Stop Sign

Gauge Information

Min Sug. Level:

3.2 feet

Max Sug. Level:

6 feet

River Description

This is a great stretch of local class 3+ smoky mountain creeking for those not quite ready to bit off the harder sections upstream. It also makes the Upper Tremont run longer and more satisfying.

Puting in at the takeout for the Upper section, the paddler is immediately thrown into non stop class 3 creeking for the next 2.2 miles. There are some crappy rapids and some quality ones. The big drop in here is called stop sign and is not a good place to miss a boof and/or swim. The recirculation can be terminal. If you are unsure, SET A ROPE or portage. The hole is scary. The boof is the best on the river, a great 6 foot launch pad.

Below stop sign, Spruce Flats Prong cascades in from river right, where more fun bedrock ledgy rapids wait. There is another half mile of class 3 before the run slows to class 2-3 to the takeout at Tremont institute. There is a nice parking area on river left on the other side of the road from the creek.

If you haven't had enough the last 1.5 miles is a relaxing but continuous class 2-3 creek trip that can als offer adventurous novices some exciting moments and good intro to the notion that hitting rocks is not always bad (creeking).

One more thing. There are always wood problems on this run and they are ever shifting. Have a plan for this.