WW (Class III-IV) Big Laurel/French Broad/ Nolichucky 

Date: 15 – 16 April 2023

Location:  Big Laurel/ French Broad and Nolichucky Gorge Rivers

Class: 3&4 with a roll in a whitewater craft or a small raft or shredder

Description: 

Plan –

Friday Night:  Drive and set up camp Friday Night for the weekend at Nolichucky Gorge Campground & Cabins.

Saturday:  We will get up and gather everyone and head towards the Big Laurel and French Broad.  We will set a “reverse” shuttle and leave vehicles at take-out in Hot Springs, NC.  The plan is to paddle the Big Laurel down to the French Broad, Hot Springs, NC.  I want to work on improving our river/ creek skills by working the Big Laurel and stopping at each rapid.  We will be practicing everything from eddy turns and peal outs to paddle placement.  If you are thinking that you just want to “Bomb” down the river this trip won’t be for you.  After we finish our training session, we will paddle the last two major rapids on the French Broad.  Those rapids are Kayaker’s Ledge and Frank Bell’s Rapid. Both of these rapids will be at high flow levels but there is an option to sneak around them.  After we finish the trip, we will go out to eat at a local restaurant. 

Sunday:  We will get up and tear down camp. You will be able to leave your vehicle at the campground because our takeout is this spot at the end of the day.  We will figure out the details for the shuttle from the campground to the put-in and head to the put-in.  We will paddle the Nolichucky Gorge.  After we get off the river, we will pack up and head home.

Food: ON YOUR OWN!!!!

Camping:  

Nolichucky Gorge Campground & Cabins

101 Jones Branch Rd, Erwin, Tennessee 37650