Big Laurel Creek, North Carolina, US

Hurricane to Hot Springs

Usual Difficulty	III-IV (for normal flows)
Length	7 Miles
Avg. Gradient	50 fpm
Max Gradient	80 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
IVY RIVER NEAR MARSHALL, NC
usgs-03453000	250 - 2000 cfs	III-IV	00h17m	157 cfs (rc= -0.1 )

River Description

The putin for this run is in Hurricane, NC. The takeout is in Hot Springs, NC. Big Laurel drops 200 feet in 3.7 miles before flowing into the French Broad, the last 3.3 miles of the run. To avoid paddling the French Broad, take out in Runion (below Stackhouse).

Shuttle Directions: From Hot Springs, take US 25 north for 4.7 miles to Hurricane, NC. In Hurricane, US 25 turns right at a stop sign, just after passing over Big Laurel Creek. Turn right, following US 25 north. The putin is immediately on the right from the large gravel parking area.

From the gravel parking lot at the putin, turn left onto US 25 south and take an immediate left, following US 25 to Hot Springs. Continue on US 25 south for 4.7 miles. In Hot Springs, turn right just before the bridge over the French Broad River onto Paint Rock Rd. At the end of this road, turn left onto Lovers Leap Rd. Pass under the US 25 bridge and the takeout is just upstream of the bridge. A public, dirt parking lot is available at the end of the road if parking is not available at one of the commercial outfits at the takeout.

To run only the Big Laurel portion of this run, head south for 2.0 miles from the put-in in Hurricane on US25. Turn right onto Stackhouse Rd (NC-1139). The road ends at a riverside parking area in Runion.

Reference the French Broad, NC -Bernard to Hot Springs (Section 9) AWA page for more information on the last 3.3 miles of this run.

Typical Weather Conditions for Hot Springs, NC

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High (F)	47	50	60	70	77	84	87	87	81	71	61	50
Average Low (F)	27	30	37	44	52	59	63	63	57	46	38	31

See also Chris Bell's Asheville-Area Boating Beta Page.