When

Sat, Mar 7 '26 - Sun, Mar 15 '26 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
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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.

If there is enough interest, we’ll build options for more advanced paddlers. This includes alternative trips to surf at NOC, run French Broad 9 (FB 9), Pigeon, and Nolichucky.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (DEPENDENT ON WATER LEVELS):
– Saturday & Sunday – travel days. 6-8 hours of driving per day.
– Monday – Boating. Upper Hooch, Cartecay or Tuckasegee. (advanced paddlers may go to NOC surf wave, FB9, Nolichucky or Pigeon)
– Tuesday – Boating. Participant Choice
– Wednesday – Boat Nantahala.
– Thursday – Boat Chattooga.
– Friday – Travel day to VA Halfway point in Glasgow near the James River. KOA in Natural Bridge is a good option.
– Saturday – Boat James River in VA. Travel after paddling?
– Sunday – Travel Day if needed

LODGING/MEALS: 
Looking at camping and cabin options in in Western NC (Bryson City, Topton & Franklin). Suggest participants coordinate 5 shared breakfasts and dinners to save money on food. Estimated cost for inside accommodations is $150-$300, and ten meals (5 breakfasts, 5 dinners) is $45-$55. If you want to share a cabin, please let the coordinator know by 01 February 2026.
Can provide alternate recommendations for camping or other lodging for those interested, or once we reach 8 individuals in the cabin.

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.
Tuckasegee – Near Nantahala. a fun river that runs regularly and is an excellent place to learn to paddle or work on skills. There are many places to practice eddy turns, ferries and peel outs without serious consequences.
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.
Options for More Advanced Paddlers: 
NOC Wave – site of the 2013 World Champion Freestyle competition. Located just below the lower Nantahala take out. Park and play spot.
Pigeon aka “Dirty Bird” – Prior to Hurricane Helene, this was a 5 mile Class III-III+ run. After Helene, the river is reported to be greatly altered, and trickier. Normal put in and take outs could also be under construction.
FB9 – one of the primary intermediate whitewater runs in WNC. The river gradually builds in difficulty. The rapids range from Class II-IV, with two solid Class IV rapids.
Nolichucky -Class III-IV. Nolichucky is in an incredibly beautiful, deep, mountain gorge that offers lots of great play, especially within the first half of the run.

Bookings

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