Today marks the official opening of the new Guy Ford River Access Area on the Watauga River. The paddling community has long sought and can now celebrate permanent public access to the classic Watauga River Gorge which serves as a staple for Class IV+ paddlers throughout the region. American Whitewater owns and manages the Sherwood Horine Takeout thanks to donations and volunteers over many years, and worked closely with the many individuals and organizations that purchased and developed the new put in. We'd like to offer our special thanks to volunteer Edgar Peck for his role in spearheading the new access site, and to all the paddlers and partners who donated funds for its purchase. Check out a great write up of the new access site, and enjoy using it!

photo courtesy of Jesse Wood | onthewatauga.com