14 mars 2015

Canoe Harpeth River And Other Fun Activities

By Leslie Ball


Are you looking for a serene place where you can play with water and many other activities? Harpeth River Park is the place to be. It is a linear park that is found on the west side of the city. There canoe Harpeth river put-ins that allow you to access the water. The most popular paddling put-ins are Narrows of Harpeth and Harris Street Bridge Canoe Access. These areas are normally highly crowded during high season.

Despite the close proximity of the put-in points and take-out points, there is a whole stretch of seven miles where one can enjoy the curves of particular rivers towards the western side of the great highland rim facing Tennessee City. On the eastern side, there is the Bell Bend that spreads a whooping five miles down the ox-boy lake. You can try any of these fun activities.

As said earlier canoeing is the most favorite sport in Harpeth River state park. This is a place where you can enjoy a float in a hot summer afternoon. Since floating is free, the park is filled with water enthusiasts that are seeking to paddle with kayaks and canoes. One can come with his or her own canoe or rent one at an affordable rate for one to ten hours.

If you love fishing, get your fishing gear ready as you come to the park. The expansive river offers all sorts of fishing games as spin casting, the old harpoon throwing and fly fishing as you move in the water. There is a variety of fish including bluegill, crappie, bream, mouth bass, and catfish amongst other game fish species.

If a little adventure is what you want, get ready for some hiking in this park. It boasts of a mix of easy and hard trails up the Harpeth valley. There are lovely bluffs, wildflower gardens and forests with a lush cover along the trail. There is a common entrance to all the trails which is located at the Narrows of Harpeth just after you get into the park. The trail offers a chance to view the amazing valley of Harpeth and the cool air in the forest.

There is a hidden lake located a mile from the entrance along the easy one-mile long trail. The ox bow lake is surrounded by lush sprouts of wildflower. One of its elongated curves is about a half a mile and at the edges sits ruins of a 1940 resort with the marble dance floor still intact.

Apart from water games and hiking, the River Park is a great spot for bird watching. Resident birds in this park include Belted Kingfishers, Warblers, Green Herons, and Blue Herons. There also American Goldfinch and Field sparrow that can be viewed from along the two mile trails up the Harpeth Valley.

If you would like to view more birds easily, pay the park a visit during mid-summer. Flowers are all over and birds would be enjoying their share of the nectar or worms. Wear your hiking gear and get ready to meet several birds along the trail.




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