Wolf Creek, AL

Feeling up going down

Feeling up going down
Photo of Mark D.

Gauge Information

River Description

Within a hundred yards the side creek has reached the first drop on Wolf Creek and you are set up to run that drop if you so wish. Otherwise you have about a 1/8-mile float down from the bridge, doing the occasional limbo under and thru the trees overhanging the stream.

The first waterfall on Wolf creek is by far the largest and most impressive drop. There are three obvious options here.

One is to run the falls. That has been done and the line is “clean” or at least the rocks are wet. Just try not to flip as the result is painful.

The second option is to carry down into the gorge inside the falls. This is really only possible if you access the river from the CR 49 bridge.

The third and easiest option is to carry around the falls. An easy access exists below the falls. Boaters who want to skip the whole experience just carry around on the left side of the falls to a big break in the canyon wall and essentially walk to the river below. This access is easier than the Suicide Section access on the Little River.

Portaging the falls on river right has been done, but is not recommended.

Below the falls the river pools up for a few yards and then drops almost non-stop for the next mile to the takeout. The takeout is only a short distance down the canyon but the 1.5-mile trip is still exciting. All of the rapids have been run on this river but there is always the chance of pinning in strainer or undercut.

Wolf creek was featured in Tales of the Paddlesnake and Steep Creeking videos.
Written by Will Reeves. Nov. 2002

The last half mile of the creek drops at a rate of 240 fpm.