Favorite Scenic River
North River, VA —Rick Koller, president of the Blue Ridge Voyageurs paddling club
More hikers get to enjoy the scenery of the North River Gorge than paddlers, but if you can catch it after a rain, you’re in for six miles of unspoiled, national forest paddling at its finest. The primitive nature of the run is exactly why Rick Koller didn’t even pause before suggesting this river as his favorite scenic run.
“There are a lot of beautiful rivers in these parts, but the North has everything,” says Koller, who’s been paddling creeks and rivers for 30 years. “It’s remote, completely undeveloped, with good whitewater through the heart of the George Washington National Forest.”
The North River is a tributary of the popular South Fork Shenandoah, but at its headwaters, there’s a six-mile stretch that runs through a tight, forested gorge that rarely gets paddled except by those in the know. If you can catch it after a rain, you’ll be treated with six miles of class III whitewater in a true wilderness setting.
Scenery Cred: The North is a fast, winding creek packed with blind turns inside a rugged, green gorge. Both the gorge and the river have more twists than a Boy Scout’s knot book, creating a very intimate forested setting. Forget the big views—paddling the North is about getting up close and personal with the woods. The wildlife can be stunning as well, so keep an eye out for deer, turkey, even beaver. “One day, I paddled next to a beaver as he swam under water right next to my boat,” Koller says.
Rapids: The creek is so small and seldom run, that the rapids aren’t named. Expect plenty of ledges with surfable waves and a couple of big drops toward the end of the run that can feel like class IV features in high water. Strainers are common, so keep alert.
Logistics: Put in at the campground below the Staunton Dam. Take out six miles later past the Girl Scout
Camp. Timing is key for running the North. It’s rain dependent and only runs five to 10 days a year, but Koller is willing to drag his boat through stretches as low as 100 cubic feet per second because it’s so scenic.
Watch video of Koller crash and burn on his open boat on whitewater in the South and beyond.
Nolichucky River, NC/TN —Joe Harrison, cruise director for Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts (APES)
The Nolichucky River is probably best known for its surfable play waves, but an eight-mile stretch straddling North Carolina and Tennessee deserves attention thanks to the photo opportunities alone. Here, the “Upper Chuck” runs through the Unaka Mountains, creating a steep, green gorge with class III-IV whitewater surrounded by wild, untouched slopes that rise 2,000 feet above the river.
“The only sign of man is the railroad,” says Harrison. Harrison plans trips all over the South for the club of boaters, but says the Nolichucky is the most scenic in the South. “At one point in my life, I was running that river at least once a month because it’s so pretty.”
Scenery Cred: Most of the un-dammed Upper Nolichucky is surrounded by national forest. Grassroots paddling and conservation organizations have been pushing for National Wild and Scenic designation on the Nolichucky for decades and a forest service study completed in 1994 concluded the river meets the criteria needed for the designation, but it still hasn’t been made official. “It’s completely desolate,” Harrison says. “No roads, no development. It’s rare for a river of that size in this area.”
Take your time to explore the gorge as you paddle. The river is peppered with big boulders and rock ledges for lounging and a few tributaries have waterfalls.
Rapids: The first few miles of the Upper Nolichucky is packed with class III+ ledges, boulders, and boogie water. The Nolichucky is known for its play waves, and the Upper Gorge has one of the most famous in the South. Jaws is a class III ledge with a super sticky hole that entices boaters to devote entire afternoons to tricking out. The single class IV on this run, Quarter Mile, is a series of ledges and holes. It’s nothing too technical on its own, but put it all together and you’ve got some water you don’t want to swim through. The last five miles gradually mellow, but you’re here for the scenery anyway.
Logistics: Put in at the forest service ramp in Poplar, N.C., and take out at the Nolichucky Gorge Campground (a fee area with hot showers). Check out Uncle Johnny’s in Erwin for shuttles and gear or Cherokee Adventures for guided rafting trips on the Upper Chuck.
