Click on a run's name for a brief description, links to more complete
descriptions, links to current weather reports, links and information on water
levels (especially online sources), links to photos, the season(s) it is
most often paddled, and directions from Asheville to the put ins and take outs
(including the distance in minutes from downtown Asheville driving at the
speed limit under normal traffic conditions to the take-out; click on a
run's distance to go to a route map). Click on a run's level to
go directly to its online gauge (or proxy, if one exists). An asterisk
next to a level's link indicates that the link is to a proxy gauge and that
alternative online gauges are available and discussed on the run's page of this
website. Additional runs are included in the tours
section of this website. Please read the Ratings
Guide, including the disclaimer, before
going any further.
Note: the levels listed below are estimates occasionally based
on time-honored rules of thumb, often based on a limited number of observations,
and sometimes based on pure speculation. Help improve the quality of
this information: help create virtual gauges, dial in existing gauges,
and win valuable prizes! Learn how here: The
River Gauges Project.
River or Creek
|
Class |
Level |
Distance |
Season |
Big Creek, Lower
(Downstream of NPS Campground) |
IV |
1200-2400
cfs* |
55 minutes |
March-April |
Big Creek, Upper
(Upstream of NPS Campground) |
V |
1200-3000
cfs* |
60 minute drive,
1-2 hour hike |
March-April |
Big Laurel Creek |
III-IV- |
300
cfs minimum* |
43 minutes |
Jan-April |
Big South Fork of the Cumberland, Burnt Mill Bridge to
Leatherwood Ford |
III-III+ |
400
cfs minimum |
210 minutes |
Nov-May |
Brush Creek |
|
|
|
|
Cataloochee Creek |
II-III (IV) |
130
cfs minimum |
40 minutes |
Jan-Apr |
Catawba, North Fork, Sevier to Lake James (Lower) |
II+ |
700
cfs minimum* |
55 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Citico Creek |
III-IV |
Over
3.5 feet and rising, heavy
rainfall in region* |
161 minutes |
After heavy, extended rain |
Chattooga, Section 3 |
III (IV+) |
600
cfs minimum |
120 minutes |
Dec-June |
Chattooga, Section 4 |
IV-IV+ |
300
cfs minimum |
145 minutes |
All |
Chauga Gorge |
IV |
1,000
cfs minimum* |
135 minutes |
March-April |
Cheoah |
III-IV+ |
4.6-5.4
feet optimum |
135 minutes |
After hurricane / severe storm
(for now) |
Crab Orchard Creek |
III-IV |
5,000
cfs minimum* |
164 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Crooked Fork Creek |
IV |
3,000
cfs minimum* |
180 minutes |
Feb-March |
Cullasaja, Lower |
V (V+) |
4.0
feet minimum |
75 minutes |
Nov-April |
Cullasaja, Middle |
IV-IV+ (V) |
4.0
feet minimum |
90 minutes |
Nov-April |
Daddy's Creek, Antioch Bridge to Devil's Breakfast Table (or
Obed Junction) |
III-IV |
550
cfs minimum |
220 minutes |
DBT closed Feb-Mar
Th-Tu in Apr |
Doe Gorge |
IV |
350
cfs minimum |
95 minutes |
Dec-April |
Elk River, Twisting Falls |
IV-V (VI) |
450
cfs minimum* |
120 minutes |
After heavy rain |
French Broad, Bent Creek to
Hominy Creek (Biltmore) |
I-II |
500
cfs minimum |
7 minutes |
All |
French Broad, Woodfin to Alexander
(Section 6) |
II |
500
cfs minimum |
19 minutes |
All |
French Broad, Rosman to Bent
Creek (multiple sections) |
I |
500
cfs minimum |
15-60 minutes |
All |
French Broad, Marshall to Barnard (Section 8) |
I-II |
500
cfs minimum |
36 minutes |
All |
French Broad, Barnard to Hot Springs
(Section 9) |
III (IV-) |
2,000-4,000
cfs optimum |
43 minutes |
All ( best levels in Spring) |
French Broad, North Fork |
IV-IV+ |
500-1,700
cfs optimum |
62 minutes |
Feb-March |
French Broad, West Fork |
IV-IV+ |
500-1,700
cfs optimum |
59 minutes |
Feb-March |
Gauley, Lower |
IV |
450
cfs minimum |
300 minutes |
All (but Sept-Oct most; dam release) |
Gauley, Upper |
IV-V- |
600
cfs minimum |
300 minutes |
All (but Sept-Oct most; dam release) |
Green (NC), Lower |
I-II |
Release information: 828-698-2068
800-829-5253
100% of one unit minimum |
60 minutes |
All (dam release) |
Green (NC), Narrows |
IV-V (2 @ 5+) |
42 minutes |
All (dam release) |
Green (NC), Upper |
II-III- (2 @ III+) |
37 minutes |
All (dam release) |
Ivy, Forks of Ivy to Eller Cove Road |
I-II (II+) |
200
cfs minimum* |
30 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Linville Gorge (Linville
Falls to Lake James) |
IV-V+
(3-4 @ VI) |
200-700
cfs |
65 minutes |
March-April |
Little (TN), Elkmont to Metcalf Bottoms |
II-III |
600
cfs minimum* |
120 minutes |
Jan-April |
Little (TN), Metcalf Bottoms to the Elbow (Sinks) |
IV-IV+ |
600
cfs minimum* |
130 minutes |
Jan-April |
Little (TN), Middle Prong (Tremont) |
IV |
1,200
cfs minimum* |
140 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Little Pigeon, Middle Prong, Porters Creek to Highway
73 (Greenbrier) |
II-III |
2,000
and rising*
All
Sevier 24 hrs
1"(W)-2+"(S)*
Newfound
G* |
85 minutes |
Jan-April |
Little Pigeon, Middle Prong, Trailhead to Porters
Creek (Ramsey Cascades) |
IV+ |
3,000
and rising*
All
Sevier 24 hrs
2"(W)-3+"(S)*
Newfound
G* |
95 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Little Pigeon, Lower West Prong (Picnic Area to Campbell
Overlook) |
V |
Newfound
24 hrs
1"(W)-1.5"(S)*
Newfound
G*
Chimney
SG?* |
85 minutes |
Jan-April |
Little Pigeon, Road Prong of the West Prong |
V |
Newfound
24 hrs
1"(W)-1.5"(S)*
Newfound
G*
Chimney S
G?* |
105 minutes,
1 mile hike |
After heavy rain |
Little Pigeon, Upper West Prong (Trailhead to Picnic Area) |
V-V+ |
Newfound
24 hrs
1"(W)-1.5"(S)*
Newfound
G*
Chimney S
G?* |
100 minutes |
Jan-April |
Little Pigeon, Upper Upper West Prong (Alum Cave to
Trailhead) |
V-V+ |
Newfound
24 hrs
1"(W)-1.5"(S)*
Newfound
G*
Chimney S
G?* |
105 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Little Tennessee |
II+ |
|
|
|
Little Tennessee |
II+ |
|
|
|
Mills, South Fork (Pink Beds to South Mills River Road) |
II (IV, portage) |
250
cfs minimum |
35 minutes |
Nov-June |
Nantahala, Cascades |
IV-V- |
4.2 feet on USGS gauge at Ferebee |
98 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Nantahala, Gorge (Beechertown
to Wesser) |
II+ (III) |
Release schedule:
828-488-2176, x426 |
85 minutes |
All (except Nov) |
New River Gorge |
III-IV |
2,000
cfs minimum |
265 minutes |
All |
Nolichucky, Gorge |
III-IV- |
500-2,500
cfs |
55 minutes |
All (but best levels in Spring) |
Nolichucky, Gorge |
IV |
Over
2,500 cfs |
55 minutes |
All (best levels in Spring) |
Obed, US 127 to Adams Bridge (Gould Bend) |
II-III (IV+) |
1,500
cfs minimum* |
188 minutes |
Dec-April |
Obed, Devil's Breakfast Table to Nemo |
III+ |
1,200
cfs minimum* |
185 minutes |
Dec-May |
Ocoee (Ocoee #2 Dam to below Ocoee #2 Powerhouse) |
III+ |
Release
Schedule
Virtual Gauge |
172 minutes |
End of March - Beginning of Nov |
Ocoee, Upper |
III+ |
Release
Schedule |
166 minutes |
May-September |
Oconaluftee |
II-III |
360
cfs minimum |
75 minutes |
Nov-July |
Overflow Creek |
V |
1,500
cfs and rising minimum* |
125 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Pigeon (Big), Gorge (Big
Creek to Hartford) |
III-III+ |
300
cfs minimum |
55 minutes |
All (mainly Summer; dam release) |
Pigeon (Big), Dries |
IV+ (2@V) |
600-1,500 cfs* |
55 minutes |
After hurricane / severe storm |
Pigeon (Big), Dries |
IV-IV+ (V) |
350-600 cfs* |
55 minutes |
After hurricane / severe storm |
Pigeon (Big), West Fork |
V |
280-1,000
cfs |
50 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Raven Fork, The Gorges |
V-V+ (VI) |
Trout
F SG 1.6
or 750-1,500
cfs* |
105 minute drive,
2 hour hike |
Feb-April |
Raven Fork, Straight Fork to Job Corps Center Bridge |
II-III |
650-2,000
cfs* |
78 minutes |
Jan-April |
Rocky Broad, Lower |
IV-V- |
Bat
Cave SG 4.2 minimum |
47 minutes |
Nov-April |
Rocky Broad, Upper |
IV-V- |
Bat
Cave SG ? |
40 minutes |
Nov-April |
Russell Fork of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy, Gorge |
IV-V |
6.3-8
feet* |
245 minutes |
All (but Oct most) |
Russell Fork of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy, Upper |
II-III (IV-) |
6.7
feet minimum* |
225 minutes |
All (but Oct most) |
Saluda, Middle Fork |
|
|
|
|
Santeetlah Creek, Lower |
III-IV |
Over
5 feet and rising, Chestnut
Flats 2" in 24 hrs* |
150 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Santeetlah Creek, Upper |
V |
Over
5 feet and rising, Chestnut
Flats 2" in 24 hrs* |
160 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Slickrock Creek |
IV-V |
Over
5 feet and rising, heavy
rainfall in region* |
130 minutes,
paddle to gauge |
After heavy, extended rain |
Snowbird Creek |
III-IV+ |
Over
5 feet and rising, Chestnut
Flats 2" in 24 hrs* |
130 minutes,
0-3 mile hike |
After heavy rain |
Spring Creek |
III-III+ (V) |
Meadow
Fork G
2" in 24 hours* |
42 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Swannanoa |
I-II |
100
cfs minimum |
10 minutes |
Oct-Aug |
Tallulah Gorge |
IV (V) |
450-1,200
cfs |
125 minutes |
Apr, Nov Releases |
Tellico, Middle (Bridge below Jerrods Knee to Oosterneck
parking area) |
III+ |
1.7-4
feet |
171 minutes |
Nov-April |
Tellico, Upper (First bridge above Bald River Falls to
bridge below Jerrods Knee) |
IV |
1.8-5
feet |
187 minutes |
Nov-April |
Toe River Gorge, Toecane to Red Hill Bridge |
II-III |
110
cfs minimum* |
60 minutes |
All |
Toe River, South Fork, Carolina Hemlocks to Patience
Mullindore Park |
I-II |
250
cfs minimum |
65 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Toe River, South Fork, Patience Mullindore Park to NC 80
Bridge |
II (III) |
250
cfs minimum |
55 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Tuckaseegee, Dillsboro to Barker's Creek |
II |
|
|
|
Tuckaseegee, Ela to Bryson City |
II |
|
|
|
Tuckaseegee, Whittier to Ela |
II (II+) |
|
|
|
Tuckaseegee, West Fork |
III-IV+ |
Dewatered
(for now) |
80 minutes |
Dewatered
(for now) |
Watauga Gorge |
IV-V- |
250-400
cfs optimum |
120 minutes |
Dec-May |
Wilson Creek, Gorge |
IV |
300
cfs and rising minimum* |
80 minutes |
Dec-May |
Yadkin, Upper |
IV |
150
cfs minimum |
90 minutes |
After heavy rain |
Yellow Creek |
|
|
|
|
|