When

Sun, Mar 1 '26 - Tue, Mar 31 '26 Time will be sent to approved partipants. Most trips start mid morning. Most paddling events start mid-morning. Exact meeting time and place is usually sent out via email the evening before or earlier.
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Coordinator:

Andrea Dover
Non-members can come as a guest,join or renew or contact us for more info.

Bookings

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Where

Location may be approximate. Approved participants should be contacted by the coordinator if different.

Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 Highway 19 West, Bryson City, NC, 28713

Event Type

Join us for a week of paddling down South, in preparation for the 2026 paddling season! We’re planning this trip for March time frame, doing our best NOT to conflict with the Tohickon release. This trip is geared towards individuals who have paddled at least one season, have appropriate winter paddling attire, a solid pool roll, makes an attempt to roll in current, or can self rescue in Class II/III.  We’ll be working on various paddling skills, therefore we’ll spend 3-6 hours on the water, each day. Please plan for your own lunch or snacks on river days. 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
– Saturday & Sunday – travel days. 6-8 hours of driving per day.
– Monday – Boating. Upper Hooch
– Tuesday – Boating. Participant Choice
– Wednesday – Boat Nantahala.
– Thursday – Boat Chattooga.
– Friday – Travel day to VA Halfway point in Glasgow (or near) where the James River is.
– Saturday – Boat James River in VA. Travel after paddling?
– Sunday – Travel Day if needed

LODGING/MEALS: 
Looking at camping and cabin options in both Western NC & North GA. Suggest participants coordinate 5 shared breakfasts and dinners to save money on food. More accurate costs for lodging and food will be available after the New Year. Estimated cost for inside accommodations is $150-$300, and ten meals (5 breakfasts, 5 dinners) is $40-$50.

DESCRIPTION OF RIVERS
Upper Hooch (Chattahoochee) – considered a beginner run, but one of the classic GA whitewater sections. Natural Flow – Typically runs in the winter and spring.
Middle Cartecay Lower Cartecay – Middle is 2.3 miles, lower is 4.6, for a total of 6.9 miles. Natural flow & typically runs in the winter and spring. Considered a “beginner” run. To run the Lower, shuttle vehicle(s) must have DNR pass – but this can be purchased.

Nantahala – Dam released. 8 miles of continuous class II and Class II+ with a solid class III at the end, which can be omitted. Similar to Zoar Gap, however the river is more continuous than Deerfield. Releases start mid-March, daily from 10am-3pm.  Purchased passes required, and can be bought at Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC).

Running the A-Line at Nantahala Falls.

Chattooga Section 3 Chattooga Section 4 – Natural flow. Runnable all year, unless extreme drought. Most popular option for novice/intermediates is “Section 3.5” which starts at Thrifts Ferry on Section 3 and ends after “Woodall Shoals” on Section IV. Bull Sluice (Class IV+) can be portaged, but there is a Class II boof on river left, so folks don’t have to run double drop. Screaming Left, Rock Jumble, and Woodall Shoals are Class III drops due to gradient but aren’t as difficult as Zoar Gap or Nantahala Falls.

Running the “Class II Boof Line” at Bull Sluice on the Chattooga River

James River (VA) – an option on the way back to NY/NJ. Classic run in VA, natural flow. Super fun and relaxed paddle. At the halfway point between GA and NJ/NYC.

Bookings

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