Knowing Your Target WOR Rivers
Knowing Your Target Rivers
If you’re a new paddler, the morning meeting can be a confusing place to decide on a daily river trip. It helps to familiarize yourself with the rivers of the area ahead of time. Please take a moment to read up on the rivers that match your skill level – especially the standard options, which are most likely at WOR without significant rainfall. Follow the links to the American Whitewater river descriptions for more detailed information about each run. And make sure to bookmark syotr.org and rivers.run for a fairly comprehensive look at river gauges.
The Old Reliable – Standard WOR Options
Standard rivers that we can expect to reliably paddle on any given year at WOR when we’ve been experiencing typical summer rainfall levels. Many in this category are dam release rivers with a handful of natural flow options that reliably have water even in the summer. These rivers are listed by approximate skill level.
Good Lord Willing and the Creeks DO Rise…
With a little help from the skies, we often see a few of our favorite WOR natural flow treats pop up, depending on where the rain falls and how extensive the storms are. These rivers are commonly on the WOR wish list.
Each river includes its Keel Haulers River Rating (KH) where available. You can rate your own ability for comparison.
Beginner Rivers (Standard options)
Lower Pigeon (KH 12, dam release T/W/Th/Sa) – Lots of small ledge rapids that can provide some play.
Hiwassee (KH 13, dam release) – The river is beautiful, clear and wide. As noted by William Nealey, ‘this is an excellent river for family outings, canoeing, tubing, rafting and beginning whitewater instruction.’ This five mile plus section offers several playful Class II rapids, and with its width, the opportunity for many lines. For the most part, the best water is near river left and on the left channels around the islands.
Tuckasegee – Town Tuck (KH 13, dam release) – A delightful novice run at normal levels with many access points between Darnell Farms and the old NC 288 boat launch. The ledges section, below the US 19 bridge to Island Park offers many routes to navigate the gentle ledges that cross the river. Island Park hosts Devil Dip on river left, easily avoidable in the center and Bryson Shoals, a fun ledge drop with several routes. Great area for working on your stern squirts on river right just below Bryson Shoals where multiple currents come together. Long flat section just below there. Take out on the right just above Mountain Layers Brewing or continue downstream. Below the second bridge, (Slope Street) an island splits the river. Bus Garage is a fun class 2 rapid in the left channel. the right channel, run on the FAR right is also an option. There is a nice little ledge to surf on or do peel outs on river right at the bottom of the island. Continue down to the trestle rapid (Class II) and takeout on river left at the park. For a longer run, continue down to the 288 boat launch. In the winter and spring time, this lower section offers a nice series of ledges.
Tuckasegee – Tuck Gorge (dam release)
Lower Green (dam release)
Little Tennessee Beautiful and easy beginner run with close access to NOC. At 950 cfs it’s all class I-II with about 4 ledges where you can find some small but surprisingly stronger than expected spots for learning to side-surf and hold your edge. There are numerous access points on Needmore Rd, (river left). In the winter time when the lake is low, the last rapid, called “The Narrows”, is in play. It’s a series of 2 drops about 40 yards apart. Stay to the right. Access the Narrows run from Sawmill Creek Rd, off of NC 28. Once under the Sandling Bridge, take out immediately on the right at Hipsher Cove. This a tough, muddy climb. Another takeout option is to continue paddling down around the Almond Boat Dock and take out at the NC 28 bridge. This will add about an hour to your trip.
The last rapid—the Narrows—is a tad tougher than Nantahala Falls, but without the Class-2 entrance.
Novice Rivers (Standard options)
Upper Green (dam release schedule on-line) – Typically would need an early start from the campground, as releases often end at noon. Also need a Green Key for the parking lot at the takeout. Long uphill hike from takeout to parking lot. Contains two bigger rapids that can be really fun and eye-opening for novice paddlers looking to step up.
Nantahala (KH 19, dam release every day). Classic Southeastern novice river with lots of skill building opportunities. Water is cold, even in the heat of summer. Need to purchase USFS day ($2) or year ($10) pass before paddling from most outfitters.
Novice Rivers (Wish list)
Little River (Elbow to Y) – Fun introduction to creeking for novice paddlers.
Oconaluftee – Also a good beginner creek run in the Smokies, but is known to collect wood.
Novice+ Rivers (Standard options)
French Broad, Section IX (KH 21 at 2000 cfs) – Big, wide, warm river. Take out at Stackhouse for shorter run or continue to Hot Springs which includes two more challenging rapids (III/IV) on the right side.
Intermediate Rivers (Standard options)
Cheoah *ELF* (dam release) – This is typically a class IV+ river, but at minimum (Extremely Low Flow) releases of ~100 CFS, the last few miles of the Cheoah can be fun introduction to creeking. Good boat control recommended. Keep groups small.
Upper Pigeon (KH 21, dam release T/W/Th/Sa) – Great class III run with a few good play spots. Good step up from Nantahala and a benchmark run for those who are hoping to paddle the Ocoee.
Chattooga Section III (KH 22) – Put-in options include Earl’s Ford (longer run) or Sandy Ford (more common for WOR trips). Beautiful Wild & Scenic River with some fun class III rapids. Trip ends below Bull Sluice rapid, which can be portaged.
Upper Nantahala (dam release) This is a great run either at a creeky level or with a lot of water. The entire run is road scoutable.
Chattooga Section 3.5 (KH 22) – Bottom half of Section III plus the top half of Section IV, taking out at Woodall Shoals. Includes Bull Sluice but avoids the Five Falls.
Middle Ocoee (KH 25, dam release M/Th/F/Sa/Su) – Fun & playful class III-III+ river with a wide variety of lines and challenging moves, along with a LOT of rafts.
Nolichucky (KH 25 at 1800 cfs) – Beautiful river with most of the challenging rapids in the first two miles. Varies from class III at low flows to IV at higher levels. Hire a shuttle driver ($20/car) at USA Raft to drive your car back to the takeout to save time unwinding the long shuttle.
Upper Ocoee (KH 28, dam release Sa/Su) – Much bigger / pushier water than Middle Ocoee, especially through Olympic Section and Roach Motel.
Intermediate Rivers (Wish list)
Hepco – Extended notes from Lee Thonus
Middle Tellico (KH 22) – Arguably the most fun class II-III river on the board. Lots of interesting creeky rapids but is mostly drop/pool in nature. All roadside.
Pigeon, East Fork – May be an option when everything else is too high. Starts with a creeky section with one mandatory portage, then features several long wave train rapids with some good play spots. Was a pleasant and unexpected discovery during 2013 Week of Rain.
Little River (Elkmont – Metcalf Bottoms) – Great Smokies creeking option for those who aren’t quite ready for the Sinks-Elbow section.
Big Laurel (KH 25 at 4000 cfs) – Fun creeky river with a few bigger rapids. Creek joins French Broad along Windy Flats, so most paddle down FB9 through Kayaker’s Ledge and Frank Bells to the takeout in Hot Springs. Show some love for the Laurel River Store at the put in, as they help us with visual gauge reports.
Santeetlah Creek (Lower section) – Check this short but fun creek out on the way to or from the Tellico, or combine with Snowbird Creek. No gauge to speak of – use judgement at put-in looking downstream towards the bridge. Short lake paddle to takeout.
Spring Creek – Super fun creek that starts with a bang – some awesome rapids in the first quarter mile. Look for at least 12” on the bridge gauge in Hot Springs for optimal flow.
Middle Prong Little Pigeon (a.k.a. Greenbrier) – Very continuous creek in the Smokies requiring good boat control and water reading skills.
Little River (Sinks – Elbow) (KH 27) – Classic Smokies creek. Biggest rapids (Sinks & Elbow) at start and end of run can be easily walked. You’ll be the star of many Smokies visitors’ vacation photos as the river is mostly roadside.
Upper Tellico (a.k.a. “Ledges”) (KH 28 at 500 cfs) – Some fun and photo worthy ledge drops before the big plunge at Baby Falls. Jared’s Knee, a long class IV rapid, marks the end of this section.
Citico Creek – reports of a lot of wood in Citico in recent years
Advanced Rivers (Standard options)
Chattooga Section IV (KH 31 at 1.8′) – Beautiful, classic Southeastern river with a few well known hazards to avoid. Finishes with the excitement of the Five Falls, only to be followed by a long lake paddle to the takeout.
Advanced Rivers (Wish list)
Wilson Creek (KH 29 at 0″) – A long way from WOR as a day trip but folks from outside SE might really enjoy a rare opportunity to catch this river. Changes character significantly with water level.
North Fork French Broad (KH 29)
Big Creek (KH 34) – The runs here are similar to being out West on the steep continuous runs there. The lower section of Big Creek offers a great step up in steep creeking for the paddler looking to expand their horizons.
Pigeon, West Fork (KH 36)