Pigeon, Big East Fork
2. Skinny Dip to US 276 Bridge
| Difficulty | V |
| Length | 4.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 220 fpm |
| Gauge | East Fork Pigeon River Near Canton, Nc |
| Flow Rate as of 12 minutes | 99 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 13, 2023 |
River Description
To put in, use the Looking glass overlook parking area on the parkway. Cross the road and hike an easy half mile down to skinny dip, a local summer spot. The first two miles are class 5 and the second 2 and a half are easier but still have an occasional 5. Being on the parkway makes this run even harder to access, since the parkway is closed much of the running season of spring and winter. Most who have run it say it is an unforgettable river experience, with perfect water quality and steep difficult bedrock and boulder drops of the highest quality.
The rapid names I have provided are merely place holders, I'm sure the majority of the rapids on this run already have names. If anyone knows them, please edit. I also only mentioned major rapids or features; the distances between major rapids are full of countless other smaller drops.
River Features
Put In
The first two rapids at the put in are the largest until the dark prong flows in
Boogie section
After the put-in rapids, the river mellows for about half a mile down to the dark prong confluence, which almost doubles the flow
Psychedelic mushroom
This one's a little funky. Either drive off the left onto a shelf or boof the shroom and prepare to trip
first big one
Series of slides into a big hole fed by the right wall
First bedrock section
First boulder section
Wall stuffer
Boulder garden that opens up into a silde that wants to push you into the left wall which has some wood dangling precariously above you
Triple drop
Really cool rapid in a beautiful gorge. Run the first two drops left driving left. Boof center or left off the final falls, the right side lands on a rock shelf.
Slide after triple drop
Run left to right, very similar to raven chute. Watch the top hole
Second bedrock section
About 0.2 miles downstream of triple drop is a slide with wood that is only marginally passable, easy portage left
Baby notch
From the top it looks very similar to gorilla. More difficult than the notch, but without the hazard
Baby gorilla
Boof of the right wall into a manky landing zone, or seal launch in from the left just like gorilla. Known to cause injuries.
Double drop
The right side of the first drop has wood, and the left is shitty. Launch in of the center island for a sweet boof off the second drop
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportThe description is spot on. Did it today at just over 2 ft on the upstream side of the takeout tunnel. This was a perfect first time level, if not a bit low up top. As of our run there were no mandatory portages and at least one member of our group ran every rapid; the stream is relatively free of wood and full of drops.