Best Kayaking and Canoeing Spots Around Nashville
It is pretty obvious that we at River Queen Voyages love kayaking through Nashville on the Cumberland River. With incredible views of downtown Nashville, Riverfront Park, and Shelby Bottoms, as well as many launch sites close to the city center, it is hard to beat! But, there are quite a few spots around the Nashville area that have a lot to offer as well. And while you can’t get River Queen Voyages’s 5-star, full-service boat rentals anywhere else, there are a number of other convenient places you can take your personal watercraft (or one of our Kurbside Kayak Rentals) and enjoy Tennessee’s natural beauty. Here are a few of our recommendations if you’re looking to kayak on the Cumberland River and beyond!
Kayaking Spots on Percy Priest Lake
Hamilton Creek Recreation Area
The Hamilton Creek Recreation Area (2901 Bell Rd., Nashville, TN 37217) is located about 20 mins outside of downtown Nashville (with no traffic). This huge park has three launch points into Percy Priest Lake; the boat marina, the public boat ramp, and the lake beach access area. We recommend launching at the beach access area as it is the easiest place to put in and take out by yourself, plus it is a lovely picnic spot as well. When you enter the park, follow signs for the BMX track, then park in the lot near the grassy lakeside area.
Elm Hill Marina
Another pick on Percy Priest is the Elm Hill Marina (3361 Bell Rd Nashville, TN 37214). This privately-owned marina is home to many locals’ personal watercraft, from pontoons to speedboats- but it has a public boat launch as well! If you’ve already done Hamilton Creek, try launching from Elm Hill for a slightly different view of Percy Priest Lake.
Smith Springs Park
If you want to kayak around to various islands or spend the day fishing, Smith Springs Park is a lovely option. Located a few miles southeast of downtown Nashville, this campsite and launch spot on Percy Priest feels like a complete escape from the city, but is only minutes away!
Cumberland River Route Recommendations
There are a lot of great route options on the Cumberland River, even beyond those that River Queen Voyages regularly offers. It is worth considering, however, that paddling downstream is much less challenging than paddling upstream. For that reason, we only recommend kayaking on the river if you have transportation arranged to take you and your kayak upstream, like we do when you paddle with River Queen Voyages. If you are able to be picked up or dropped off, here are some launch points and routes on the Cumberland River (and the Stones River) that we love! Please note: the duration of each route is an estimate and will vary based upon your kayaking skill level and the water level at the time of your paddle.