to the falls is rather difficult and can put a lot of water in the boat before one hits the falls. Be sure to empty the boat before attempting to run. The entrance is generally where the novice or low-intermediate-skilled paddler gets in trouble, only to be finished off in the falls.
The falls consist of two ledges. The top one doesn’t extend all the way across the river, and the passage is just on the left end of it. The paddler must then cut back hard to the right to catch the tongue on the lower drop. With higher water the upper ledge can be run straight through on the right, thereby lining you up for the tongue below. This is about 3 feet off the large boulder on the right.
In the event one swamps or dumps in the falls, get control of the craft immediately. Wesser Falls, which is 0.25 miles downstream, will only spew out little pieces.
SHUTTLE: Go north on US 19 from Wesser and NOC to Macon CR 1310 on the left; turn left into the National Forest Service (NFS) access area. Take out just above the NOC store.
GAUGE: This section can be run only when the power plant is operating, which is generally the case during the week and more often than not on weekends. Phone (866) 332-5253 to determine whether or not the plant is in operation (see “Explanation” section in Introduction).
SNOWBIRD CREEK
Snowbird Creek has its origin high in the Unicoi Mountains, and within Nantahala National Forest, which ensures excellent water quality. The Snowbird Mountains form the southern rim of the gorge. The upper portion of the creek is very remote and flows through three sections of falls named Upper, Middle, and Big, all of which are well upstream of the sections described. The river becomes less remote as Snowbird winds its way to its inundation at Santeetlah Lake. The creek is only runnable after heavy rainfall and has at best a two-day window.
MAPS: Santeetlah Creek, Robbinsville (USGS); Graham (County)
class: III–IV
length: 2.8 mi.
time: 1.5 hrs.
gauge: Visual
level: n/a
permits: No
gradient: 143
scenery: A
JUNCTION TO FIRST BRIDGE DOWNSTREAM
DESCRIPTION: This section of Snowbird Creek is extremely tight and technical, but there are no major drops. Extreme hazards exist if the water is very high (read Class V screamer) and/or you are any less than an expert boater. This creek has more moves than a downtown street hustler. Be aware of several boulder and log strainers. Creek Meister Jim Holcombe has carried in and run as high as 3 miles above Junction, where it is steeper. You may want to consider this ageless Bob Dylan lyric before following suit: “How far do you want to go? Not too far, but just enough so’s we can say we been there.”
SHUTTLE: From Robbinsville, drive north on US 129 and turn left onto CR 1116. At the next intersection, turn right onto CR 1127. Turn left at CR 1115 and continue to CR 1120. Go right on CR 1120 to the dead end. This is known as Junction. Take out at the first bridge over the creek downstream of Junction.
GAUGE: None. This is runnable only after extended rainfall.
class: II–III
length: 8.5 mi.
time: 3 hrs.
gauge: Visual
level: n/a
permits: No
gradient: 42
scenery: A–B
FIRST BRIDGE DOWNSTREAM OF JUNCTION TO CR 1127 BRIDGE
DESCRIPTION: There are no difficulties. Watch out for the 3-foot lowhead dam on the lower part of this section.
SHUTTLE: See Section A for the put-in. The takeout is located at the first bridge over the creek on CR 1127, just past CR 1116.
GAUGE: None. This is runnable only after extended rainfall.
CHEOAH RIVER
The Cheoah River is normally a dry streambed that runs from Santeetlah Dam to the Little Tennessee River, It enters the Little Tennessee within spitting distance of the Cheoah Dam. The TVA pipes water from Santeetlah Lake into the Little Tennessee/Lake Cheoah inundation for the obvious reasons, leaving the resultant dry stream-bed. The Cheoah below Santeetlah Lake is just west of the Cheoah Mountains in southwestern North Carolina. The river generally runs only after extended rainfall. If the lake is spilling over the dam, there may be more water on the last 2 miles than most paddlers want. As of September 2005, there will be water releases to allow for 16 to 18 days of boatable flows. Most of the run can be seen from US 129 north of Robbinsville.
MAPS: Tapoco (NC/TN), Fontana Dam (USGS); Graham (County)
class: III–IV
length: 9.2 mi.
time: 4.5 hrs.
gauge: Visual
level: 4 ft.
permits: No
gradient: 70
scenery: A
SANTEETLAH DAM TO US 129 BRIDGE (JUST BELOW CHEOAH DAM)
DESCRIPTION: The first 7 miles of this run are primarily Class II–III. The water here is flowing over small-to-moderate boulder fields and through shrubs and small trees, as the riverbed is normally dry. There is one 4-foot ledge just downstream of the overhead pipe carrying water to Lake Cheoah. The more enjoyable run for advanced boaters is to put in 3 miles above the takeout. This section picks up volume (because several creeks enter) and gradient quickly. The action here is more continuous, with only a few flat stretches. The boulders are larger and the view is often blocked. At moderate levels, everything can be boat-scouted, with the exception of one 10-foot drop, best run on the far right. The last 2 miles drops at a rate of 100 feet per mile. At higher levels (water spilling over the dam), the extra push would make for some Class V drops.
SHUTTLE: There are any number of places to put in on this run, as US 129 follows the river for most of its length. For those wanting to do the entire run, take US 129 north of Robbinsville to the Cheoah Point Recreation Area and scramble down to the base of the dam. To take out, follow US 129 north of Robbinsville to the bridge over the Little Tennessee River (just downstream of the Cheoah Dam).
GAUGE: The USGS gauge is near Bearpen Gap on the bridge for the put in of the lower section. The minumum level for a run is 4 feet.
SANTEETLAH CREEK
