When I think of paddling trips, the first thing that comes to mind is exploring remote wilderness stretches. Over the years, however, I’ve learned that paddling in urban environments can be just as amazing! I was very excited when I got the chance to paddle a section of the Tennessee River.
Confluence of the French Broad River and Holsten River
The section of the Tennessee that we were to paddle is in fact it's very first section. The French Broad River and the Holston River converge about 7 miles upstream of the City. This also marks the beginning of the Tennessee RiverLine. This is an initiative with the vision for a continuous system of hiking, biking, and on-water experiences. It runs along the 652-mile reach of the Tennessee River from Knoxville, TN, to Paducah, KY.
The ambitious but exciting project involves a partnership with the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority, along with a growing list of towns, counties and communities found along the length of the River.
Holsten River Park
Our starting point was to be Holsten River Park and our takeout was to be Calhoun’s on the River. Calhoun's is a popular restaurant found on the banks of the Tennessee River only steps from the downtown core. While the Tennessee River is an extremely big volume river, it has relatively mild current. If it’s not a windy day, almost any paddle craft will do the trick to get out. That’s why it wasn’t surprising that we saw a huge variety of boats on the water. Canoes, stand up paddle boards, and kayaks of all shapes and sizes.
The P&K Volan 160 Touring Kayak
As for myself, when I travel on large bodies of water, I prefer touring kayaks or sea kayaks, which allow me to cover water quickly and efficiently. For that reason, I decided this was a great opportunity to test one of the most beautiful kayaks that I’ve ever laid my hands on – the P&K Volan 160 composite kayak.
Made with P&H’s carbon and Kevlar infusion process, and crafted with the attention to detail that P&H Sea Kayaks are known for, the 16-foot-long kayak weighs only 42 pounds and looks like something you’d want to showcase on your wall. It’s the kind of kayak that makes you cringe to think of putting a scratch in.
Kayaking Tennessee RiverLine: Wild Meets City
Our trip into Knoxville was exactly as I expected and hoped it would be. It was a beautiful mixture of wilderness and urban development. We passed a local small-plane airport, a number of dramatic bridges, and downtown Knoxville itself. I can tell you is that it’s something worth experiencing. The perspective you get from the water is truly unique.
As for the P&H Volan 160 – Yes, I did put a couple of scratches in it, and yes, I did receive a couple of comments about it from admirers. As for how it performed, check out my full review on the P&H Volan 160 here!
Check out my last article on the Okefenokee: Kayak Fishing with Alligators.
Kayak: P&H Volan 160
Paddles: Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD: NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing: NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X
