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A 59 day old warning about this river was added. Click on comments below to read it.

Chauga, SC

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3: Route 290 /Cassidy Bridge Rd. to Cobbs Bridge Rd. (Chauga Gorge)

Class IV
9.8 Miles
Avg Gradient 40 fpm
Max Gradient 150 fpm

Super Soc em Dog


Super Soc em Dog
Photo of Will Reeves @ good



River Description

The Chauga starts with a bit of flat water, then goes over a big slide. The slide is worth a scout, there is an undercut on the bottom right that has some badly placed wood in it. The slide has multiple lines. Scout and carry left.

There is about a quarter mile of flatwater after the slide, then the river starts to gorge up again. When the gradient starts to pick up the river will go around a couple of blind bends leading up to the second big drop, Super Soc 'em Dog. This is about a 10 foot boof into a big pool. In the past the lead in to the dog has occasionaly had some river wide strainers blocking the stream. Approach with caution when things gorge up. As for the dog, scout left, and carry back up on the left for multiple runs

A little more flatwater leads into another gorge. The next couple of miles are the steepest on the river. There is some great boogie water, some big rapids, and some good ledge drops.

The named drops in this section include Black Hole, Zoom Floom, and Edge of the World. Edge of the World is worth a good scout. The rapid features a big undercut on the bottom left, and a large tree running lengthwise thru the rapid. This drop always has wood in it, but can usually be run.

The next four rapids are pretty good. The first one was a riverwide hole with a break on the right. Then a big s-turn type drop. Next was a big slide. Then finally a big low head damn looking drop. Then some more flatwater.

Eventually you come to a smaller second gorge. There were 4 more good rapids in that gorge.

Then there is a bunch more flatwater, possibly two miles worth. And after the stuff you just ran its going to feel like the current has come to a complete halt. But then there will be another increase in gradient. There will be two or three good rapids followed by Riley-Moore Falls. The falls is about a fifteen footer. Water levels will dictate where to run the falls. The falls is at one of the widest points of the river, hence the shallowest on the approach. Look for at least 6 inches on the gauge for the falls to be running. After the falls its about a mile and half to the takeout.

There is an option of a short take-out above the falls, but it takes 4 wheel drive and locked hubs to get down to the river. In my opinion, if the river is at a good level its easier to use the standard takeout. And if the river is at a good level, Riley Moore Falls is runnable. Why miss out on a perfectly good waterfall??

Brad Roberts
Updated August 2003

StreamTeam Status: verified
Last Updated: 2003-10-14 00:55:13

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