There is an alternative line on far river right that includes a vertical drop. <br /> The drop is an actual class III move but has some rebar near the top.

Posted to Boater Talk by Peter on 12/14/02: <br />  I went there a little while back, to look at it with <br /> a lot of water.  While I was down there a 30 <br /> something year old guy pulled up in an old <br /> van.  Said he was the land owners son.  I was <br /> still in work clothes.  He asked what I was <br /> doing.  I told him that I was checking out the <br /> rapid.  He said If you're going to put in here <br /> and paddle that's fine, but we've lost our <br /> insurance and can't let people hang around <br /> anymore.  He told me where his dad lived and <br /> to stop by before I came down again.  He was <br /> very nice once he realized I wasn't there to get <br /> drunk though.  I didn't mention the fact that I'd <br /> been paddling just the drop on earlier days <br /> though, didn't know how he'd react.  

From Willdvb on boatertalk: <br /> High Shoals is just a big slide with a nice launch pad in the center at proper flows. I have only run it at high flows, around 2000 and above, and at that level it is great, fun stoff above the drop to play in and then the big drop to hit. The main danger is that rocks below the surface on the river left of the launch pad that are easy to piton on if you are running it at too low of a level, leg breakers for sure. If in doubt, make sure you boof the launch pad in the center. Not sure about the slot on far right, never got over there to check it out but it may offer a creeky alternative, just gotta scope it out and make the call. To get there, go out 441 south from Athens and at the big gas station complex (handy Pantry perhaps), take the right and go til you are abotu to cross over the river, take the small dirt road on the left and follow to a sandy beach below the drop. Carry up the river left side of the drop and run it. Fun, fun, fun, but definitely a one hit wonder.