Over and over and over and over and over the river
By Tom Adkinson
September 24, 2021

Caney Fork angler. Image by Tom Adkinson

SMITH COUNTY, Tennessee – “Caney Fork River” is the answer to the trivia contest question of “What river does I-40 cross five times in the space of four miles in Middle Tennessee?” People who zip between Nashville and Knoxville can answer quickly because it is difficult to miss that many river signs just west of Cookeville.

The 143-mile-long Caney Fork River is a meandering stream that is a major tributary of the Cumberland River, which flows through downtown Nashville. The portion you see from the I-40 bridges is along a stretch popular with canoeists, kayakers and trout fishermen.

Caney River crossing. Image by Tom Adkinson

This is a tailwaters below Center Hill Dam, which explains why you sometimes see only a modest amount of water in the river and other times witness a veritable torrent. When the river is full, it’s because the dam’s generators are producing electricity for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The way to get near the river safely is at a Tennessee Welcome Center at Mile Marker 267. This is a place to stretch your legs, pick up some travel literature and stroll down to the river’s edge. If you carry a rod and reel in your vehicle, you can cast for rainbow, brown and brook trout that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency stocks in the Caney Fork.