Nemo Rapids
Clear Creek runs into the Obed River north of the Nemo Rapids, and the Emory River runs into the combined waters just above the Nemo Bridge. The water flowing under the bridge is considered the Emory River from there.
At the Nemo Access, you will find a modern new bridge (the William Harry Kries Memorial Bridge) on which to cross the Emory River. However, the old steel girder bridge still stands, brightly rusting, as a pedestrian bridge for hikers. You have a feeling of walking back in time as you casually stroll across the river to the far side. It may be then, for the first time, out on this bridge, that you hear a distant rushing of water. It’s the powerful Class III rapids just 2 to 300 yards south of the bridge!
Down off the bridge, you can walk beneath both bridges to a sandy beach, where it’s obvious that generations have swum there in the summer, and perhaps partied there after dark. There are some broken beer bottles around, so that provides evidence that it still occurs today.
Following the sound of the water around the sandy shore, you will eventually come to the “Nemo Rapids”. The Emory takes a dramatic left turn just below the bridge and heads straight into a rock wall. This steep rocky bluff forces the Emory to then turn back south and head on toward Oakdale, Tennessee, which is 10 miles further down stream. It then flows more slowly past Harriman and finally into the combined waters of the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers.
Nemo Rapids
Clear Creek runs into the Obed River north of the Nemo Rapids, and the Emory River runs into the combined waters just above the Nemo Bridge. The water flowing under the bridge is considered the Emory River from there.
At the Nemo Access, you will find a modern new bridge (the William Harry Kries Memorial Bridge) on which to cross the Emory River. However, the old steel girder bridge still stands, brightly rusting, as a pedestrian bridge for hikers. You have a feeling of walking back in time as you casually stroll across the river to the far side. It may be then, for the first time, out on this bridge, that you hear a distant rushing of water. It’s the powerful Class III rapids just 2 to 300 yards south of the bridge!
Down off the bridge, you can walk beneath both bridges to a sandy beach, where it’s obvious that generations have swum there in the summer, and perhaps partied there after dark. There are some broken beer bottles around, so that provides evidence that it still occurs today.
Following the sound of the water around the sandy shore, you will eventually come to the “Nemo Rapids”. The Emory takes a dramatic left turn just below the bridge and heads straight into a rock wall. This steep rocky bluff forces the Emory to then turn back south and head on toward Oakdale, Tennessee, which is 10 miles further down stream. It then flows more slowly past Harriman and finally into the combined waters of the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers.