Elk River meanders lazily for 180 miles through the state of Tennessee with calm waters slicing through rocky bluffs, green meadows and shady trees. The shallow, gravel-bottomed waterway is a popular place to angle for rainbow and brown trout, and trails along much of its shoreline give access to hikers and mountain bikers to enjoy the natural surroundings.
Peddling in the Park
- Enjoy 6 miles of paved biking trails connecting the major recreational areas of Tim's Ford State Park. An additional 16 miles of multi-use trails suitable for hiking or mountain biking run along the shoreline of the reservoir, which is an impound along the Elk River. The trails are rated with a difficulty of intermediate. Camp at one of 52 sites with electrical hookups, fire rings, grills and picnic tables at each site. Sites are suitable for tents and RVs less than 40 feet long. Twenty two-bedroom cabins provide full amenities including gas fireplaces, balconies, TV, fully-equipped kitchens and double beds with linens.
Over the Falls
- Steep and rugged hikes will lead you through the towering forests to the site of several tumbling waterfalls near the North Carolina Border. Bring your hiking stick to traverse the trail to Compression Falls near Elk MIlls. The 1.4-mile trail plunges a quarter mile straight down a 60-degree hillside littered with loose rock and crisscrossed by exposed roots. The trail emerges alongside the Elk River a quarter mile below the falls. Rock-hop and wade upstream to reach the falls. Twisting Falls lie another quarter mile upstream. Near the North Carolina Border, Jones Branch Falls lies along the Appalachian Trail south of Buck Mountain, accessible via a one-hour hike along knee-crunching hills just inside the Tennessee border.
Up the Creek
- Set out on a Davy Crockett adventure on an Elk River paddling trail below Tim's Ford Dam. The water trail is rated as Class 1 on the International Scale of River Difficulty, making it a great place for kids and novices to gain experience maneuvering kayaks or canoes. Rent canoes from one of two downstream liveries that provide all the equipment you need as well as overnight campgrounds. You can tailor your trip from 2.5 to 44 miles, taking several days to camp at primitive sites alongside the river if you choose.
Ride Your Horse
- Horse farms near Fayetteville provide miles of private trails to ride along the Elk River and nearby wooded hills. Riverdale Farms has 600 acres with trails, arenas, boarding stalls and hot washes. Bring your horse for the day or park your RV at a shaded, grassy site overlooking 80 acres of pasture. Sweet Dixie Farms has 700 acres of all-terrain riding with similar amenities and horses availalbe to rent if you don't have one of your own.
