Big Piney Question

[RiverRatRon]

I am planning a 2 day trip on the Piney.Does anyone have any information about the scenery,whitewater,remoteness etc of the stretch from Ft Douglass- Hwy 123 to Heltons?I would like to check out the stretch above Hwy 123 also sometime but maybe not with camping gear in my canoe.Thanks Ron

[Cowper]

It's been so long since I've done it, I checked Tom Kennon's book just to be sure.

Remoteness, very good; I think there is only one forest service road in that section that crosses the river, and it is at a low water ford, not a bridge, so it doesn't see a whole lot of travel. Gradient is a couple of feet per mile MORE than the section from Helton's down, but the WW difficulty is a hair less. Tom calls it just II, while Helton's down gets a II-II+ (III) rating. He calls scenery an "A", while Helton's down gets a "AA" rating, probably due to a greater abundance of bluffs and rock outcroppings easily visible from the river.

Tom specifically mentions this section as a "canoe camping destination".

One suggestion I would have; since this section is remote and sees very little traffic compared to Helton's down, I think the chances of running into down trees or strainers is probably much greater. The river is a bit smaller, which also increases the chances of running into some brushy sections. Since you'll be running with a heavier boat full of camping gear, be extra cautious and be willing to get out and scout if you need to.

[Cowper]

It's been so long since I've done it, I checked Tom Kennon's book just to be sure.

Remoteness, very good; I think there is only one forest service road in that section that crosses the river, and it is at a low water ford, not a bridge, so it doesn't see a whole lot of travel. Gradient is a couple of feet per mile MORE than the section from Helton's down, but the WW difficulty is a hair less. Tom calls it just II, while Helton's down gets a II-II+ (III) rating. He calls scenery an "A", while Helton's down gets a "AA" rating, probably due to a greater abundance of bluffs and rock outcroppings easily visible from the river.

Tom specifically mentions this section as a "canoe camping destination".

One suggestion I would have; since this section is remote and sees very little traffic compared to Helton's down, I think the chances of running into down trees or strainers is probably much greater. The river is a bit smaller, which also increases the chances of running into some brushy sections. Since you'll be running with a heavier boat full of camping gear, be extra cautious and be willing to get out and scout if you need to.

[EMTyak]

I did this section once last year.. Was much easier than the helton's section. Scenery was great. Fishing wasn't too great. And there was one section that the creek bed had shifted into the trees.