Collins River - McMinnville, Tennessee

My friends Erica & Jimmy showed us down one of their local favorite trips: The Collins River in McMinnville, Tennessee. Both access points are privately owned so I cannot share them, but there are public access points on this beautiful river.

[@rogerhaley1133]

So fun paddling with you and seeing these videos…..thnx!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Likewise, Roggie!! It's always a pleasure when we get to spend a day on the water (and an evening at a Mexican or BBQ Restaurant)!! Hope the Brushy Creek is awesome!!

[@garrettcryer915]

Man, That River is Beautiful. Video is really nice....Had a wonderful time that day.

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thank you very much, Garrett!! That was a beautiful river and an overall outstanding trip!! Enjoyed hanging out with you on this and the Sipsey trip!!

[@billydobbins8308]

Beautiful float, thanks for sharing

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thank you very much, Billy!! I really enjoyed this trip and I'm glad you enjoyed it, too!! Thanks, again!!

[@robjones8733]

Wow that is some pretty pretty water, nice rock ledges too! 🙂 Thank ya' Dan!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Preciate it, Rob! This was my first time on this river and it was a dandy!!

[@GeorgiaPaddler]

Pretty River!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks, Thomas!! It's a beauty!!

[@creek_camper]

Beautiful River. Awesome video. 😀👍✝️

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks, brother! Remote, scenic and relaxing. Everything I like!! :D

[@MinuteontheMountain]

Beautiful scenery, my friend. Great video.

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks, John! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!!

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Have a great day

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks Dave - You too!

[@brandonpruitt6417]

Looks like an awesome day on the water. Wish i could grow a mean looking beard like yours!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Ha, ha- thank you Brandon! I wish it would grow on top of my head, but it don't anymore...lol!! It was an awesome day on the water!!

[@katjones2781]

I'm from Florida and it's beautiful River and not a northerner insight

[@SouthernPaddler]

LOL! It is a beautiful river, for sure. This was my first time there and I LOVED it!!!

[@mackjenkins7721]

Man what a good time you had Dan. Kayaking with a nice group of people help out a lot for fun on the water man. I like the tree Bridge in the video at 10:00 & your cool down at 10:30. I know that really cool you down for as cold it was & you putting your feet 🦶 in the water Threw out the video help too. It was cool to see you kayaking barefooted 👣 like i have too man. It's so Relaxing to my for one & the other reason is because I can't find any footwear that wide enough for my extremely wide feet 🦶 i have. I had a guy comment to me & he said you just love being barefooted 👣? I told him that I have a feet 🦶 that are 6 1/2 inches wide from my big toe to my lil toe with toes that are Evenly straight across & very very fat & chubby wide toes & they don't make any footwear that was wide enough for my feet 🦶 & the only footwear that will barely and I mean barely fit on my feet 🦶 are flip-flops 🩴which I can't Afford to lose or break them cuz i have to special order them. He said WOW man i don't know that your feet 🦶 was that extremely wide. He said that is a very very wide foot you have Especially with toes that are Evenly straight across & very fat. I said yes it is. My big toe is over 1 1/2 inches wide which is very wide & the rest of the toes are over 1" inches wide. So this is why I'm all the time barefooted 👣 especially when I go kayaking & kayak camping. I wish I could do kayaking & kayak camping as much as you do Dan cuz i really really love doing that me & my whole entire family but Trucking 🚛 takes so much of my time but i love Trucking 🚛 & it's Supporting my family & i am not upset about it i just wish I could get out with you to have the same fun with you man. But as long as you keep making those videos for me to watch it help me out to see at least you are having fun. Thanks you so much Dan for sharing your awesome video man. I am loving it. You have a good weekend buddy & be safe out there on the water.

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks, Mack! We definitely had a great time on this trip! Hope you have a good week, my friend!

[@kentwilliams13]

Totally respect not identifying the put in and take out on private property but any guidance as to public access for this beautiful section?

[@SouthernPaddler]

Hey Kent- this was my first time on this section, so I don't really know other put-ins. But I can tell you there's an outfitter called Smooth Rapids nearby that puts you in on the Barren Fork river and it converges with the Collins before you reach the take-out. I've done that section once (and have a video on it- search for Smooth Rapids). It's a great float, too!

[@fbenton2]

Why the Four Loco 🤪

[@SouthernPaddler]

Because I'm a little loco sometimes! :-D

[@fbenton2]

@@SouthernPaddler 😝