Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts
All Upcoming Events
Pictured above: APEs members on the Nolichucky River. Photo by APEs member Patricia Johnson.
All Listings Below
Steele Creek Lake Cleanup
Bring your kayak, canoe or raft to help with a cleanup at beautiful Steele Creek Lake. Located in Bristol, TN, Steele Creek is a regional park encompassing more than 2,200 acres that has been open to the public since June 6, 1964.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Tuckasegee Paddle Meetup
Get ready for fantastic Class II rapids on the Tuckasegee Gorge. This 5.4-mile paddle is a favorite for whitewater and inflatable kayaks.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
Nantahala Paddle Meetup
It’s time for a lap on “The Nanty” with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts! It’s 8.2 miles of Class II paddling with one Class III at the end by Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) that can be portaged by exiting at the beaching area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Babes on the Waves Tuckasegee River Run
It’s time for the annual “Babes On The Waves” river run! Get ready for fantastic Class II rapids on the Tuckasegee Gorge. This 5.4-mile paddle has a number exciting rapids without major consequences if you swim. We are moving this annual event from the Lower Pigeon River in 2025 due to damage from Hurricane Helene. All are welcome, including men.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Annual Hiwassee River Weekend
Mark your calendar: It’s the annual APEs Hiwassee Weekend Trip with the Babes on the Waves joining in! Fellowship, fun and lots of laughs as we enjoy this fantastic Class II river.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
Nantahala Paddle Meetup
Get ready for a BIG WATER lap on “The Nanty” with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts! It’s 8.2 miles of Class II paddling with one Class III at the end by Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) that can be portaged by exiting at the beaching area.
Wilderness First Responder & CPR Certification in Partnership with NOLI
This 8-day class offers the most comprehensive level of wilderness medical training short of becoming a Wilderness EMT. This certification course is the gold standard for outdoor professionals and serious outdoor enthusiasts.
Watauga River Cleanup “Tailwater Roundup”
Join APEs for the Lower Watauga River Cleanup "Tailwater Roundup" sponsored by the Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The day will begin with free breakfast at the Ingles in Elizabethton, TN and end with a celebration at the Watauga River Lodge.
Wilderness First Responder and CPR Recertification in Partnership with NOLI
This class is for current WFRs and WEMTs who have completed a nationally recognized WFR or WEMT course. The WFR Recert is a three-day program designed to refresh information and recertify the attendees' existing certification.
ACA L4 Swift Water Rescue Instructor Training
Up your game with a two-weekend ACA L4 Swift Water Rescue Instructor Training class, which will be taught by Jordan Taylor, an ACA L4 Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Trainer and L5 Advanced Whitewater Kayaking Instructor.
Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certification in Partnership with NOLI
An intensive wilderness and first aid class with CPR add-on for those who want to be an asset to themselves and others by being prepared to treat injury and illness when help is not close-at-hand.
Lower Nolichucky Cleanup
There is SIGNIFICANT trash along the Lower Noli following Hurricane Helene, and the nonprofit Nolichucky Restoration Project needs our help with cleanup. Support APEs’ home river and help clean it up so that we can once again enjoy and paddle along these beautiful banks.
Watauga Bluffs Workday Cleanup
Hurricane Helene caused considerable damage to the Watauga Bluffs. Although the Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited (OMTU) usually conducts its annual cleanup during the Tailwater Roundup in March, the severity of debris and garbage in the area has made an additional cleanup necessary this year.
APEs Annual Winter Meeting
Join us for APEs annual winter meeting. This year we will have a potluck dinner, so bring your favorite main dish and/or side dish and, if possible, a dessert for our bake-off competition. Also, gather up your gear and bring it for the annual gear swap!
Noli First Timers
Join us for APEs’ crown jewel river trips on the Nolichucky Gorge (Class III-IV) and Lower Noli (Class I-II+)! A catered picnic will take place after we get off the water.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Madawaska Paddle School
Join members of Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts for a week of paddle school with certified instructors on the Madawaska and/or Ottawa Rivers in Ontario, Canada. The rivers are class Class II, III and IV depending on your choice of kayak class.
Annual Hiwassee River Weekend
Mark your calendar: It’s the annual APEs Hiwassee Weekend Trip with the Babes on the Waves joining in! Stay tuned for more information and the schedule.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
French Broad Section 9 Paddle Meetup
Get ready for an action-filled day of paddling with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiast on French Broad Section 9. This iconic 4.69-mile section of the river has Class II and (three) Class III rapids. You will experience beautiful scenery and diverse line options on this wide river.
Steele Creek Park Nature Paddle & Picnic
Bring your kayak/canoe/SUP to paddle and picnic with a naturalist from Steele Creek Park, who will be showing us around this pristine lake, identifying interesting flora and fauna living in the park—from owls to beaver!
Nantahala Paddle Meetup
It’s time for a lap on “The Nanty” with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts! It’s 8.2 miles of Class II paddling with one Class III at the end by Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) that can be portaged by exiting at the beaching area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Babes on the Waves Pigeon River Run
It’s time for the annual “Babes On The Waves” run on the Pigeon River! Once again, we will be staggering an upper run (class III+) and lower run (class II). Once a year all the female APE-ets come together to paddle. All are welcome, even men who don’t want to be left out.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Downriver Play Session
This intermediate class will challenge students to find more fun lines in rapids and squeeze every drop of play out of a river run. This full-day experience will teach you how to identify and explore more playful opportunities on the river.
Steele Creek Park Nature Paddle & Picnic
Bring your kayak/canoe/SUP to paddle and picnic with a naturalist from Steele Creek Park, who will be showing us around this pristine lake, identifying interesting flora and fauna living in the park—from owls to beaver!
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Nantahala Paddle Meetup
It’s time for a lap on “The Nanty” with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts! It’s 8.2 miles of Class II paddling with one Class III at the end by Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) that can be portaged by exiting at the beaching area.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.
2024 Nolichucky River Cleanup
Join Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts (APEs) for the annual Nolichucky River Cleanup, which we have been coordinating since 1987! Our focus will be on the section between USA Raft and “Big Rock.”
Paddle to the Grill Dinner Meetup
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP to meet with Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) for dinner and a paddle! We meet weekly during the summer at various locations on local area lakes in the Tri-Cities, TN area.
Lower Watauga Paddle Meetup
Come out for a fun class I-II afternoon paddle with APEs on the beautiful Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. The dam releases two units on Saturdays, and it makes for big waves and a great ride.