CADRON CREEK – A Collection of Reaches
- Middle Fork
- North Fork - Hartwick Mill
- North Fork - Pinnacle Gap
- North Fork -Cove Creek
It took me a while to decide how to organize this 3-day trip report with four AW-defined reaches. I’m going to start with an overview for orientation purposes, and then break into a by-day presentation with the stats for easier trip reference filing.
The trip was conceived in the afterglow of the Buffalo River trip, which we finished off with a run down the lowest segment of Cadron Creek. We enjoyed it so much that Sam and I decided to scout out the nearby Woolly Hollow State Park and the rest of the creek after a good rain. The good rain was predicted and fulfilled, and we were on our way.
The rain was good, the gage was up
Location of Woolly Hollow State Park relative to our paddling (segments separated by red dots)
The overall scope of the trip covered the following green route over three days – segments marked with the red and purple dots:
We did not paddle the segments in river flow order. We did the uppermost segment on Day 1, the last segment on Day 2, and finally the middle two segments on Day 3. The trip organization was in the form of three separate day trips, with Sam and I forming the core and other people coming and going on each of the three days.
DAY 1, Thursday, May 9 started with some interesting hurdles. After checking the State Park website several times during the week preceding our trip and finding the camping wide open, we arrived to find almost all sites booked for the second day we intended to camp. As it happened, the State Park system is under renovation, and the existing website does not reflect the actual status of the bookings. We took the only campsite that had two consecutive days available (which was delightful except for its distance to the restrooms and a short climb to the vehicles) and set up camp.
Then it was off to the Take-Out to meet Calvin. We took a country road that was described by the ranger, which ended up costing us an extra 45 minutes over using the known main roads. Lesson Learned. Sorry Calvin.
When we arrived at the Take-Out, Calvin expressed legitimate concern about the lack of landing zone at the posted river access. The water was high after the rains, and was covering the bottom of the waist-high ramp. We looked at it from several angles and decided it was a NOGO. We could see some good eddies on the opposite bank, with a possible route to the river next to the bridge, and went to scout that possibility. It was good, and we continued with our plan for the day.
The put-in at Hwy 356
Conditions at the put-in were far calmer. It looked like a completely different river. In fact, it was a different river. It was the Middle Fork, which joined the North Fork just above the take-out. This was a beautiful, peaceful, intimate narrow creek. It had some shoals, but even at the higher than normal water levels, this portion of the creek did not evoke much adrenalin.
Calvin next to hidden bluff
Sam coming out of the trees
Small side cascade
During the course of our meanderings, we saw beaver, a hawk, a great blue heron, a great horned owl, ducks turtles and vultures.
This owl watched us for several minutes
We absolutely knew when we intersected the North Fork. It was about a minute of swift water before we came to our improvised take-out.
Day 2, Friday, May 10 dawned chilly at Woolly Hollow. Sam and I ran the shuttle and met Mary at the HWY 65 put-in for the Cove Creek run. This is the run we paddled after the Buffalo River.
Kent, Sam and Mary at the Hwy 65 put-in
There was good flow – even a little pushy with lots of wave trains and riffles.
Mary and Sam paddling around a blufflet
When we came around the curve in the river and saw the Rock of Gibraltar (a house-sized rock in the middles of the river), there was very little time to prepare. Sam sailed around it, I made it, and as we both looked back, we saw Mary climbing it and boofing off the pressure wave. That was pretty exciting.
Sam riding the waves
Mary riding the waves
Mary and same under a cliff face
We saw turtles, cardinals and a great blue heron. There was a committee of vultures hanging around a bluff face. We think it might have been the site of a nest from the way they kept moving back and forth.
Vultures dancing and flying around their rock
We found a sand spit and had a nice lunch break at about mile 8.
Lunchtime
We were off the water at 2:00. We met at the Wagon Wheel restaurant and had a good meal, said goodbye to Mary and went to camp.
Kent, Duane and Sam ready to go
Day 3, Saturday, May 11 came in chilly, but became perfect as we headed out to meet Duane at the take-out. We put in at about 9:00 am and enjoyed beautiful scenery and a decent current. We dodged around and under quite a few downed trees in the first mile or two and met some other paddlers at the next put-in.
We had to take an alternate route
The upper portion went fast and slow with some pools and some good shoal action. The last three or four miles we enjoyed the increased gradient and more constant pushing and commotion.
Duane and Sam under a bluff
Sam and Duane coming into the sun
Duane enjoying the day
Lunch
Sam and Duane approaching a very interesting pile of rocks
Interesting pile of rocks
LESSONS LEARNED:
Call Campgrounds to confirm actual reservation status (don’t rely on website)
Use main roads whenever possible
When space is no object, take more stuff
The Author, Kent Walters