Smith's Branch

Smith's Branch provides access to Lake Barkley, a major impoundment on the Cumberland River in Clarksville. This site serves as a gateway to one of Tennessee's significant water resources, situated along a river system with substantial flow averaging over 39,000 cubic feet per second. The Cumberland River at this location represents a mature waterway with considerable depth and volume, having carved a channel through terrain with approximately 1.2 feet of elevation drop per mile.

Paddlers and boaters accessing through Smith's Branch should be aware that they are entering a major river system, not a small creek. The Cumberland maintains consistent flow and water movement typical of large navigable rivers in the region. Conditions will vary seasonally, with higher flows during wet periods and lower, more manageable conditions during dry seasons. The relatively gentle slope of the river in this reach makes it more suitable for most boating activities than steeper upper tributaries.

The Lake Barkley impoundment creates lake-like conditions in many areas, reducing current velocity and providing calmer paddling opportunities compared to free-flowing sections downstream. Boaters should check current water levels and flow conditions before launching, as the Cumberland is a working river with dam operations upstream that can affect water levels and flow rates.