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Upper Haw: Chicken Bridge to Bynum Dam
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Put-In : Chicken Bridge Road
Take-Out: Bynum Dam (15/501 Canoe Access)
Minimum flow: 300 cfs based on Haw River USGS at Bynum
Distance: Approximately 6.8 miles
Estimated Time: 2-4 hours (depending on flow)
Characteristics: 60% Class A, 40% whitewater (Class I, II, II+ at high water)
Difficulties: Sawtooth Ledge, Little Nantahala, Final Solution
Hazards: Strainers in the narrower channels, water flows over Bynum Dam
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Mile
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Landmarks
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Rapid
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Comments
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Multimedia
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| 0.0 m |
Chicken Bridge Road |
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Park on the downstream left side. There is a unmaintained but well travelled path to the river. ALERT! Last 20 feet is steep! |
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| 0.2 m |
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Class I |
First riffle. No difficulties here |
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| 1.8 m |
Island
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Standard run is river RIGHT. River LEFT runnable at higher flows |
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| 1.9 m |
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Sawtooth Ledge - Class II |
Approximately 75 yards, standard line is to start left and move towards center to avoid rocks. |
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| 2.8 m |
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Class I |
After nearly a mile of flatwater, the river bends to the right/south. Soon after the channel enters on the right, riffles form around some rocks. |
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| 3.0 m |
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Class I/II |
A channel branches off on the left. Main flow goes right through rocks. Over the next 1.5 miles, there are near continuous rapids. |
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| 3.5 m |
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Class I/II |
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| 3.5 m |
Island |
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The river branches into multiple channels. At extremely low flows, the right 2 channels offer the only feasible passages. The 2nd channel from the right seems to be easier at extremely low flows. |
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| 3.7 m |
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Little Nantahala |
Recognized by old bridge piers. At extremely low flows, work your way to the right channel after running Little Nantahala |
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| 4.3 m |
Middle Channel |
Class II ledge |
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| 4.4 m |
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Class II ledge |
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| 4.5 m |
Pipeline Crossing |
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| 4.6 m |
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Class I/II |
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| 4.7 m |
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Final Solution |
Potential pin hazard on some of the rocks! Scouting is advised. |
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| 4.7 m |
Flat water Begins |
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Flat water from here to the take-out! There are exposed rocks and ledges which may make a nice lunch stop! |
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| 6.0 m |
Island |
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Take left channel to avoid a possible precarious ferry just above the Bynum Dam. |
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| 6.8 m |
Take-out |
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Take-out river LEFT. Stay away from the edge of the dam as water flows over the top. |
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| 6.8 m |
Bynum Dam
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Middle Haw: Below Bynum Dam to US 64
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Put-In (1): Below Bynum Dam (15/501 Canoe Access) There is a portage trail around Bynum Dam and Canal
Put-In (2): Bynum Bridge
Take-Out: US 64 Canoe Access
Minimum flow: 900 cfs based on Haw River USGS at Bynum
Distance: Approximately 4.2 miles
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours (depending on flow)
Characteristics: 20% A, 80% whitewater (Class I, II, II+ at high water)
Difficulties: Several class II rapids may pose difficulties to beginner paddlers
Hazards: Strainers in the narrower channels. If starting from Bynum Dam, a ferry to the middle channel will be required. The ferry may be difficult because the paddler has to avoid the backwash from Bynum Dam.
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| 0.0 m |
15/501 Put-In
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Ferry to the middle channel. The left channel is rocky and full of junk. |
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| 0.1 m |
US 15/501 Bridge |
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| 0.1 m |
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15/501 Rapids |
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| 0.4 m |
Bynum Bridge |
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| 0.4 m |
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Bynum Rapids - Class II |
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| 0.4 m |
Bynum Put-In |
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| 0.6 m |
Island |
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| 0.9 m |
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Class I/II Rapids |
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| 1.1 m |
USGS Bynum Gage |
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| 1.4 m |
Pokeberry Creek |
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| 1.5 m |
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Pokeberry Ledge - I/II |
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| 1.6 m |
Island |
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| 1.9 m |
Entrance to Middle Channel |
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| 2.1 m |
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Thunder Falls - II |
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| 2.4 m |
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Class II ledge |
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| 2.9 m |
Powerline Crossing |
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| 3.4 m |
Island |
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Taking the left channel is best at lower flows, but requires a portage or ferry below the US64 bridge to reach the US64 take-out |
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| 3.5 m |
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Jumble of Rock - II |
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| 3.7 m |
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Boomerang - II |
Some refer to this as "S-turn" rapids |
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| 3.8 m |
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Final Drop - II |
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| 4.1 m |
US 64 bridge |
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Paddlers gage painted on the bridge support |
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| 4.2 m |
US 64 Takeout |
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Lower Haw: US 64 to Robeson Creek Canoe Access
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Put-In : US 64 Canoe Access
Take-Out: Robeson Creek Canoe Access
Minimum flow: 1000 cfs based on Haw River USGS at Bynum
Distance: Approximately 1.3 miles
Estimated Time: 1/2-1 hours (depending on flow)
Characteristics: Mostly continuous whitewater with a few calm sections. At higher flows, there are powerful holes, crosscurrents and few eddy lines
Difficulties: (Multiple)
Lunchstop Rapids (Class II): at low flows there are quite a few rocks. I've found fewer rocks center-left than center-right. At higher flows, a powerful wave forms just downstream of a rock below the main drop.
Gabriel's Bend (Class III): a true class III rapid, that cannot be easily scouted
Moose Jaw Falls (Class III): Watch out for the rock in the middle which can easily pin or piton a boat
Hazards: This is actually a fairly technical piece of river. Personally, I've seen several incidents where paddlers were over their head on this section.
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| 0.0 m |
US 64 Put-In |
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| 0.1 m |
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Lunch Stop - II |
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| 0.3 m |
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Ocean Blvd - II |
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| 0.5 m |
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Big Ledge - II |
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| 0.6 m |
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Gabriel's Bend - III |
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| 0.7 m |
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Moose Jaw |
River right |
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Black and Blue |
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Maze |
Best at low flows |
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Harold's Tombstone |
Best at low flows. Furthest river left. Requires back paddling once Jordan Lake is reached. |
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| 1.3 m |
Roberson Creek Canoe Access |
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