BIRCHWOOD KAYAK FIELD GUIDE
Paddling Through Jurassic Park: Winter Sandhill Cranes at Hiwassee Island
A 3-hour winter kayak tour from Cherokee Removal Memorial led by Chattanooga Guided Adventures to see thousands of overwintering sandhill cranes; this guide explains what to expect on the water and what to bring.
Paddling Through Jurassic Park: Winter Sandhill Cranes at Hiwassee Island.
Each winter, shallow, warmer waters around Hiwassee Island outside Chattanooga become a staging ground for thousands of sandhill cranes. On this guided, beginner-friendly kayak tour you paddle the river edge among feeding and roosting birds, listen to their resonant calls, and warm up with hot chocolate afterward.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Thousands of sandhill cranes up close
The tour’s centerpiece is the sheer number and presence of sandhill cranes—five-foot-tall, roughly 14‑pound birds—gathered around Hiwassee Island in winter. You’ll hear their calls across the water and watch flights and social dances as the birds feed and roost.
Paddling the shores of Hiwassee Island
The route threads the shallow waters around Hiwassee Island where cranes land and feed; paddlers glide close enough to observe behavior without disturbing the birds on this eco kayak tour.
Cold-weather kit and a warm finish
The operator supplies winter neoprene paddle mittens (poagies), a waterproof jacket and drip skirt to keep paddlers warm, and serves hot chocolate or apple cider after the trip to warm up.
What the day feels like
What the trip feels like
For three hours you paddle gentle river water from a shared launch, moving into the shallow, warmer channels that attract the cranes. The experience mixes quiet, close-range wildlife observation with the tactile rhythm of paddling; binoculars are used for extended viewing and guests can help record sightings for citizen‑science checklists.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits best
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The tour operates in winter from November through the last weekend in February; peak sandhill crane viewing is approximately the third week of December through the second week of February.
Expect a three-hour outing; the meeting point is the Cherokee Removal Memorial.
The operator provides neoprene paddle mittens (poagies), a waterproof jacket and a drip skirt; guests should dress for winter conditions and may use binoculars for viewing.
Hot chocolate or apple cider is provided at the end of the trip to warm participants after paddling in cold weather.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Do I need previous kayaking experience?
No kayaking experience is needed; the tour is beginner-friendly and guided.
How long is the tour?
The tour duration is three hours.
Where do we meet?
The meeting location is the Cherokee Removal Memorial.
When is the best time to see sandhill cranes?
Peak season for sandhill cranes is roughly the third week in December through the second week in February; the tour operates November through the last weekend in February.
What gear is provided and is there a warm-up after paddling?
The operator provides winter neoprene paddle mittens (poagies), a waterproof jacket and a drip skirt; complimentary hot chocolate or apple cider is served after the trip.
Can I contribute to bird counts during the tour?
Yes—guides encourage using eBird to record sightings and help with citizen-science counts after tours.