Rivers and Creeks in Swain County, Western North Carolina
fishing, rafting, kayaking, canoeing and tubing.

Alarka Creek
Route 1144 to below Route 1309 Bridge
Class 2-3  •  4.5 Miles

Deep Creek
Bryson City  •  Class 2
Note: Deep Creek is a popular inner tube float.

 

Little Tennessee River
Season: January - April
NC Route 28 to US Route 19
Class 1-3
23 miles
Minimum Suggested Level: 350 cfs
Maximum Suggested Level: 2000 cfs

Nantahala River
Nantahala Gorge Season: 7 days a week all months except November and sometimes December
Cascades Season: After a heavy rain.

Section 1
FS Road 327 to 1310 Bridge
Cascades  •  Class 4-5  •  0.7 Miles
Average Gradient 210 fpm

Section 2
Route 1310 Bridge to Highway 19
Upper Nantahala  •  Class 3
Average Gradient 100 fpm

Section 3
Power Plant to Wesser
Lower Nantahala  •  Class 2+-3  •  8 Miles
Average Gradient 36 fpm  •  Maximum Gradient 63 fpm

Rapids

Patton’s Run  •  Class 3
River Mile 0.2

Ferebee Park  •  Class (Picnic Point)
River Mile 3.0

Delebars Rock  •  Class 2+
River Mile 3.1

Quarry Rapid  •  Class 2+
River Mile 3.5

Whirlpool  •  Class 2+
River Mile 4.5

Picnic Rock
River Mile 5.5

Surf Rapid  •  Class 2
River Mile 5.7

The Bump  •  Class 2+
River Mile 7.4

Nantahala Falls (Lesser Wesser)  •  Class 3
River Mile 7.8

The Wave Under the Bridge Take Out  •  Class 2+
River Mile 7.9

Worser Wesser Past Take Out  •  Class 5
River Mile 8.0

 

Raven Fork
Lower Raven Fork
Season: February - April
Job Corps Bridge to Confluence with Oconaluftee
8 miles  •  Class 2-3(4)
Average Gradient 70 fpm  •  Maximum Gradient 75 fpm
Minimum Suggested Level: 650 cfs  •  Maximum Suggested Level: 2000 cfs

 

Straight Fork
Season: January - April
Round Bottom to Raven Fork
4.6 Miles  •  Class 3-4
Average Gradient 136
Minimum Suggested Level 100 cfs

 

Tuskasegee River
Section 5
Whittier to Bryson City
8 miles  •  Class 1-3
Minimum Suggested Level 1000 cfs

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