So far this summer life has been pretty hectic, we have kept busy with home-improvement projects and health issues. Here it is July already, today with temperatures predicted in the upper nineties, we're finally going to get a late start on swimming season. I have chosen Tin Hole at Carver Landing as someplace new to check out.
We have been to
Carver many times, usually it’s nothing more than a pit-stop on our way further
south. Since Carver is so easy to get to,
I wonder how we've overlooked Tin Hole for this long. We drive down the Carver Campground Road east off of Highway 123, past the campground and restroom all
the way to the Buffalo River canoe launch area at the confluence with Big
Creek. Here we turn right, upstream less
than 100 yards to a shady area close to the highway bridge over the
Buffalo.
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gravel bar at Carver Landing (pic taken in winter)
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Tin Hole just downstream of
river mile 63 is supposed to be right here between Big
Creek and the bridge, and other than the bridge itself this is a very pretty and
serene location. Plenty of shade and
we’re parked right next to the water, so other than the occasional car crossing
the bridge high above this is a great place for a day camp. The only problem: Tin Hole is gone, evidently
filled in with gravel.
I splash around
up and down the river from Big Creek up well past the bridge to a nice rock
patio at the water’s edge and I never do find anywhere much more than waist
deep. Not really what we’re looking for,
but a great place for little kids to play in the water. Since we never actually get settled in, it only takes a minute to
throw our stuff back in the truck. But
before we go, I meet a young park ranger who tells us he just started with the
NPS less than a month ago and he ‘absolutely loves his job’.
I can see why, he’s a ranger not park
maintenance, his job description involves driving from one public use area to
the next talking to visitors and reporting any potential ‘issues’ he may
encounter, what’s not to love. We talk
about a stray dog that has been here for a few days, he fears someone has
abandoned it. He has some dog treats in his pocket and hopes to catch him and try to find him a nice
home. We wish him luck, and we’re on our
way.
Well, for a rating of Tin Hole: it’s very easy to get to, and like I
said we can park right at the edge of the river. For accessibility it doesn’t get much better
than this, a well-deserved 5. Amenities
though is a little harder to say, for a young family this possibly could rate a
5 as well, but since we’re looking for a place to actually swim, I can’t give Tin Hole much, the
beach is nice and shady though so a 1 for amenities.
We don’t see many people around today but of
course we don’t hang around long enough to find out. My young friend the Park Ranger says Carver
‘fills up on weekends’ so let’s just say a 3 for popularity. For Tin
Hole: 9 then, which I believe is too generous. But other than the bridge, this is a lovely
spot on the river so come on down and rate Tin Hole for yourself.
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