Spring Creek, North Carolina, US
|
|
Route 1171 to NC Route 209 in Hot Springs
| Usual Difficulty |
III-IV(V) (for normal flows) |
| Length |
7 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
80 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
100 fpm |
good view of first rapid
good view of first rapid
Gauge Information
| Name |
Range |
Difficulty |
Updated |
Level |
|
IVY RIVER NEAR MARSHALL, NC
|
|
usgs-03453000 |
200 - 2000 cfs
|
III-IV(V) |
01h08m |
138
cfs
(rc= -0.4 ) |
Flow range for best boatability uncertain. Please help your fellow boaters with a comment or report. |
River Description
Spring creek cuts a deep gorge as it drops into Hot Springs. This run really starts off with some
good drops. The major rapids begin a few yards from the put-in and when the creek is rally running
they are somewhat intimidating. The first mile consists of almost non-stop ledges and boulder
gardens. Unfortunately these things can?t keep up forever and Spring creek begins to slow after the
first mile. By the end of the second mile, all of the big stuff is done and the creek consists of
small ledges or rock gardens. There is one major exception. After Spring Creek emerges from the
gorge and reaches NC 209 it has one final big drop. The most dangerous and largest rapid on the
creek is less than a half mile above Hot Springs. The rapid drops over 10 feet into a monstrous
rocky hole and then slams into a rock wall. Unless you are dead set on running this rapid it seems
logical to take out above the final drop and skip the last urban section of Spring Creek. There are
no real rapids so if you can get to off the river safely after the NC 209 intersection go ahead and
do so. Otherwise paddle down into town and take out.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2006-11-04 11:28:00
Playing on Spring Creek
Spring Creek Ledges
User Comments
far river right. After paddling around the right of the tree, the normal line is to ferry back to
river left for sweeping S turn back to the right then downstream. There is a 4"-6" diameter tree
just under water across the entire river in this turn. At lower levels, it is likely a major
hazard. The only sign of this tree was a branch sticking out of the water on the river right. At a
level of 1'4", we discovered it by bumping the trunk with the hull of our boats. Be safe!
limits. It is about a ten foot double ledge. A rock splits the narrow channel. The left is tight,
but doable, the right leads into a rock, so you better hug the rock splitting the river. The hole
after the second drop looks rough. In the pool after the drops there is a submerged rock in the
middle and some wood on the left. For a better description, this drop is in the Benner guidebook.