Chauga, South Carolina, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | IV (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 9.8 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 40 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 150 fpm |
A little more flatwater leads into another gorge. The next couple of miles are the steepest on the river. There is some great boogie water, some big rapids, and some good ledge drops.
The named drops in this section include Black Hole, Zoom Floom, and Edge of the World. Edge of
the World is worth a good scout. The rapid features a big undercut on the bottom left, and a
large tree running lengthwise thru the rapid. This drop always has wood in it, but can usually be
run.
The next four rapids are pretty good. The first one was a riverwide hole with a break on the
right. Then a big s-turn type drop. Next was a big slide. Then finally a big low head damn
looking drop. Then some more flatwater.
Eventually you come to a smaller second gorge. There were 4 more good rapids in that gorge.
Then there is a bunch more flatwater, possibly two miles worth. And after the stuff you just ran its going to feel like the current has come to a complete halt. But then there will be another increase in gradient. There will be two or three good rapids followed by Riley-Moore Falls. The falls is about a fifteen footer. Water levels will dictate where to run the falls. The falls is at one of the widest points of the river, hence the shallowest on the approach. Look for at least 6 inches on the gauge for the falls to be running. After the falls its about a mile and half to the takeout.
There is an option of a short take-out above the falls, but it takes 4 wheel drive and locked
hubs to get down to the river. In my opinion, if the river is at a good level its easier to use
the standard takeout. And if the river is at a good level, Riley Moore Falls is runnable. Why
miss out on a perfectly good waterfall??
Brad Roberts
Updated August 2003
One foot is about optimal. The run is solid class 4 at one foot.
Above a foot the runs starts to grow some big holes. Riverwide sloping ledge holes.
The Chauga is not really recommended above two feet on the gauge.
For the Chauga to be running look for the Chattooga to be two feet and going up.
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | First Slide | IV |  |
| 0.7 | First Slide - Right line | IV |  |
| 1.2 | Super Soc Em Dog | IV | |
| 2.9 | Second Gorge Slide | III | |
| 3.0 | Blackhole | III+ | |
| 3.9 | Edge of the World | IV+ | |
| 8.0 | Riley Moore Falls | IV+ | |
First Slide Chauga
Peter on the Chauga
Super Soc-em-Dog
Chauga, Slide
Chauga River - Blackhole
Edge of the World
Mark at Reiley Falls on the Chauga
reach
state
reachlink
3: Route 290 /Cassidy Bridge Rd. to Cobbs Bridge Rd., Chauga South Carolina, US (mobile)
User Comments
there were about four river-wide logs, but most of them were in flatwater or minor rapids. Just
keep an eye out for wood. Edit
now TWO logs on the right below Super Soc-em-dog. You have to hit the left boof pad for them not to
come into play. If you are right of the pad it may not fair well for you.
play if you are upside down or swimming through it. On 4/20/09 at a level of 0, after swimming out
of the hole at Second Slide my skirt became lodged on the tree and I became pinned. Luckily, I was
close to the side of the channel and I was able to be pulled out of the pin by my paddling partner
who was standing on the river right rock that creates the channel. Edit
level but not scrapy. We moved a 40 foot log that was blocking the river left shoot in First Ledge.
It is safely runnable now. The right side of this rapid still is blocked by trees.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQrtKvKPZfQ&feature=channel_page is a link to some footage of the
bigger rapids.
River left lines were fine.
side. The bottom undercut was clear, we ran down the middle. Our run was a scrapy -2". Only
portage was the riverwide hemlock Will mentioned.
undercut below Zoom Flume/Edge of the World/Caller's Choice is gone, the only rapid with a tree
blocking the river is a fresh hemlock above one of the small slides below the gorge. There are
trees in the right slot between the first slide in the gorge (in the AW description it is called
"Second Slide"?) and Black Hole but the river left line is now open and good to go. The
"short" access point has been improved somewhat in recent years and 4X4 is hardly a
needed for access.
need 4wd to get to the river, but if you don't, it is only a short walk (maybe 3x Woodall Trail) to
the improved gravel parking area off of Spy Rock Road.
choice. There is also a decent amount of scouting to be done, so wear some good booties.
above water level that is a mandatory portage on river left. The eddy on river left is only good
for about three boats. Make sure the eddys are clear before you make the final moves.<br>
<br>
There is still a tree in the undercut of the first slide, but the left and middle lines are good to
go.<br>
<br>
Two more rapids were portaged due to badly placed wood. In addition we were able to paddle over or
around about 8 riverwide strainers in the flatwater.<br>
<br>
The rest of the rapids were good class 4 and class 4 plus.<br>
1 foot is a great water level on the Chauga, rumor has it that the river might have crested as high
as 1.5 while we were on it.