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Southeast States
Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky
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High Mountain Expeditions |
800-262-9036 |
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Wahoo's Adventures |
800-444-7238 |
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Russell Fork Expeditions |
800-843-3675 |
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| Section |
Lower |
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Location |
Caldwell
County, near Lenoir, western North Carolina |
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Driving Time |
Knoxville—3
hours; Winston-Salem—2 hours |
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Difficulty |
Class
III-IV, V |
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Trip Length |
5
miles (8 km) |
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Trip Options |
Inflatable
kayak; one day |
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Season |
March-June |
Wilson Creek, in western
North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest, offers adventuresome
rafters an excellent late-winter and early spring alternative to
some of the better-known southeastern rivers. At high water levels,
the 2.5-mile (4-km) Wilson Creek Gorge is one of the most
technically difficult whitewater stretches in the southeast.
Outfitters
quickly prepare rafters for the dramatic Wilson Creek whitewater
descent—more than 100 feet per mile in some sections—with two
Class III rapids, School House and Final Exam. After the brief
tune-up, cascading whitewater with large holes and ledge drops
requires fast and precise maneuvering through narrow chutes and
around blind turns. Class III-V rapids—Ten Foot Falls, Saniflush,
Thunderball, Maytag, Three Falls, and Benner's Falls—highlight the
nonstop action.
Although
in most years, the free-flowing Wilson Creek is runnable from late
February until late May, the best water levels for big whitewater
are generally during March and April.
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