Brad Barker and I went down yesterday evening (4-10-06) to check out “The Secret Spot” on the Noli. It was running somewhere around 1,700 cfs as the current gauge reading was @ 2:30 p.m. 1,610 cfs in Embreeville. Here’s the scoop: The spot can not be reached by the river left side – it is all private property. You can drive straight down to the river right side of the spot. Traveling south from Greenville on Hwy 70; turn right down a dirt and gravel road about 200’ before you cross the bridge that goes over the river. The road was built for the construction of the new bridge for Hwy 70. The dirt and gravel road will take you all the way down to the 2nd new bridge pylon on a graveled peninsula the highway department has constructed. You can park there on the peninsula, which is about 200 yards below the Nolichucky Dam. Just below the peninsula is an island that splits the river into 2 channels. Ferry to the river left side channel to get down to “The Secret Spot”. The spot has changed dramatically from the photos in the earlier reports due to the construction of the bridge. There is an eddie you can catch on the far river left bank just below the hole and wave. It is a pretty strong feeder eddie back into the hole between a rock and bank. Follow the feeder eddie back up into the wave/hole and surf it down to the big wave. The main wave is about 4’ tall and holds you well. When you flush out from the wave head back over to the river left side. There is a rope tied up on the rocks that you can pull yourself back up into the eddie (just don’t lean forward pulling yourself up river). You can take some good photos or video from the island and/or the left bank at the eddie. There are no dangers around the play features except for a pillow/pour over about 30’ below the big wave. Overall the place is lots of fun!!! To get back to your vehicle ferry back over to the river right bank near a large rock outcropping. There is a sidewalk just above the rock outcropping that will lead you back to the road to your vehicle. The easy hike back to your vehicle is about a 100 yards. That’s all I have for now. I will try to post some photos when I get them from Brad. Have a nice paddle!!!

As of 7/21/05, the access on river right to the Secret Spot is temporarily closed due to construction of a new bridge. However, if you go after 5:00 when the workers are not there, it does not "seem" to be a problem. Supposedly there is an access on the river left but all we found was private property signs everywhere. Also, the construction of a new pylon has rerouted about 1,000 cfs to the wave. Therefore, at 3,000 cfs on the gauge, it is almost washed out. I would imagine that 1500 to 2000 would be an ideal level now. Enjoy!