This is a lovely stream that is near a road that is usually barely noticeable. When I did it a few years ago, we put in below an obvious concrete bridge that was too low at that level to navigate. There was one tree portage and one or two logs to paddle around. The first scoutable drop was a tight plunge between overhanging branches down a diagonal ramp to the left. The wave at the bottom was intimidating, but not malevolent. The next big drop is a broken ledge adjacent to the elevated patio of a house. Scouting is advised. Below here, the channel is worked by bulldozers and less attractive, but still fun. After an initial cautious run, it's no problem to bomb down in less than an hour, generally when everything else is too high. The streambed is narrow and fast! Great fun!

I'd say a reasonable minimum for most people would be 225 cfs or so. My first run was at that level, and the upper portion was extremely scrapey. Personally, I think 250-400 is a nice level, 300-375 being ideal. I'd have to recommend only boating the bottom 3 miles, and taking out at the park in Friendsville. The Upper section is very pretty, but lots of wood. <br />

I'd have to take issue with the Gertler description - perhaps he was on another stream. I found the water clear when I was there - wintertime though - and the banks are lined with mountain laurel and hemlock trees. It is true the last bit has camphouses along it, but I found this run to be surprisingly pretty given its proximity to the road.