Hurricane Helene River Updates

Last updated: 1/11/26

In September 2024 Hurricane Helene significantly impacted Western North Carolina. Rivers affected include: French Broad, Green, Nolichucky, Pigeon, Toe, and Wilson Creek. Bottom line: The rivers have and will continue to change for some time, especially after high water events. Be safe.

French Broad 9: Barnard, Stackhouse and Hot Springs all open, a little less parking at Stackhouse. No significant changes to the rapids.

Noli: Construction for the Noli put-in is hopefully completed by WOR, but right now no put-in access or place to leave a vehicle at the top; you have to have a shuttle driver. Chestoah is open and is the only takeout option. Almost nothing on the river is the same; it would be wise to go with someone who has run it. Changes are too extensive to describe briefly but it’s a solid step up from what it was. Gauge is in feet now, runs down to the low 1’s with 2 being a solid medium and 4 being a solid high (it gets testy for Class III boaters above 2 now).  See also this recent trip report by Mort Cone

Pigeon: Take-outs for both Gorge and Lower are open. Put-in for the Gorge is at the Vegomatic bridge; keep cars at the top to a minimum to leave space for raft buses. Accelerator is more or less the same but all other rapids have significantly changed. It’s a step down from what it was (similar difficulty to the Nantahala) but more hazardous because of the I-40 repair project taking over the riverbed in places.

Green Summary

Green Narrows: The Green Narrows is a new river. Only natural flow for the foreseeable future.

Lower Green: Rapids haven’t changed much. Much debris in the river and Cove. See this extended video (1+hours) by Fast Fred for the Lower Green. Only natural flow for the foreseeable future. All of the bigger rapids seem steeper now. There is a bad rock to dodge 3/4’s of the way down Jacob’s Ladder (the one above the flat water above the spot formerly known as the surf wave). Safer to go left of it, even though right is deeper.

Wilson Creek: Closed

Toe Gorge: The good news is that the river is accessible and there is no debris in the river. The character of this section has not changed. The bad news is that the takeout is on private property and the owner asked that we not use the takeout until the debris is removed for fear of an injury. If you paddle another 1.9 miles down the river there is a parking area on river left, immediately after going under a hanging footbridge. There is a gravel pullout on the river side of the road, opposite a building which looks like it might have been a country store at on time.

Laurel Creek and South Holston near Damascus are runnable. Look for about minimum to be 100cfs higher than the old minimum. Run the rapid below the dam on the left rather than the old twisty right hand line.

Special thanks to Richard Ruhlen, Carrie Mann and Fast Fred  for updates