Raven Fork, North Carolina, US

2. Enloe Creek Trail to Big Cove Road (Raven Fork Gorge)

Raven's Fork Gorge

Raven's Fork Gorge
Photo of Trip Kinney running the entrance to Caveman by Teresa Gryder

Gauge Information

River Description

Note:  By order of the Cherokee Tribal Council, that portion of the Raven Fork crossing the Qualla Boundary (the official name of their reservation) is closed to boating.  The bottom portion of this run is located on the reservation -- it is illegal to boat it.  Carefully read the additional information below.

The majority of the Upper Raven fork is outside of the Cherokee Reservation. A good portion of the run is in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. However the takeout is squarely in reservation grounds. Please note that the Raven Fork within the reservation is presently closed to boating.

Don't even think about paddling the Raven Fork with out politely obtaining permission from those who live at the take out. There are two variations on getting to the put-in. If you're good enough to be on this run you'll track down that info from one of the local experts.

Some of the larger named drops include (not in order), Jedi Training, Harjes Rapid (where Chris blew out his shoulder), Cave Man, Anaconda, Headless Horseman, Mortal Kombat, Mike Tyson's punchout, Big Boy, Atomic Elbow Crusher, Mangler and others.

The top mile accessed via the Enloe Creek Trail is 400 feet. The next two are the same, but a bulk of the gradient is in the middle at 560 ft/mile, and the 3/4 mile stretch from jedi training through mangler is 730 ft/mile. As steep as the steepest 3/4 mile on road prong, but pool drop. Tell me that aint the steepest 3/4 mile of boating in the SE.