With the arrival of warmer weather and a little free time, I was able to do some paddling recently. I’d already seen the Duck River from a trail hike, and actually drove past an outfitter to get to the trailhead. I can highly recommend Higher Pursuits in Colombia TN https://www.higherpursuits.com/

They use an online reservation system but will take phone calls for same day reservations and general questions. The staff was both friendly and professional. I chose the Jackson tripper kayak for my paddle and was very pleased with the installed seat. It allowed me to adjust so that I could sit upright for the entire paddle without any back fatigue.

The paddle itself was uneventful, more relaxing than challenging. I chose the shorter route since it had been a long time between paddles. There were numerous turtles sunning themselves. I also spotted a belted kingfisher, a hawk and a few black vultures. The current was fairly steady and a few sections of the river even had Class I water. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll try out the longer paddle.

Put In

Feeder Stream

Class I

Zoomed Class I