Tennessee | Chattanooga
South Chickamauga CreekShallowford Road to Sterchi Farm Park
Urban greenway paddle on the Tennessee River Blueway from the Shallowford Road launch to Sterchi Farm Park. Outdoor Chattanooga lists the exact two-hour trip, the direct South Chickamauga USGS gauge is live, and the level model stays minimum-only from guidebook support.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Shallowford Road and take out at Sterchi Farm Park for a short South Chickamauga Creek blueway trip through the Chattanooga greenway corridor. Use the South Chickamauga near Chickamauga USGS gauge as the direct same-day check and keep the decision conservative after rain.
Access map
Put-in
Shallowford Road canoe/kayak launchOutdoor Chattanooga lists Shallowford Road to Sterchi Farm as a recommended paddle, but this is still an urban creek corridor with bridges, industrial edges, private banks, and changing debris.
Take-out
Sterchi Farm Park public boat launchSterchi Farm Park is the planned take-out. Do not drift downstream toward the Tennessee River without a separate plan for backwater, current, river traffic, and a confirmed downstream landing.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Sterchi Farm Park, then drive back to the Shallowford Road canoe/kayak launch. Use the signed public launches and current greenway/park parking areas, and check same-day access notices because nearby greenway, stormwater, or wastewater work can affect trail sections and approaches.
Additional access notes
- The lower creek can be affected by Chickamauga Dam releases and Tennessee River backwater. The gauge is direct for South Chickamauga, but same-day visual judgment at the launch still matters.
- Check Chattanooga greenway and park notices before committing to the shuttle. The city currently posts a separate Camp Jordan-to-Brainerd greenway closure through summer 2027 for stormwater and wastewater construction, so verify that the Shallowford and Sterchi approaches remain available.
More route and safety guidance
- Use the signed public launch at Shallowford Road and take out at Sterchi Farm Park. Confirm both approaches before staging because the city currently posts a separate Camp Jordan-to-Brainerd greenway closure through summer 2027.
- Skip high or rising water and poor post-storm water quality; expect rapid level changes, swift current, strainers, floating or underwater debris, and broken glass, and do not use private banks as routine access.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga, TN. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga, TN |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 180 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia South Chickamauga Creek minimum level |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeShallowford Road to Sterchi Farm, 2-hour paddle
Outdoor Chattanooga lists Shallowford Road to Sterchi Farm as a recommended South Chickamauga Creek paddle and identifies canoe/kayak launches at Riverpoint, Sterchi Farm Park, Camp Jordan, and Shallowford Road.
- City paddle-program supportAbout 6 miles
A City of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors Blueway Paddle Trails listing describes the Shallowford Road to Sterchi Farm Park route as a scenic six-mile kayak trip with gentle current and a Sterchi take-out.
- Gauge check during route review · June 1, 2026USGS 03567500 at 385 cfs / 5.20 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Low-water floor180 cfs minimum-only
Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia source material ties South Chickamauga Creek downstream at Chickamauga to a 180 cfs minimum runnable level. Paddle Today uses that as a conservative floor and does not infer an ideal range or high-water cutoff.
- Rapid-change and access cautionsUrban creek, dam/backwater influence, debris, and swift current
Outdoor Chattanooga warns creek levels and current can fluctuate due to Chickamauga Dam releases, while Chattanooga Audubon says levels can change rapidly and notes debris, swift current, flooding closures, and PFD requirements.
- Endpoint coordinates35.049, -85.214 to 35.084, -85.226
The Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia access page lists Shallowford Road at river mile 8 and Sterchi Farm Park at river mile 3 with these coordinates; Outdoor Chattanooga corroborates the public launch/take-out context.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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