Raven Fork near Cherokee TN
| River: | Raven Fork |
| Skill: | Intermediate+ |
| Trip Date: | 05/04/2025 |
Participants
Jim Mazzola, Jeff Hatcher, Wayne Jones, John McDonald, Tammy Laurick, Jim Wendling and me (Mort Barlaz)
Sometimes you get lucky and are in the right place at the right time. Things came together on Sunday May 4. The Raven Fork in the Smokies has just enough water. I had paddled this section a year ago and kept hoping to get back. Jim Mazzola knew the run and has done a wonderful job of cutting out wood when necessary (thanks Jim).
The Raven Fork is a 9 mile paddle that starts below the class 4/5 section and is largely a class 2+ with some class 3 rapids mixed in. It is a narrow creek with lots of potential strainers. It runs through the Cherokee Reservation, into the Oconaluftee and then into Cherokee, TN. While not pushy, excellent boat control is essential as there are lots of rocks to maneuver around. There is 1 significant rapid (Crack in the Rock) that requires scouting to confirm that it is strainer free. Otherwise, lots of long rapids with eddy hopping and boat scouting required. The creek passes through a number of campgrounds and there are lots of people trout fishing along the way.
Read more about this creek on rivers.run, including the story of why it is open to paddlers after many years when it was assumed that paddlers were not allowed. Here too, thanks to Jim Mazzola for getting this sorted out.
Maybe we will get enough rain for this creek to be an optin at Week of Rivers!