Tuckasegee, North Carolina, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | II-III (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 5.3 Miles |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUCKASEGEE RIVER AT BARKER'S CREEK, NC | ||||
| usgs-03510577 | 500 - 5000 cfs | II-III | 00h54m | 854 cfs (running) |
Put-In There is a new put-in with a large parking area and restrooms on North River Road.
Turn off of Rt. 441 onto North River Road. The old one under the bridge in Dillsboro can still be
used if you wish to bypass the first rapid.
Take-Out There is a new take-out for this reach. The new take-out is 0.3
miles downstream from the old take-out at Tuckasegee Outfitters. Please use this new take-out
from now on. Duke Energy recently completed paving the parking lot and installing a concrete boat
ramp. There is currently a portable toilet on site, but it is unclear if there will be a
permanent pit toilet installed as is the case in Dillsboro.
The Tuck is a fun little river and an excellent place to learn to paddle or work on skills. There
are many places to practice eddy turns, ferries and peel outs without serious consequences. The
minimum "fun" level is about 450-500 cfs with 800-1500 cfs being a nice level that
covers up most of the shallow sections, without being too pushy. The rapids are wave trains/holes
with good pools below to recover boats and swimmers.
There are two release levels during the paddling season, scheduled West Fork releases are around 500 cfs and scheduled East Fork releases are around 700 cfs. 500 cfs is about the minimum flow to have fun, below this, the run is a scrape festival.
Information on release levels and schedules can be found here:
www.duke-energy.com/lakes/nantahala/nan-scheduled-flow-releases.asp
A release schedule calendar is available here:
http://www.duke-energy.com/
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUCKASEGEE RIVER AT BARKER'S CREEK, NC | ||||||||||||
| usgs-03510577 | 500 - 5000 cfs | II-III | 00h54m | 854 cfs (running) | ||||||||
|
Gauge is at the takeout for this section |
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Duke Put In | N/A |   |
| 0.3 | Dillsboro Drop | III | |
| 1.0 | Railroad Bridge | II | |
| 1.1 | 1st Hole | II | |
| 1.4 | 2nd Hole | II+ | |
| 1.8 | Moonshot | II | |
| 2.0 | Double Drop | III | |
| 2.3 | Sling Shot | II | |
| 3.0 | Suprise Hole | II | |
| 3.5 | Surfing Rapid | II | |
| 4.5 | Shark Tooth | II | |
| 5.0 | Take Out | N/A |  |
The Tuckaseegee at DillsboroLedge exposed by the removal of Dillboro Dam. Can be run in several places. The two most popular lines are slightly left of center over a toungue with a drop or far river right. Be careful of the right line as it is shallow and rocky after the diagonal wave. Scouting is recommended for first timers. The rapid is shallow in many areas, so a flip might get you scraped up.
Can be easily scouted from river right on the way to the put in or from river left on shore.
The rapid can easily be portaged on river left.
This rapid is given an easy Class III rating due to being shallow at normal flows with some consequences if you flip.
Railroad BridgeStarts below the railroad bridge. Usually run starting left and keeping left over the first small ledge. Then, working back right to the middle of the river. 1st hole is right below.
First Hole RapidGood play hole at some lower levels. Good eddy hopping practice, too. The hole can be skirted to the left or right.
Second Hole RapidA lot like 1st hole, but there is an undercut rock on the right side. Nothing major, just be aware.Prudential Rock is at the top of the rapid and can be run on the left or right.
Moonshot RapidPretty long rapid. Best run against the left bank. There are several side stream eddies on river left for eddy hopping practice as some in the center for ferrying practice.
Double DropThis one has some of the biggest waves on the river. Fun play waves at low levels. Theres a good boof at the second drop. The wave train below the second drop is a good place to practice your roll in whitewater. The is a small eddy at top center of the first drop for trying your eddy catching skills. It gets smaller and more challenging as flows increase.
As the name implies...slings boats from left to right. Pretty straight foward though. Swirly eddy line on bottom left.
Sharkstooth RapidLast rapid on the Tuck. Nothing major though. Usually run on right side.
Take OutTake out at Barkers Creek on river right at Tuckasegee Outfitters under second bridge.
Dillsboro Dam Removal Approved
July 23, 2007
Comments Needed Supporting Dillsboro Dam Removal (NC)
October 17, 2007
Water Quality Permit Issued for Dillsboro Dam Removal
December 7, 2007
Tuckasegee Delays Explained
January 11, 2008
24th Annual Tuckasegee River Clean-Up on April 19, 2008
March 12, 2008
FERC Clears Way for Dillsboro Dam Removal
May 5, 2008
Dillsboro Dam two steps closer to removal
January 9, 2009
County To Attempt Dillsboro Dam Takeover (NC)
June 10, 2009
Judge Grants Permission for Dillsboro Dam Removal (NC)
January 12, 2010
Quick Video Update on Dillsboro Dam Removal (NC)
February 4, 2010
Dillsboro Dam Removal (NC) Complete
March 19, 2010
nantahala tuckasegee update (NC)
October 18, 2010
Tuckasegee Dams Get New Federal Licenses!
May 6, 2011
| Tuckasegee Releases | Saturday the 25th | to | 200 cfs | |
| Saturday the 18th | to | 200 cfs | ||
| Saturday the 11th | to | 200 cfs | ||
| Saturday the 4th | to | 200 cfs | ||
| Saturday the 27th | to | 200 cfs | ||
| Saturday the 20th | to | 200 cfs | ||
| Saturday the 13th | to | 200 cfs | ||
| Saturday the 6th | to | 200 cfs | ||
| Monday the 1st | to | 200 cfs |
(iCal)
reach
state
reachlink
Section 3. Dillsboro to Rt. 1392 (Barkers Creek), Tuckasegee North Carolina, US (mobile)
User Comments
http://www.duke-energy.com/pdfs/Tuckasegee_Recreation_Flow_Calendar_2013.pdf
around the island. They are about 4-5 feet above the water at 1800 cfs. They were not a hazard
today, but could be at higher water or if they become slack. They were unmarked.
take it easy because I had an opportunity to go on a trip to the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Our
leader ran a little left of center off of a tongue. I thought it looked simple enough to me. I
thought I ran the same line. I flipped to my right which was my offside. I immediately was snagged
by rocks. My shoulder hit, it cracked and poped. My neck cracked and poped. I couldn't get out of
my outfitting. I was dragged for several feet while beating on the rocks. I finally came out of my
boat. I just set on a rock there in the middle of the river for a while. My right shoulder was
killing me, but everything seemed to be in place. I got back to the old takeout and managed to get
one of the commmercial guys to take me and my canoe back to the takeout. My right shoulder was
black and blue for weeks. I wasn't able to paddle the rest of the week. I did get to make my Middle
Fork trip. That was the absolute worst beating I have ever had in twenty years of paddling.
easy Class III rapid, but the entire rapid is very shallow. The lines are obvious, but there is
very little room to roll before it becomes very bony. There have been a few minor injuries and
scrapes from both kayakers and commercial ducky trips. Rafts and solid Class III paddlers with a
fast roll should not have any problems. This warning is mainly aimed at the inexperienced Class II
paddler and family ducky drivers. The commercial companies are generally not running this with
ducky trips because of the potential for injury. Scout it first and be aware that it's shallow.
Scouting is easy from river right while driving to the put in and from river left after taking out
immediately above.
been updated for the location of the new put in, gauge information, the new rapids and new photos
added.
good Class III. I've run it two ways, down the right side and slightly left of center. The right
line is good, but requires watching for rocks. The center line is pretty easy and smooth at normal
release level. There are also some good play spots. One of the best rapids on the river.
are a few runs. Run on river right is a bit bony with what appears to be a slight boof. Run looks
about 8 feet from bank. There looks to be a center run also. There is a run left of center on a
tongue. Eddy out at top left to scout from the boat then hit the tongue center. There is an eddy on
right about halfway down or you can shoot to bottom of rapid. There is one large rock at bottom of
rapid to run around at lower level. If you run the tongue too far to right there is a grabby hole
that may pull you right. Hole to left of tongue looks like it would push you back to center. Below
that is a small easy rapid (less than class 2) before the bridge.
than the previous Bryson City gauge, which is many miles downstream.
level was at 5,810 CFS. I have been down the tuck countless number of times instructing, or just
for leisure. Today was the funnest I have had out there. We put in Dillsboro and paddled Scotts
Creek into the Tuck. Right across the hotel there was a new tree down, and those little rapids
there weren't too bad. Once we got down to Railroad then things "beefed" up a bit. It added some
new features on River Left, and the Railroad hole was pumping at this level. It look a bit choppy,
and I had a creek boat so I didn't get in. As for the other rapids. nice 2-3 foot waves. There are
numerous decent playholes and waves along the way. Double Drop had a face lift to it. It had about
3-4 ft waves in the middle which were fun. To sum it all up, The Tuck at 5,800 is like running the
entance rapids to the Nantahala Falls. It was a lot of fun consider the fact I drove about 13
minutes to get there.
release schedule described in an earlier comment. First of all, the number used by AW in their
river levels page for this section is not the most accurate depiction of water in the gorge. They
use the numbers from the Bryson City gauge which is almost always higher than the actual CFS in the
gorge. HOWEVER, it appears that their MINIMUM level is based on the levels near Bryson City, so I
guess it's all relative. For accurate flow levels in the gorge, check the USGS gauge for Tuckasegee
R at Barkers Creek (This is the take out). Below is the link directly to the Gauge page.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv/?site_no=03510577&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 I would say a
nice minimum on the Barkers Creek gauge would be around 500 with a BARE minimum of 400-450. As the
water rises, this turns into a solid Class II run with decent sized holes and wave trains that are
a small step down from most of what you find on the Nantahala. At around 2000 on the Bryson City
gauge, the Tuck becomes one of the best novice runs in the mountains. It can be used to prepare you
well for the Nantahala if you are interested in running that frozen river without swimming on you
FIRST attempt.
II. At higher flows (very high),it is easily a III but very straightforward and fun.
All you do is stay in the middle and plow right through.
(1) During the Primary Angling Periods (defined as the first weekend after Labor
Day through the last weekend of October and April 1 through the first weekend of
June), the preferred flows are at or below about 500 cfs as measured at the
reactivated USGS Gage #03510500 at Dillsboro ("Dillsboro Gage") (or a suitable
replacement gage in this vicinity as determined by USGS). During part of this
time period, boating release schedules overlap. During this overlap period (the
Saturday that occurs nine days before Memorial Day through the first weekend of
June and Saturdays in September and October), the Normal Generation Schedule
to Support Recreation shall be six hours per day on the Sunday of Memorial Day
weekend plus Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for the period between
Memorial Day weekend through the first weekend in June and one of four
Saturdays in September and October.
(2) During the Primary Boating Periods (defined as the period after the first
weekend of June through Labor Day), actual flows of about 800 cfs (as measured
at the reactivated or replacement USGS gage at Dillsboro) are preferred. During
this time period, the Normal Generation Schedule to Support Recreation shall be:
(a) For three out of four weeks, flows on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday plus
the Monday of Labor Day weekend for six hours per day and (b) For one out of
four weeks, flows on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for six hours per day.
The Licensee shall initiate all releases required by this Article at such time so that
the released flow first arrives at the Dillsboro Gage (or a suitable replacement
gage in this vicinity as determined by USGS) at approximately 10:30 AM.
rate this at II to II+ at this level. The folks at the outfitters just below the bridge at the
take-out were very accomodating in allowing me to leave the take-out vehicle there and using their
ramp for the take-out.