Great Loop: Tennessee River & Inland Rivers Guide

The Inland Rivers and the Tennessee River form an important part of the Great Loop. This southern-bound route starts from the rivers to the north, such as those in Chicago and the Great Lakes region, down to the Gulf Coast.

The America's Great Loop Cruisers Association (AGLCA) has categorized the Inland Rivers as one of the important Great Loop sections. The main Inland Rivers Great Loop route comprises the Illinois River, Mississippi River, Ohio River, Tennessee River, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Mobile Bay, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

The Inland Rivers section is not a coastal cruising area. Several factors affect planning the passage in this route: commercial traffic, locks and dams, variable water levels, current, bridges, and navigational alerts.

What Are the Great Loop Inland Rivers?

The Inland Rivers segment is not a single river but a combination. Most commonly, a Great Loop voyage going south will begin by traveling down the Illinois River to the Mississippi River, using the Ohio River to get to the Tennessee River and proceed onward to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

According to AGLCA, the Great Loop is a route consisting of 6,000 miles of travel, although depending on routes and side trips, the exact mileage may vary. The inland rivers segment is one of the essential components of the loop according to AGLCA.

As there are multiple routes and side trips available, not all Loopers necessarily follow the exact route.

Illinois and Mississippi Rivers

From the Chicago region, the Illinois River connects the Chicago waterways to the Mississippi River. The Illinois River joins the Mississippi at the vicinity of Grafton, Illinois.

The Mississippi River is one of the busiest commercial waterways in the US, and Loopers can expect to encounter commercial boats and barges in particular areas.

The Mississippi also introduces a practical planning consideration: river levels and currents can affect travel speed and route decisions. Captains should therefore use current navigation information rather than relying solely on an old itinerary or expected mileage.

The Ohio River Connection

After reaching the Mississippi, most Great Loopers will find it necessary to navigate the Ohio River prior to getting into the Tennessee River System. The Ohio River is one of the main water routes of the Loop according to AGLCA.

The Ohio River is another commercial water route that features locks and dams. There are several navigation locks on the river managed by the USACE, such as the Olmsted lock and Smithland lock, and other locks upstream from there.

Commercial traffic should be taken into consideration. Leave enough space for towboats and barges and listen to your VHF communications if necessary. Do not assume that your recreational vessel has precedence just because it is smaller.

Entering the Tennessee River

The Tennessee River serves as one of the essential links in the Great Loop in the south. The Tennessee River starts from the area of the Ohio River and continues down through western and central Tennessee, moving to the east and ending near Knoxville.

As for the Great Loop itself, it is mostly the part that goes from the Ohio River area to Pickwick Lake and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The AGLCA counts about 215 miles of the Tennessee River as the route of the Great Loop, while longer stretches toward Chattanooga and Knoxville serve as interesting detours.

The Tennessee River is regulated by several navigation locks and dams. The Tennessee River navigation locks include those in Kentucky, Pickwick, Wilson, Wheeler, Guntersville, Nickajack, Chickamauga, Watts Bar, and Fort Loudoun, according to USACE.

Not all of these locks are located on the main route of the Great Loop. Some of them are found when traveling further to the east, toward Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Tennessee River Locks and Navigation

Locking is an essential skill on the inland rivers. According to USACE, the lockmaster has jurisdiction over vessels in the lock and its approaches, and safety is the first concern during lockage.

It is advisable to know the status of the lock and any navigation notice prior to approaching it because lockage operations, restrictions, closures, and operations vary from time to time.

TVA has information concerning navigation on the Tennessee River, such as elevations of the reservoirs, dam releases, navigation contacts, and lock information. The navigation contacts TVA provides include Tennessee River locks from Fort Loudoun to Kentucky Lock.

Kentucky Lake and Pickwick Lake

There are two significant reservoirs in this section of the route, namely, Kentucky Lake and Pickwick Lake. They are navigable reservoirs rather than typical free-flowing river channels.

Weather conditions may affect large stretches of open water, and therefore, lake navigation should not be compared with navigating narrow rivers. Weather, visibility, handling of vessels, and water level should be taken into account before setting off.

Eventually, the route of the Tennessee River passes Pickwick Lake, where Loopers will have the chance to connect to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway near the Alabama-Mississippi state line.

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, nicknamed the Tenn-Tom, is the route from the Tennessee River system to Mobile Bay.

According to USACE, the waterway consists of river, canal, and divide segments, with a total of 10 locks and dams lifting 341 feet. The authorized navigational depth for the waterway is 9 feet on the river segment and 12 feet on the canal and divide segments.

These are project specifications and do not mean that at all locations depths of 9 or 12 feet are guaranteed to be available. Prior to navigating and during the journey, it is always best to know current navigation depths.

The Tenn-Tom route finally brings one through the Tombigbee and Mobile River systems to Mobile Bay, where the Inland Rivers leg of the Great Loop becomes the Gulf Coast part.

Navigation Challenges on the Inland Rivers

Inland Rivers call for a new way of thinking compared to coastal cruising. Stage, river current, traffic on the river, locks, river debris, bridge clearance, and changing navigation conditions may all impact your daily progress on the river.

Preparation before sailing should include:

• Current USACE navigation alerts
• Stage of river and water depth
• Conditions of locks and information
• Electronic navigation charts
• Bridge clearance
• Weather forecast
• Traffic on the river
• Draft and air draft of the vessel
• Availability of fuel and stops along the way

You should not prepare a daily schedule based on a certain mile mark. The time you spend traveling may be different from what was planned.

Tennessee River Side Trips

The Tennessee River also provides numerous side trip opportunities for Loopers who have more time to spend.

According to AGLCA, Chattanooga and Knoxville represent Tennessee River side trips. To reach Chattanooga one needs to keep going upstream after the Loop. Knoxville lies farther up.

Those side trips could be quite long, so they should be viewed as additions to the route rather than as components of the Great Loop by themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Tennessee River a part of the Great Loop?

Yes. The AGLCA recognizes the Tennessee River as a part of the main rivers that make the Great Loop. The Great Loop route includes some portions of the Tennessee River followed by Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

Which rivers form the Great Loop Inland Rivers segment?

The main route covers portions of the following rivers: Illinois River, Mississippi River, Ohio River, Tennessee River and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, ending at Mobile Bay.

How many locks does the Tennessee River have?

USACE reports that there are nine locks on the Tennessee River: Kentucky, Pickwick, Wilson, Wheeler, Guntersville, Nickajack, Chickamauga, Watts Bar, and Fort Loudoun. However, not all of them belong to the Great Loop route.

Can I take the Cumberland River instead?

Yes. The Cumberland River provides a Great Loop side-trip opportunity, including access toward Nashville. AGLCA identifies Nashville as a side trip from the main Inland Rivers route.

What is the Tenn-Tom Waterway?

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway connects the Tennessee River at Pickwick Lake with Mobile Bay via the Tombigbee and its connecting canal sections. This is one of the most important southern connections on the Great Loop.

What is the greatest navigation challenge?

There is no general navigation problem applicable to all vessels. Commercial vessels, locks, water levels, currents, weather conditions, bridges, and changing navigation challenges can all impact the journey. Up-to-date information and prudent planning are critical.

Conclusion

The Tennessee River and Inland Rivers section provides Great Loopers with a unique mix of major rivers, lakes, locks, commercial navigation, and inland scenery. From the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers and then the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, this section connects the north and south sections of the Loop.

The most prudent strategy is to plan taking into account current water conditions, not the fixed mileage of the route. Look up the information from USACE, check the water level, know how to operate locks, be aware of the commercial navigation, and always have updated charts.

For Loopers who are about to embark on this part of the journey, proper navigation information is critical. Our GPS Nautical Charts will give you the best charting resources for your Great Loop trip.