Collins River facts for kids
- For the river in New Zealand, see Collins River (New Zealand).
Quick facts for kids Collins River |
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The Collins River near Rock Island
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Northeast of Palmer in Grundy County 1,740 ft (530 m) 35°23′11″N 85°33′18″W / 35.38639°N 85.55500°W |
| River mouth | Great Falls Lake (Caney Fork) at Rock Island 804 ft (245 m) 35°48′0″N 85°37′12″W / 35.80000°N 85.62000°W |
| Length | 67 mi (108 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 811 sq mi (2,100 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The Collins River is a 67-mile-long (108 km) stream in the east-central part of Middle Tennessee in the United States. It flows into the Caney Fork, and its waters eventually reach the Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers. The Collins River helps drain the beautiful Savage Gulf area and flows into Great Falls Lake at Rock Island State Park.
This river runs through Grundy and Warren counties. Towns like McMinnville, Altamont, and Beersheba Springs are located near its path. The Savage Gulf part of the Collins River is so special that it has been named a "scenic river" by the State of Tennessee.
Contents
Where Does the Collins River Flow?
The Collins River starts near Palmer on top of the Cumberland Plateau. It begins where the Middle Prong Collins River meets Mill Creek. The river then flows northwest, passing under State Route 399.
Through Savage Gulf
Next, the Collins River enters Savage Gulf, a stunning gorge. Here, the river drops about 800 feet to the Highland Rim. The town of Beersheba Springs sits high up, looking down over the river valley. State Route 56 crosses the Collins River twice as it follows the valley out of the gorge.
Journey Through Warren County
As the river moves into Warren County, it turns northward and winds its way along. It passes under State Route 8 and State Route 127. East of McMinnville, another important stream called Barren Fork joins the Collins River. The river then goes under U.S. Route 70S.
After flowing north for several miles, the river turns eastward. It passes under State Route 288 as it enters the calm waters of Great Falls Lake.
Ending at Rock Island State Park
At Rock Island State Park, the Collins River makes a big loop, almost meeting the Caney Fork River. Then it turns sharply south, then east, and then north again before finally flowing into the Caney Fork, just before Great Falls Dam. This big loop creates a peninsula where much of the state park is located. Two bridges cross the mouth of the Collins River: an old one that is no longer used and a newer one that carries State Route 287.
What is the Collins River Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a specific river or lake. The Collins River watershed covers about 811 square miles (2,100 km2). It includes parts of Warren, Grundy, Van Buren, Sequatchie, Coffee, and Cannon counties.
More than half of this watershed is covered by forests. About a third of the land is used for pastures or growing crops.
Geology and Caves
In the upper parts of the river, on the Cumberland Plateau, the river flows over very old rocks like siltstone, shale, and sandstone. Further down, in the Highland Rim area, limestone is more common. In these areas, you can find Karst features like sinkholes and caves. One of Tennessee's largest caves, Cumberland Caverns, is located within the Collins River watershed.
Other Streams Joining the Collins River
The 23-mile (37 km) Barren Fork is a major stream that flows into the Collins River east of McMinnville. Other streams that join the Collins River include Big Creek and Savage Creek (at Savage Gulf), Hills Creek and Scott Creek (north of the Warren-Grundy line), and Charles Creek (downstream from McMinnville).
History of the Collins River Area
In the late 1700s, an important travel route called the Old Kentucky Road crossed the Collins River at Shells Ford, near where McMinnville is today. Other places to cross the river were located closer to its mouth, like Flat Shoals Ford. During the 1800s, Reed's Ferry (later called Black's Ferry) helped people cross the river near the modern U.S. Highway 70S crossing.
Bridges Over the River
In the late 1800s, a businessman named Asa Faulkner built a wooden bridge across the river's mouth. Around 1900, Warren County built four more bridges over the river. However, a big flood in March 1902 destroyed Faulkner's bridge and two of the county's bridges.
The Tennessee Electric Power Company built the strong truss bridge that still stands at the river's mouth in 1916. They rebuilt and raised it in the mid-1920s. The current vehicle bridge, which is next to the old truss bridge, was built in the 1980s.
Fun and Recreation on the Collins River
Most of the Collins River is a "scenic river," which means it's protected for its natural beauty. However, the lower 42 miles (68 km) of the river lost this special title in 1983. So, the scenic designation now only applies to the upper parts of the river at Savage Gulf.
Exploring Savage Gulf
A large area of 15,590-acre (6,310 ha) at Savage Gulf is now a protected natural area. It's also part of South Cumberland State Park. The Collins Gulf Trail in Savage Gulf lets you hike along a part of the river as it flows down from the Cumberland Plateau.
Rock Island State Park
The lower part of the Collins River is part of Great Falls Lake. This lake was formed by Great Falls Dam, which is near where the Collins River meets the Caney Fork. The land that forms a loop between the Collins and Caney Fork rivers is part of Rock Island State Park. You can walk along the Collins River Trail in the park, which follows the wooded banks of the river.
Fishing for Muskie
The Collins River is one of the few rivers in Tennessee where you can find a good number of muskie, also known as muskellunge. These fish were put into various rivers in Tennessee, including the Collins River, from 1982 to 2006.
