Big Laurel Creek
Location - Hot Springs, North Carolina
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 3.7 miles
Level - low to low / medium
Date - March 2003
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 3.7 miles
Level - low to low / medium
Date - March 2003
The best thing for a kayaking school teacher to do during spring break is to head south for
some whitewater. I had failed to come up with a solid spring break plan when I heard from my
buddy Mike, who working for the Outdoor Program at Saint Lawrence University. He was leading
a trip to North Carolina and wanted to know if I were interested in coming along to help out. The
was perfect, especially since I needed to get a discount canoe for my upcoming Hubbard
Memorial Expedition from Farmville, Virginia to New Hampshire.
After a cold run in Maryland we found ourselves in North Carolina, with temperatures creeping
into the seventies and the water warm enough for paddling in shorty tops. We had a friend living
in Ashville that was letting us crash on his porch so we decided to focus our efforts around the
immediate vicinity for a few days. Besides, our group consisted primarily of up and coming
boaters, which meant that, despite perfect water levels, we would be focusing on class III-IV runs,
of which there were plenty.
The day’s choice was Big Laurel Creek, described as a perfect introduction to creeking, with
numerous fun drops in a tight stream. We made the drive towards Hot Springs from Ashville and
snaked around some back roads to set up shuttle, which took a while, but was not terrible. This
is a good time to point out that there is just about absolutely no flat land in the mountains of
North Carolina, which means there are certainly no straight roads. Suffice it to say, we were
happy to not be biking any of these shuttles.
At the put in near the highway bridge, Big Laurel Creek, not to be confused with West Virginia’s
notoriously difficult Big Laurel Creek, appeared to be flowing at a low to medium level. The group
looked eager and ready to go and we shoved off to explore another new run on a mostly cloudy,
but surprisingly warm day. The trees were just starting to leaf out, with the orange, leaf covered
forest floor visible and studded with the first shoots and blooms of spring. Some class II rapids
made fun eddies and the narrowness of the stream gave it an intimate feeling. This was nice, but
we were ready for some rapids, which started to pick up after a mile or so into the run.
some whitewater. I had failed to come up with a solid spring break plan when I heard from my
buddy Mike, who working for the Outdoor Program at Saint Lawrence University. He was leading
a trip to North Carolina and wanted to know if I were interested in coming along to help out. The
was perfect, especially since I needed to get a discount canoe for my upcoming Hubbard
Memorial Expedition from Farmville, Virginia to New Hampshire.
After a cold run in Maryland we found ourselves in North Carolina, with temperatures creeping
into the seventies and the water warm enough for paddling in shorty tops. We had a friend living
in Ashville that was letting us crash on his porch so we decided to focus our efforts around the
immediate vicinity for a few days. Besides, our group consisted primarily of up and coming
boaters, which meant that, despite perfect water levels, we would be focusing on class III-IV runs,
of which there were plenty.
The day’s choice was Big Laurel Creek, described as a perfect introduction to creeking, with
numerous fun drops in a tight stream. We made the drive towards Hot Springs from Ashville and
snaked around some back roads to set up shuttle, which took a while, but was not terrible. This
is a good time to point out that there is just about absolutely no flat land in the mountains of
North Carolina, which means there are certainly no straight roads. Suffice it to say, we were
happy to not be biking any of these shuttles.
At the put in near the highway bridge, Big Laurel Creek, not to be confused with West Virginia’s
notoriously difficult Big Laurel Creek, appeared to be flowing at a low to medium level. The group
looked eager and ready to go and we shoved off to explore another new run on a mostly cloudy,
but surprisingly warm day. The trees were just starting to leaf out, with the orange, leaf covered
forest floor visible and studded with the first shoots and blooms of spring. Some class II rapids
made fun eddies and the narrowness of the stream gave it an intimate feeling. This was nice, but
we were ready for some rapids, which started to pick up after a mile or so into the run.
We pulled over on river right where sloping ledges came down to the river at a horizon line and scouted the first rapid, known as Triple Drop or Stairstep. Here the river
narrows and falls through a fast chute and over three distinct drops cut into the bedrock. A few fun eddies made the rapid a bit more challenging for those so inclined,
while a straight shot was easy enough. This nice rapid was followed shortly by a more prominent horizon, which marked Suddy Hole, a river wide ledge with a ten foot
sloping drop on the left and a dangerous vertical drop into a crack on river right. Apparently folks have pinned in the crack and it was the site of a death some years
back. Knowing of the hazards, we chose to stay well away and ran the simple river left side. More water would have been desirable here, but it was still plenty of fun and
I think we walked back up for a repeat once or twice.
The small creek continued to cut itself a pretty little canyon as it made its way towards the French Broad River and soon enough the last significant rapid was reached
when we arrived at The Narrows. This was really the best stretch of water on the river with some closely spaced drops, plenty of eddies, and enough excitement for
everyone. Even after the main rapid some fun water remained until we reached the takeout at the confluence with the French Broad.
At the take out we elected to make the short walk back upstream along the railroad tracks to the tiny collection of houses known as Stackhouse, a former railway stop
that was probably more significant a hundred years ago than it is today. After enjoying the warm weather for a while we loaded up and headed back to Ashville for
another evening of grilling out and drinking beers at Tyler’s place. All in all, a pretty tough day to beat.
narrows and falls through a fast chute and over three distinct drops cut into the bedrock. A few fun eddies made the rapid a bit more challenging for those so inclined,
while a straight shot was easy enough. This nice rapid was followed shortly by a more prominent horizon, which marked Suddy Hole, a river wide ledge with a ten foot
sloping drop on the left and a dangerous vertical drop into a crack on river right. Apparently folks have pinned in the crack and it was the site of a death some years
back. Knowing of the hazards, we chose to stay well away and ran the simple river left side. More water would have been desirable here, but it was still plenty of fun and
I think we walked back up for a repeat once or twice.
The small creek continued to cut itself a pretty little canyon as it made its way towards the French Broad River and soon enough the last significant rapid was reached
when we arrived at The Narrows. This was really the best stretch of water on the river with some closely spaced drops, plenty of eddies, and enough excitement for
everyone. Even after the main rapid some fun water remained until we reached the takeout at the confluence with the French Broad.
At the take out we elected to make the short walk back upstream along the railroad tracks to the tiny collection of houses known as Stackhouse, a former railway stop
that was probably more significant a hundred years ago than it is today. After enjoying the warm weather for a while we loaded up and headed back to Ashville for
another evening of grilling out and drinking beers at Tyler’s place. All in all, a pretty tough day to beat.
Here I a running Triple Drop on Big Laurel Creek. Fun little
drop with a couple of cool moved to make.
drop with a couple of cool moved to make.