Mullen’s Creek flows off Signal Mountain through the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management area. It is a rarely paddled gem for the Chattanooga area creek boater. It is set in a beautiful gorge with probably the best water quality on the ridge. It also holds its water very well, since it is located in a WMA. It is the definition of Chattanooga IV+. It is a fairly continuous series of manky boulder gardens. The gorge has one large Class V+ and a few that teeter in-between IV+ and V- depending on the water level.
Chris McCoy on one of the Class V's
Jon Willerson in the Runout Below the first Big Rapid
Why Mullen’s Creek is rarely paddled?
First off if Mullen’s is running Suck Creek and Cain/ North Chick are running. Cain/ North Chick is the Quintessential Chattanooga Classic, and well Suck Creek is for the cool kids. Both Suck and Cain/N. Chick have easy shuttles and are open to the public year round.
Secondly Mullen’s Creek is a lot harder logistically speaking. The shuttle is LONG and the put in easy not that easy to find. Also if it is Turkey season the WMA is closed.
Jon Willerson on some Classic Class IV
Chris McCoy Typical Mullen's Creek Rapid
Jon Willerson on the biggest Rapid in the Lower Section
The Run
Mullen’s Creek is a IV-V run. It is harder than Cain/ N. Chick, but easier than Suck. Everything on Mullen’s Creek is runnable to the Solid Class V boater. If you choose to portage, the portages are all very easy and require minimal boulder scrambling. Remember Mullen’s is very similar in nature to Suck Creek. It is very manky and can be abusive on gear.Once you find the put in, it is only a short hike down a very steep 4x4 road. Here you will find the most pristine put in on the Ridge. You have a short class II paddle to warm up. As the gradient picks up look out because the first set of rapids are the largest on the run. After these few rapids the difficulty eases up back to solid IV+. Most of the rapids are read and run boulder garden style rapids. (They are very similar to the rapids on the boulder garden section of Pocket Creek) This first section eventually eases up as you travel down, but don’t let your guard down it will pick back up. The second section is just as quality as the first, but slightly easier with one rapid that is significantly harder than the others in this section. As this section eases, enjoy the beauty of this gorge and the clear water as you paddle the run out to the take out bridge.
Chris McCoy Smooth as Usual
Mullen’s Creek is a must do for the aspiring explorer. It is off the beaten path, and you will see nobody else. It is a very good step up run too, but remember this is not a road side run. Most will probably never do this run, and the few groups that do will probably be one trip and done; but the select few that enjoy the solitude and beauty of wild places, they will return again and again. Mullen’s Creek doesn’t have as quality of rapids or the “Gnarr factor” as many of the other Chattanooga area runs, but it makes up for that with the quality of your surroundings. If you are interested in a full day of fun, manky rapids in a secluded pristine wilderness area, than this run may be for you; or you could always just go do laps on Suck.
