We are from Bryson City and paddle this section regularly. The best ramp to take-out is at the next outfitter down from the guys at the bridge. They let you park at their cabin and pull your car beside just beside the ramp to load after trip ends. They also shuttle up to dillsboro for cheap (like $5.00). They are the company down from the bridge with the two-story wooden cabin with a red roof. They the one right beside mile marker 78. Edit

I paddle this section regularly and I have a couple of comments concerning the gauge and the release schedule described in an earlier comment. <br /> <br /> First of all, the number used by AW in their river levels page for this section is not the most accurate depiction of water in the gorge. They use the numbers from the Bryson City gauge which almost always higher than the actual CFS in the gorge. For accurate flow levels, check the USGS gauge for Tuckasegee R at Barkers Creek (This is the take out). Below is the link directly to the Gauge page.<br /> <br /> http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv/?site_no=03510577&amp;PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060<br /> <br /> Secondly, if the new license only calls for flows of around 800 CFS on a regular basis, that will be unfortunate. 1100 is the minimum and it gets fun around 1500. At 2000 this is a solid Class II+ run. This is one of the best novice runs in the mountains and will prepare you well for the Nantahala. <br /> <br /> Now don't get me wrong, 800 is sufficient water to paddle, but most of the rapids will be low class II's at that level and the river will not likely be worth running on a regular basis. In the past, we could expect regular releases of 1200-1700 almost daily. Hope AW can get it back to this level.<br />

Double Drop is definitely overrated, especially at low and normal flows-at these levels, it is a II. At higher flows (very high),it is easily a III but very straightforward and fun.<br /> All you do is stay in the middle and plow right through.

The flow schedule:<br /> <br /> (1) During the Primary Angling Periods (defined as the first weekend after Labor<br /> Day through the last weekend of October and April 1 through the first weekend of<br /> June), the preferred flows are at or below about 500 cfs as measured at the<br /> reactivated USGS Gage #03510500 at Dillsboro (“Dillsboro Gage”) (or a suitable<br /> replacement gage in this vicinity as determined by USGS). During part of this<br /> time period, boating release schedules overlap. During this overlap period (the<br /> Saturday that occurs nine days before Memorial Day through the first weekend of<br /> June and Saturdays in September and October), the Normal Generation Schedule<br /> to Support Recreation shall be six hours per day on the Sunday of Memorial Day<br /> weekend plus Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for the period between<br /> Memorial Day weekend through the first weekend in June and one of four<br /> Saturdays in September and October.<br /> (2) During the Primary Boating Periods (defined as the period after the first<br /> weekend of June through Labor Day), actual flows of about 800 cfs (as measured<br /> at the reactivated or replacement USGS gage at Dillsboro) are preferred. During<br /> this time period, the Normal Generation Schedule to Support Recreation shall be:<br /> (a) For three out of four weeks, flows on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday plus<br /> the Monday of Labor Day weekend for six hours per day and (b) For one out of<br /> four weeks, flows on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for six hours per day.<br /> The Licensee shall initiate all releases required by this Article at such time so that<br /> the released flow first arrives at the Dillsboro Gage (or a suitable replacement<br /> gage in this vicinity as determined by USGS) at approximately 10:30 AM.

4 Aug 03: Ran it at about 2.5 feet. A fun run at this level and not at all intimidating. I would rate this at II to II+ at this level. The folks at the outfitters just below the bridge at the take-out were very accomodating in allowing me to leave the take-out vehicle there and using their ramp for the take-out.