Enoree River (Whitmire to Brazzleman's Bridge)
Date: April 12, 2008
Water Flow: appox. 340 cfs, this is the lowest that I would recommend.
See log sheet for condition details. (PDF)
Photo Album

Trip Description: 4 hours. 12.66 miles flatwater with some slow current. Approx. 3.2-3.6 mph average speed this trip. Water was running 340 cfs and most of river was shallow at 1–2 feet deep. Steady rain for first 1 hour of trip but cleared up at lunch break and then turned out to be great day to paddle. No portages but a couple pull-overs or pull-throughs near end of paddle due to fallen trees. Saw cattle again this year near the first few miles of the trip but they were lying down under trees due to the rain. About 1.5 hours into paddle, beach area on river left is good for lunch break.

Paddlers: 18 including several new members and prospective members. Trip leader, Dennis Catoe; Mike Hollis, Mike Boone, Bruce Monson, Spencer Rice, Jean Rice, Linda Gray, Gary Vitaris, Louis Drucker, Moon Park, Marvin Phifer, Ben Schooler, Edye Joyner, Teresa Hatfield, Ken Koth, Cynthia Wood, Bob Williams and Sarah Williams.

Best Conditions: River level at least 340 cfs; 400 – 600 good level. Best time is in spring when things are blooming and trees are greening. Too early and route may not be cleared of fallen trees, summer water is low and more bugs and snakes.

Potential Hazards: Moving water with possible strainers and sweepers. Fallen trees and portages. Allow additional time if delays due to portages.

Put-in: Whitmire. I–26 to exit 72 (Hwy 121) to Whitmire; stay on road through to Hwy 72; take left fork to left on Hwy 176; take next left after church on Lee Cemetery Rd go 1.0 mile to left at brown sign Boat Ramp Rd 339; then down 0.8 mi to dirt boat ramp. Put-in is dirt but very accessible and just a few yards from parking area.

Take-out: Brazzleman's Bridge (Rd S 81). From put-in, go back to fork and go left onto Hwy 176 away from Whitmire; take first right onto Maybrinton Rd (S 45); go 6.6 mi and take right onto Brazzleman'd Bridge Rd (S 81); go 3.0 mi to boat landing on left at Enoree River. Parking lot is paved and few feet to river. Paved ramp can be covered in black mud. Alternative is to pull up on steep bank couple yards down from ramp. After paddle, easy exit left back on Brazzleman's Bridge Rd (S 81) until 3.5 mi to Hwy 176, continue over Hwy 176 until you end at Hwy 121 then left back to I – 26.

Recommendations: Use experienced paddlers and equipment wisely. Sometimes the paddlers were stretched out over a quarter of a mile. Good communications with 2 way radios between me and Spencer kept the group together and alerted as to problems. Mike Hollis fell back into middle of pack at times to help new members in the middle. When obstructions were encountered, at least 2 experienced paddlers stayed to help everyone through.

Special thanks to Spencer Rice who did sweep and Mike Hollis who really helped with an unusually high number of new paddlers. Also thanks to Bruce Monson for a great job with detailed info on log sheet.

Dennis Catoe