The Little Yadkin@ Dalton USGS gage can be used as a indicator of flows that may be more accurate.
The drainage is in close proximity of Big Ck and the drainage size is almost identical. If driving
from afar, one might want to skip it if the Little Y is 150 cfs or falling Edit

p.s. at the put in we didn't use the private property or at least the driveway we found a rock path
from forrest road before the bridge on forrest road and parked the car down the road just a little
ways on the side of the road. At the take out instead of taking out on the big creek we toke out on
the bridge up stream on the dan river. It has a sign as private property that belongs to the state
which personally I like better then private property owned by someone. it was a very hard paddle up
stream but its only around .1 mile up stream I walked alot of it.

I ran this creek this weekend at 2.2 ft and the mill rapid was doable and fun but the rest of the
trip was alot of walking. I would not go back unless its at least running around 3 ft.

I made my second trip down Big Creek last weekend. While Mill Rapid was fun at 2.5 feet, I wanted
to confirm what has already been mentioned in the comments. There is no legal method of entering
the river where it nears Forrest Road. The landowner allowed us to put-in that day, but he stated
clearly that we were not to do so again. And it doesn't matter if shuttle is arranged or if you
park elsewhere, he does not want people crossing his property to get to the river.

I was able to run Big Creek this past weekend, thanks to some needed rain. There are still put in
issues , so please be sure and use a shuttle or have permission for parking. The creek is clear and
safe except for Mill Rapid ..... river left or left of the big rock has a tree across the creek so
scout before dropping.

NCs laws concerning the navigability of NCs stream....



Although riparian owners have certain rights to use water, they do not actually own the water
itself. All surface and ground waters are legally "waters of the State." The water, plus the fish
and other aquatic life belongs to the State. (There is an exception for fish in private ponds if
the fish cannot escape to or enter from public fishing waters.) Even when all of the submerged land
under a water body belongs to private owners, the State owns the water, although the riparian
owners continue to enjoy their riparian rights.

If the body of water that lies over privately owned submerged land can be navigated by any craft
such as a canoe or a raft, then the public has a permanent right to use the water surface for all
purposes of recreation and commerce, including fishing, whitewater canoeing, etc. It is not clearly
settled whether the public's right to use such water bodies includes the right to wade on the
privately owned stream bed for fishing or other recreation. When a stream is so small that it is no
longer navigable by smaller craft such as a canoe, there is clearly no public right to wade, fish,
or otherwise use or enter upon the stream.
Edit

Takeout has been secured with the state of NC and the sertoma 4h camp....this entails paddling down
the river about an extra mile or so on the Dan River and taking out on river right at the Moores
Springs Campground....please paddle up into the mouth of Cascade creek and you will see the parking
area from the creek.....Please see Paris Worthy....he lives across the street in the Big Red
House....336-593-8290....call him or stop in and let him know you wish to park there....he is a
paddler and an instructor at Hanging Rock Outdoor Center.... Edit

CAUTION: I just spoke with the owners of the land at the put-in and take out referenced on this
page. The land currently being used for the put in is private, and the landowner is no longer
willing to permit paddlers to use his land - because people have been blocking his driveway. DO NOT
USE THE RECOMMENDED PUT IN, or you may be towed or charged with trespassing. The landowner was very
polite, but simply no longer wishes to provide public access on his private land due to the
behavior of paddlers abusing the privilege.

That call was followed up by a call from the the landowner at the referenced take-out, who has
similar concerns. He expressed his view that their is no legal way to access the river near the
mentioned take out and that even paddling down the stream constituted trespassing. He was clear
that he intends to call the sheriff if people access the river on his property, and maybe even if
they paddle through. While it is unclear if there is an easement at the bridge sufficient to
provide public access at the takeout, until this is researched by someone paddlers are encouraged
not to use the take out either.

AW staff have not visited this area or researched this matter fully, but based on the calls we just
recieved it appears clear that boaters should no longer use the current put in which is clearly
private and should avoid using the take out as well.

It is illegal to walk over someones land to get to or from a river in NC without permission. It is
totally legal to paddle down any stream capable of being paddled in NC, based on the opinion issued
by the attorney general in 1998. The grey area surrounds the right to portage or scout from the
stream bank.

No matter what, if you choose to paddle Big Creek, make every effort to not get out of your boat or
at least out of the streambed. Do not put in on these folks land. Part of supporting the public's
right to paddle downstream is supporting private landowners wishes and rights, so be considerate
and respectful.

Concerned paddlers are welcome to call me at 406-543-1802 to discuss this matter.

Kevin Colburn

Just to confirm - took my first run down Big Creek yesterday ... 1.8' on the Dan River/Francisco
guage indicates much frustration on Big Creek. Loop-de-loop was unrunnable.

However, really looking forward to hitting this sweet little Triad gem at 2.5' the next time it's
hitting.