McGill Creek,

Who runs this anymore?

Who runs this anymore?
Photo of Eric Ralston by Daniel Talley taken 97ish @ close to min.

River Description

.At the put-in is a spray paint gauge. One foot is a nice level. You can go lower, but at the price of scrapping a whole lot before you reach the gorge. I have no word on maximum readings. Just don't paddle it in a flash i suppose!

McGill Creek is rarely run. Some just find the rapids not worth the 2 mile class II paddle in and the 2 mile valley paddle out. Others have experienced bad situations like broken paddles, ripped neck gaskets, unintentional hole ridings, and the ol' getting stuffed under trees, just to name a few. Yet, these rapids should not be downgraded. Many are of the class IV+ sort, reminiscent of non-stop smokies runs.

The first major rapid to note would be a ten foot river wide ledge. Nothing to it really, just do not go too far left. Bugger is another to note. It is a seven foot boulder choke about five feet wide that has a very shallow and tricky entrance and a somewhat sticky hole. Good drop! Scouting and portaging can be done on river right. Check out the waterfalls on river left too. Right after that is Cumnock falls. The traditional line is the 3 foot wide right slot that slides down a boulder some 20 feet at a 60 degree angle, then lands in a small pool before immediately dropping over a four foot ledge, then into a hole a few yards down. This class V is the best rapid on the river. Fun times man. The small pool right after the slide is very aerated and sometimes tends to boil up and push you to the left into an undercut ledge/pinning situation. So, run the slide with a right angle and have a good stroke ready when you hit the pool. . A few more class III's remain until you reach the valley floor. Watch out for many down trees that block the creek completely. These are very hazardous and have been found on every trip that I have taken there.

First decent was captured on the video "Steep Creekin'" at a low to minimum level.

It's also a good idea to leave a vehicle at the Roaring Creek bridge (you will pass over it to the put-in) just in case McGill has no water.

Gradient climaxing at close to 400ft in 1.5 miles.

For further information visit: www.waldensridgewhitewater.com