Announcement Details

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Paddlin the Pigeon

As part of RiverLink’s continued effort towards the environmental and economic revitalization of the French Broad Watershed we are putting on a trip, “Paddling the Pigeon” to raise awareness about the challenges that face the Pigeon River and our watershed. This trip

will take the French Broad Riverkeeper from Lake Logan, through Canton, Clyde, Waynesville, Newport, and into the French Broad River in Tennessee over six days.

We need your participation to make this trip a success. Join us on one of the following day for some free rafting, tour of Blue Ridge Paper, canoe trip, or catch and cook your own trout dinner.

Follow the trip on the Riverkeeper's blog.

Monday May 5th

Sunburst Trout Farm Press Conference:

Paddlin the Pigeon will kickoff with at Sunburst Trout farm with the waterfall from Lake Logan's dam as the background. We will talk about some of the inovative practices that Sunburst is implementing to protect the pristine water that flows out of the Shining Rock Wilderness.

Tuesday May 6th:

Canton, tour of Blue Ridge paper.

The public is invited (but no media) and we will have lunch in Canton Rec. Park at 12:30 and then tour the facility until about 3:00pm
Map to Canton Recreation Park

Friday May 9th:

Lunch and rafting courtesy of Smokey Mountain Outdoors

12:00 lunch 1:00pm rafting trip. Rafting trip will take us down the beautiful class 3-4 Pigeon River. All activities are free, but a small donation to RiverLink is appreciated.

Saturday May 10th:

Paddle final stretch of Pigeon River into the French Broad River to Rankin Bottoms. We will meet 1:00 at a primitive boat launch on River Street approximately ½ a mile up stream or west from the where Hwy 321 (North Street) crosses the Pigeon River in Newport, TN. This family friendly 8 mile canoe trip will take us to the Rankin Bridge. Some boats will be provided but bring your own if you can.
To cap off the evening and the trip we will meet at English Mountain Trout Farm (click on link for directions) and Grill to catch your own trout and have them cook it for dinner. We will meet at the Restaurant at 7:00pm in Sevierville, TN.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend or have questions to riverkeeper@riverlink.org or 828-252-8474 ext. 114

See you on the river.