Cumberland, Big South Fork

New River and Clear Fork meet at the confluence to form the Big South Fork. Access to the confluence is by hiking 1/4 mile down a trail from a parking lot at the end of John Long Road.

Confluence Rapid is the first rapid which is basically read and run.

This rapid, sometimes refered to as Diagonal Wave, has a nasty undercut rock on river left. The standard line is right of center, then drive back toward center.

Boofing opportunities exist at this rapid. Simply line up left of center and BOOF!! The other line is run from right to left through 3 waves.

Most run this class II rapid down the left bank. Just read and run.

Double Drop is the first of three rapids known as 'The Big Three'. The main line is on river right with a series of two drops. Catch an eddy on river right above the first drop then ferry across and drop off beside a rock on the left side. This will land you in a boiling eddy where you will then paddle aggresively down the center to run the second drop with a little left angle.

The alternate Double Drop line is extremely far river left. This line is a class II read and run line that lands in a large eddy.

One of the better play spots is located just above this rapid. It is a low-angled, fluffy hole that is great for today's short boats.

You must paddle aggresively at levels below 1000 cfs due to a pin rock that sits about two feet of the right bank. The second drop will surf you into the rock where water will pile up on your stern. Then, you are jambed into the crack stern down. Several paddlers have gotten pinned vertically in this spot.

Washing Machine is known for it's twisting and sticky action at levels below 1000 cfs. It's a 10ft wide chute that drops into a twisting hole. An alternate route can be cheated on river left over a small ledge. However, this ledge can develop into a nasty hydraulic above 1,500 cfs. At levels above 1000cfs, the sticky hole in the main line disappears and the rapid is simply run from left to right.

The Ell is the last rapid of 'The Big Three'. Start from an eddy on river right to boat scout this one. Look for a rock on river left where the river curls from left to right. This marks the final drop and is where you want to aim. Drive hard toward this rock a little left of center while the river tries to pull you to the right. Then, get ready for a ninety degree turn to the right for the final drop. If you flip in this one, tuck hard at levels below 2000cfs due to 'Cheese Grater Rock' being only a few feet or less underwater immediately downstream. The center and right side of the final drop is a large hole that can be sticky.

This rapid is run on river left down a chute. Start left of center, then drive back right.

At flows above 8,500 cfs, this rapid turns into a river wide terminal hole of death.

Honey Creek rapid offers something for everybody. It starts with a play spot, continues with a wave train and holes, and then finishes with a couple of sieves.

Work your way down the left bank to find an awesome play hole. Just downstream, the river bends to the right where a long, wave train begins. Enter the wave train in the center then drive left into a large eddy to avoid 'Punch in the Nose' which can be a monster wave hole. Next, ferry out of the eddy into the last half of the wave train to run the final drop right of center. Then drive back left across boiling eddies and swirls.

Just above Honey Creek Rapid on river left is an access point. The trail will take you straight up the side of the gorge to the Honey Creek Overlook.

CAUTION: The last drop at the end of the wave train includes a rock, just left of center, that has a sieve under it. A boater once bumped into the upstream side and was sucked under to resurface on the downstream side. Additionally, there are multiple sieves in and around the large river right rocks after this drop. I know of at least one boat that has been eaten by these sieves.

The last part of Honey Creek Rapid creates a terminal hole above 9,000cfs.

You'll have to look upstream to see this rock. It makes you wonder who might have created the Big South Fork gorge.

There's a cave under this rock that you can paddle through at 400cfs.

The standard line is left of center. Go too far left and you'll land in an eddy that can be difficult to get out of. Run too far right and you'll find a hole that's caught many boaters. A river right eddy makes boat scouting easy.

Maria�s Rock is a large rock in the center of the river, which marks the start of the Canyon Section also known as The Narrows. The Canyon Section consists of mostly fun wave trains and a few surfing waves.

Just upstream, there is an access point from O&W Road at Pine Creek that is popular for those who are camped at the O&W railroad bridge and are only running the Canyon Section.

You don't want to wash into this sieve. It's usually jammed with trees and whatever else happens to float by. Run this rapid on river left by riding the tongue from left to right between two holes. A river right chute appears to be runable but also ends in a sieve.

This rapid turns into a terminal hole at 10,000cfs.

Jake's Ledge Hole is a riverwide ledge that has two options for running. At flows below 1,500cfs, you can run the boof line which is far left about 2 feet off the left bank. This line will land you in an eddy but, at higher flows it turns into a terminal hydraulic. I saw a boat recirculated for 15 minutes here one day. It has also been said that the left wall is undercut.

The other line is on river right beside an undercut rock. Just line up left of the rock and paddle straight through.

Canyon Rapid starts with two holes and ends with three waves known as 'The Three Sisters'. You'll run this one down the center on a tonge that will twist you between the two holes. Next, continue down the center through 'The Three Sisters'. This is where you'll find eddy service on the right for wave surfing action.

After a long pool, which is the original Jake’s Hole, is a sharp bend. This is the start of Deliverance Rapid. Simply go down the center and enjoy the waves.

This rapid got its name back in the day when commercial rafting was on the Big South Fork. When the rafts would come around the bend, a local would streak the customers and run.

This rapid, located under the O&W Railroad Bridge, consists of several waves including one large one. Run this one straight down the middle.

The O&W Railroad Bridge can be used as a take-out thus, eliminating the last 2 miles of flat water. There are also several camp sites at both ends of this bridge.

After an awesome run on one of the plateau's best rivers, you will find that the twin bridges at Leatherwood Ford is a welcome site to see.