Canoeing



		Guide to Canoeing the Wolf River Popular Floats Michigan City, Mississippi to LaGrange, Tennessee: Eight miles, numerous log crossings, wild, remote and pretty. Click here for a map. Ghost River Section: The favorite!!! The Ghost River section of the Wolf River, less than an hour east of Memphis, is one of the most beautiful, varied and challenging wetland canoe trails in the country. Within a relatively short, 8 1/2 mile section from LaGrange, Tennessee to the Bateman Bridge, the river traverses five delightfully different and wonderfully scenic wetland communities. The Ghost section is a 6 to 7-hour adventure requiring moderate canoe handling skills around sharp turns and obstacles in a relatively swift current. Depending on river levels and conditions, you may also have to pull over or duck under logs and tree limbs. Click here for more information. Click here for a map. Warning to Ghost River Section paddlers, fishermen and hunters: The Ghost River State Natural Area borders private property. Private property owners are vigorously prosecuting fishermen and hunters encroaching on private property marked from the center line of the river channel to the north shore and beyond on Spirit Lake. Spirit Lake is the large, long lake upstream of Bateman Rd. and immediately downstream of the Ghost River canoe trail’s narrow, winding section. Again, the boaters caught fishing or hunting the northern half of Spirit Lake, which is posted as private property, will be ticketed/fined by Wildlife Management Officers. Bateman Bridge to Feemster Bridge at Moscow, Tennessee: This is a popular, short, about 5 1/2 hours, and less challenging yet still beautiful canoe trip of about 7 1/2 miles. Last year, veteran members said that paddling this section was one of the enchanting trips ever. As the sun filtered through the cypress trees near the take-out, the Moscow church bells pealed a beautiful melody. Click here for a map. Moscow to Rossville: Wild times for all. It’s the longest, wildest section of the Wolf w/o a bridge – 15 miles. The day will be long and most enjoyable. The first two miles are in the shade, but then it opens up and flows through big, big woods and swamp. The North Fork of the Wolf enters at Moscow increasing the flow. There may be logs to cross. Click here for a map. Piperton to Collierville-Arlington Road Section: This is a short, delightful and shaded 4-mile section of river. You should have plenty of time to stop and explore and swim in the river’s cool, spring fed waters on a hot, summer day. Click here for a map. Houston Levee to Germantown Rd.: This is a nice 8-mile section of the river. Click here for a map. Shelby Farms to Kennedy Park: Surprise yourself with the beauty and fun of paddling the urban Wolf River, an 8 1/2 mile trip. Click here for a map. Kennedy Park to McLean: Click here for a map. Note: Click on the Red Dots for detailed maps with directions The Wolf River is 90 miles long with the source in the Holly Springs National Forest emptying into the Mississippi River. The headwaters are wild and beautiful. There are wonderful floats all along the river. The Ghost River Section is a must for the first time to truly experience the abundance of plants and animals. River Guide Camping: Currently there are no public camping areas along the river. Some of the land bordering the river is still privately held. Please do not trespass. Camping on the state’s new property along the river is currently prohibited. A campground at Big Hill Pond State Park is located thirty minutes east of LaGrange, Tennessee off Hwy. 57 Difficulty: Class I. Requires moderate canoe handling skills around sharp turns and obstacles in a relatively swift current. Depending on river levels and conditions, you may also have to pull over or duck under logs and tree limbs. Events: See the Events page for our recreation schedule. We usually schedule outings with members once each month. Fishing: The river is known for outstanding large mouth bass, crappie and bream fishing. There is a fishing ban in the Memphis city limits, however. (See the warning above in the Ghost River description.) Hazards: Paddlers must never grab small limbs from their moving canoe. Duck under them instead. When released, they might put out an eye or break a nose. Also, avoid fisherman limb lines dangling into the water. They usually have attached barbed treble hooks that can snag canoers. Outfitters: Canoe rentals/shuttles are available on the upper Wolf from Trips on the Wolf River canoe rental, 901-877-3958. Outdoors, Inc. also rents canoes but does not provide shuttles, 755-2271. Recommended Equipment: All parties should carry a map, compass, rain gear, first aid kit and flashlight. River Levels: Click here for stream flow data from several points on the river provided by the U.S. Geological Survey. There are no established minimum or maximum water levels for canoers, but with its many springs, we have never seen the river too low to paddle. When at, or approaching bank full or flood levels, the Wolf, like all rivers, can be dangerous. A high, fast powerful current can sweep canoers into logs blocking the river and logjams, or into overhanging tree limbs with little clearance on a river now four to seven feet higher than normal. Also at higher flows, confusion as to the channel’s course can occur. Factors to consider before launching are: recently heavy rainfall amounts, the current’s speed, height, color and debris load. If the river seems particularly fast, muddy and swollen, consider postponing the trip. *Again, use caution before launching after heavy rains.* Seasons: Spring and fall are favorite seasons, although the river is canoeable year round. Spring brings the fresh, brilliant greens of new growth while fall can provide a thousand shades of reds, yellows, purple and orange. During the summer the river provides a cool, shady refuge from the city’s head, as well as refreshing swimming holes. Winter affords the chance to see hundreds of migrating waterfowl and a stark, quiet and still interesting gray and brown landscape. Snakes: Most snakes you may encounter are usually common, but often large, water snakes. Only rarely are water moccasins seen. Learn to check overhanging logs and limbs before passing under them. Also, watch your step outside the canoe. *Please do not kill snakes when encountered.* As a precaution, carry a $15, physician recommended Sawyer snakebite kit. Trail Markings and Directions: A silver reflective symbol for canoers against a blue background is used to mark the canoe trial in the Moscow and Ghost River sections. We have also begun to use blue paint blazes under the signs to deter their removal and provide a backup. Blue paint blazes and survey ribbons were also used prior to the use of the reflective markers. Wildlife: You will be surrounded by numerous examples of the South’s fauna. Much of this wildlife, however, is largely nocturnal. Whitetail deer, bobcat, coyote, fox and rabbits abound. Be sure and look for small piles of scattered, opened mussel shells where river otter, mink and muskrat have feasted along the shore. Also look for mounds of mud one to two feet high along the bank. These are beaver scent mounds built to mark their territory. Look and listen also for great blue herons, turkey vultures, kingfishers, wood ducks and pileated woodpeckers. Mosquitoes and other insects are rarely a problem during the day. IMPORTANT! Please leave no trace of your visit. (Not even apple cores, banana peels, etc.) Please assist our efforts and leave the river cleaner than you found it. For additional information contact the Wolf River Conservancy at: 901-452-6500 or write to: Wolf River Conservancy P. O. Box 11031 Memphis, Tennessee 38111-03031 wrc@wolfriver.org www.wolfriver.org [ All contents copyright WRC, 1996-2006. Site maintained by Sherry Weakley. Comments? Email education@wolfriver.org Problems with the site? Email wrc@wolfriver.org. ]