[ This narrative is based on a 1992 TCWP brochure by Chuck Coutant, see sidebar. ]
The Haw Ridge Park Canoe Trail is a family flat-water canoeing and sea kayaking area without hazards of competition with power boats (mostly in a large, shallow back-channel area)
| Development of the Haw Ridge Canoe Trail on Melton Hill Reservoir (Clinch River) is a project of the Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning in commemoration of Oak Ridge's 50th Birthday in 1992-93. This web page was constructed from a 1992 TCWP flyer provided by Chuck Coutant. Thanks also to the Tennessee Valley Authority and the City of Oak Ridge Parks and Recreation Department. |
The launch point is on the east end of the City's Solway Park on Edgemoor Road near the Solway Bridge (Rt. 162). From I40, take 162 North toward Oak Ridge (Pellissippi Parkway). After crossing Melton Hill Lake take the first exit to TN 170, Edgemoor Rd heading east. See Google map with trail and points of interest or original canoe trail map.
Access
Start and end at the City of Oak Ridge's Solway Park on Edgemoor Road just east of the Oak Ridge end of the Solway Bridge (Tennessee Highway 162). No need to shuttle cars! Take the second entrance into Solway Park (after passing the entrance to the boat launch ramp). The canoe launch site is at the edge of the cove opposite the point of wooded land (We hope to have a marker sign someday). Cars can be pulled alongside the waters edge for unloading and loading canoes. Parking spaces are provided adjacent to the starting point.
Canoe Trail
Follow the map or Google map. The canoe trail begins as you round the point of Haw Ridge Park opposite the access site. Cross the cove to that starting point and proceed upriver along the wooded shoreline of the ridge. Several large oak trees have fallen into the water, providing cover for fish. The tall standing trees on the wooded hillside are often perches for great blue herons and ospreys.
Canoe between the shore and the beds of Eurasian watermilfoil ('water weeds') that lie offshore. This shoreline band of open water is caused by water level fluctuations that kill the milfoil roots when they are exposed to air in winter. Fish can often be seen at the edges of the patches of milfoil; they may see you first and dart away (listen to their splashes and watch for their wakes). Although a nuisance to power boaters and water skiers (who will avoid this back-channel), the milfoil is important fish habitat and contributes greatly to the productivity of the Clinch River in this area and to its attractiveness to wildlife.
On the shore side, notice the change in vegetation where TVA trims under the power lines--from tall forest to shrubs and bushes. The trimming stimulates diversity of both plants and animal life. Enter coves as you follow the shoreline, watching for wildlife ahead as you round bends. The farther you go up the shoreline, the more the vegetation contains emergent wetland plants that occupy the 'feet in the water, head in the air' habitat. These plants are the cattails, sedges, and reeds. The shoreline also has a high diversity of wildflowers and blooming shrubs (bring your guidebook).
You cannot help but notice debris in places. Coves inevitably collect windblown debris from the river, both natural logs and sticks and human refuse. Take back a few bottles or plastic cups you find bobbing around or washed on the shore and dispose of them properly (recycle if possible). Old tires may look bad, but they provide excellent cover for young fish in the rather barren underwater environment of a reservoir. They are actually placed in lakes by fisheries agencies as a form of habitat improvement. More appealing visually are the old tree stumps that also provide excellent fish cover. Watch for bass and bluegill lurking among the roots.
The series of coves on the left that finger into the woods of Haw Ridge Park will eventually end in a shallow marsh. An old boat carcass marks the point where you will bear to the right, moving slightly downriver around the lip of a low peninsula. The peninsula has more wetland shrubs and emergent plants. You will want to round it (at a distance, for it is shallow) and continue upstream for a little while, for a bit upstream is one last, large cove. This cove has several large tree 'snags' that are popular roosts for many large birds.
Having traversed the last cove, return downriver along the shoreline to the lip of the low peninsula that was rounded earlier. At this point continue straight out into open water (it is still too shallow for powerboats). The point continues underwater as a shallow bar, as you probably noticed earlier. The water is but a few feet deep all the way to a small island (that may be submerged in high water, but which sprouts a few sickly trees). Before the lake, this was known as Holt Island (see 1953 topo). Herons and waterbirds often feed in these shallows. Watch for schools of shad and other small fish that make up the heron's diet. Do not fear the milfoil beds, just canoe in the open water among them or strike out through them (they really do not gobble up canoeists although they will seem to grab at your paddle). Pull up some milfoil strands and see the abundant aquatic insects and other tiny life that hide in the crevasses.
From the small island, angle back to the main shoreline that you canoed along before. You will soon be back at the wooded point from which you started. A short trip to the right up the cove in which you launched provides an interesting view of a rocky shoreline as contrast to the marshy wetlands seen earlier.
Melton Hill Lake from the Pellissippi Bridge downstream to the dam is designated as one of Tennessee's scenic rivers and part of the proposed Pellissippi Blueway. Much of the shoreline is undeveloped. TVA keeps the lake level at about 794', except the last week of March when it is dropped to 790' for a week or two (see Melton Hill operating guide).
Developments
If you are concerned about the future of Haw Ridge Park or
have suggestions for improving the Haw Ridge experience,
visit Friends of Haw Ridge Park
Links
1998 GPS track of canoe paddle around Haw Ridge or 2010 kayak paddle
