Oconaluftee, North Carolina, US |
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| Usual Difficulty | II-III (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 3.2 Miles |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCONALUFTEE RIVER AT BIRDTOWN, NC | ||||
| usgs-03512000 | 300 - 10000 cfs | II-III | 00h21m | 525 cfs (rc= 0.0 ) |
Flow range for best boatability uncertain. Please help your fellow boaters with a comment or report. |
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We have no additional information about how various flows affect runnability (or playability) of this section of river. If you can provide additional information, please either directly contact the StreamTeam member for this reach, or add a 'comment' or a 'report' with your information to help out your fellow boaters.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCONALUFTEE RIVER AT BIRDTOWN, NC | ||||||||||||||||
| usgs-03512000 | 300 - 10000 cfs | II-III | 00h21m | 525 cfs (rc= 0.0 ) | ||||||||||||
|
Flow range for best boatability uncertain. Please help your fellow boaters with a comment or report. |
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16d16h49m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] |
Account of 01/26/12
|
n/a | Steve Pack |
| 17d11h47m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] |
Account of 01/26/12
|
n/a | Steve Pack |
| 17d11h57m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] |
Account of 01/26/12
|
n/a | Steve Pack |
| 17d11h57m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] |
Account of 01/26/12
|
n/a | Steve Pack |
| 17d12h04m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] |
Account of 01/26/12
|
n/a | Steve Pack |
| 17d12h07m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] |
Account of 01/26/12
|
n/a | Steve Pack |
| 17d18h49m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] |
Account of 01/26/12
|
1280 cfs | Steve Pack |
| 1y288d20h49m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] | Oconaluftee minimum | 1380 cfs | Kieth Crawford |
| 1y289d13h32m | /Oconaluftee-2. Smokemont Campground to Birdtown [NC] | Oconaluftee Minimum | 1000 cfs | Kieth Crawford |
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | Beck's Ledge | II+ | |
| 1.2 | Tow String Bridge | N/A |   |
| 1.5 | Elbow | III | |
| 2.7 | Mingus Mill Rapid | II | |
| 3.0 | Job Corps Bridge | II | |
| 3.2 | Oconaluftee Visitor's Center | N/A |  |
As the river approachs the road there is a fun rapid with a large boof rock in the center.
After the bridge the river turns to the southwet. From Smokemont Bridge to the the Tow String Bridge there is a road that paralles the river on rive left. US 441 is on river right. There is a fun wave and wave hold just above the bridge. There is a parking on river left, just downstream from the bridge.
The river is divided by an island. Do not take the channel to the left. It is often clogged with downed trees and the lines that are open involve boat busting rocks. Take the river right channel for a fun rapid with two offset ledges forming an elbow. Enter from the center, paddle to the right and then sharply to the left. To scout, there are eddies on the left side of the channel.
Take out on the eddies on river right, just below the path to the Heritage Farm
reach
state
reachlink
2. Smokemont Campground to Oconaluftee Visitor's Center, Oconaluftee North Carolina, US (mobile)
User Comments
There were a few strainers during this time but they were very easy to avoid.
after the second bridge you pass under (Tow String Rd.) It was easy enough to make it around and
under at this level but at higher levels the water would rise above it and create a hazard. You
can't see the strainer until you paddle through the second rapid after the bridge. This run is a
great alternative/upgrade from the Tuck gorge and has some nice boogie water. Would be better above
1000+ cfs closer to 1200. It would be really bumpy at 800 cfs. Edit
run is owned by the NPS, part of the run is owned by the Tow Line Road Community, and finally the
last few miles are owned by the Cherokee Indians. The river sees hundreds of commercial and
semi-commercail trips from local rent a rafters and tubers all summer.