The river can be run (sans-portage) as low as minus 12 on the Adako Bridge gauge. -3" to +6 inches are the preferred levels. Anything over a foot puts you into a class 5 day with big ledge holes. The gorge has been run much higher.
Wilson Creek is a tributary of Johns river, and the gauge is about 7 to 8 miles below the confluence. If the Johns river gauge is over about 750 cfs the river might be running. According to the wilsonvisual database, when the Johns flow is between 750 & 800, visuals have ranged from -3" to +8".
According to Regional Streamkeeper Chris Bell:
"Runnable when Johns River is at least 300 cfs and rising; 400-500 cfs on Johns River corresponds to approximately 0 on the painted Wilson Creek gauge. Keep in mind that Wilson Creek is a tributary to Johns River, and that the Johns River reading is a clue as to what was happening in the Gorge about twelve hours earlier."
According to StreamTeam member, wilsonvisual, the Johns River gauge is ~6 hours below the Gorge put-in. Depending upon season & conditions, it takes ~8 to 14 hours for rain at Grandfather Meadows to reach the Johns gauge.
For more great info check wilsonvisual or The Asheville Area Boating Beta Page.
As of Jan. 6, 2003 Chris Bell added a Wilson Creek Virtual gauge to the boatingbeta page!
Johns R at Arneys Store, NC [ NC ] |
Current Conditions
Station Graphs |
| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| State | River Name/Section | Class | Level | Rel. Level | Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC | Johns— Route 1328 to Route 1438 | I-II | 154 cfs | 12/3 2:45 | ||
| NC | Wilson Creek— B) Route 1328 Bridge to National Forest sign | II-III | 154 cfs | low | 12/3 2:45 | |
| NC | Wilson Creek— C) The Gorge: National Forest sign to parking area above Brown Mtn. Beach | III-IV+(V) | 154 cfs | low | 12/3 2:45 | |
| NC | Wilson Creek— D) Below Brown Mountain Beach to Johns River | I-II(III) | 154 cfs | low | 12/3 2:45 |
| AW Gauge ID: | 772 |
| USGS Station: | 02140991 |
| HUC: | 03050101 |
| Latitude: | 35.8336 |
| Longitude: | -81.7119 |
| Class: | -1 |
