Google Maps Keyword (Input) William B Clark State Natural Area
Google Maps Keyword (Take-out) Boat Access – Piperton, TN
