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Rapid TN Class III

Widow Maker

Clear Creek - 4. Lilly to Nemo (TN)

Gauge Conditions
Runnable: 180.0 – 2,000.0 CFS
Photo
Widow Maker
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

The location marked on various maps emphatically does not appear to be the site of anything which merits a class III rating (much less to be named "Widow Maker"!!!) based on satellite views. Can anyone give us accurate coordinates for this rapids? Or do the satelite views not accurately reveal the nastiness?

Note added 3/1/19: I'm told by my father that Widowmaker rapid is named for a mine up on the slope, not for the nastiness of the rapid.  I remember it as a long rapid on a left bend with big waves mainly at high water.  Probably does not deserve the class III rating at medium or low flows, and may never deserve it with modern decked boats.  In aluminum canoes it was a big deal.  There used to be a camp on river right at the rapid.  I ran this section just the other day and could not detect a rapid that resembled Widowmaker so perhaps it has washed out/changed.

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class III
Mile Marker
3.5 mi
Directions
View Full Run
4. Lilly to Nemo
Clear Creek
II-IV 7.2 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater