Little Pigeon, Middle Prong,

1. Ramsey Prong confluence to Bridge at Trailhead

Usual Difficulty	V (may vary with level)
Length	1.4 Miles
Avg. Gradient	414 fpm
Max Gradient	461 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
LITTLE PIGEON RIVER ABOVE SEVIERVILLE, TN
usgs-03469175	2000 - 5000 cfs	V	39d10h36m	227 cfs (rc= -0.6 )

River Description

This is one of the most quality runs in the Smokies. The hike up is a beautiful and pleasant walk through the smokies. It is a little steeper pitch and more constant than Big Creek's hike up, but is shorter. And heck, the steeper the hike, the better the run, right?

This run is of the same difficulty as the Trailhead Section of the West Prong. It has a little more breathing room as far as pace and continuity, but this is undermined by the larger drops spaced more frequently and evenly along the run than the WP. Unlike the West Prong's large drops being all put together in the distance of 1/4 mile, Ramsey's has them throughout the whole 1.4 miles. There are some incredible boofs. One near the beginning stands out as being the best in the smokies. The boogie is high quality class 5. This is considering the boogie on Upper Big Creek is quality class 4. Interlaced in the boogie are frequent large drops that should possibly be scouted. A guide might be neccessary the first few times, as this run is braided in spots with only one channel being safe. There is a spot called the Death Sieve about 2/3 of the way down that one must be aware of. It looks just like any of the other 100's of blind turns, but is something more. There is a super cool sneak on the left. Soon after is one of the big boys, a manky entrance into a full on shallow corridor of about 20 feet in drop. The river then gathers momentum and drops over a manky ledge that is sieved out on the left. Aim right. The last big one above the eight footer at the trailhead bridge is like a big version of monster on Upper Big Creek. Walk on the left. Enjoy.