Pigeon
2. Lower Pigeon(Bridge at Hartford to Denton)
| Difficulty | II(III) |
| Length | 4.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 17 fpm |
| Gauge | Pigeon R Bl Power Plant Nr Waterville, Nc |
| Flow Rate as of 23 minutes | 142 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 17, 2013 |
Put in at one of the many outfitters along river right. Make certain that you have the permission of the outfitter before parking at their place. Similarly at the take-out make certain to park near the bridge.
From the bridge, the river works down several Class I-II ledge drops. Then the current slows and the river is impounded by a lake that lasts nearly half a mile. The pattern then resume of working down small ledges. At mile 2.8 the river passes underneath I-40 for the first of two times. As the river turns to the left, you soon encounter the Ledges, a series of Class II+ drops.
After the last ledge the current briefly calms then quickly loses gradient for the next quarter mile. These shoals offer many holes and rocks to negotiate through fast current. After another series of Class 1-2 drops the river calms as it turns to the left. Here is the river is divided by Brown Island, just above the most significant rapid on the river, Maytag [Class II(III)]. Work to either the right or the left of the bridge support for I-40. After another small drop, the river passes underneath the bridge for Greasy Cove.
A few hundred feet on the right is the public take-out.
Put in on river right just upstream of the Hartford bridge. There's a concrete ramp and a gravel ramp, with parking in an adjacent field.
As the river turns to the left, you soon encounter the Ledges. These are a series of Class 2+ drops, offering both excellent surfing waves and holes with boil lines deeper than most boats, with releases over 2,000 cfs
After the last ledge the current briefly calms then
quickly loses gradient for the next quarter mile.
These shoals offer many holes and rocks to negotiate
through fast current.
Take the channel to the left; although you need to work to the river right side of the channel, lest you want to spend some spend some time in the hole on river left--at levels above 2,000 the hole is very agitated.
At the end of the island then ride the wave train, working to the right to avoid the left of the bridge supports.
There is an eddy on river right.
After another small drop, the river passes underneath
the bridge for Greasey Cove.
A few hundred feet on the right is the public
take-out.
Aug 8, 2016
Ran this section in our canoes on 8/6 at 1370 cfs with our boys.
A couple of notes:
-the parking area at the upstream end of USA Raft is now public parking with easy access. The take out at Greasy Cove Road is staffed by a Cocke County river control officer and has changing room and portable toilet.
-allow 1 - 1.5 hours for the water to arrive from the Waterville powerhouse
-there was more raft traffic than we expected (it was Saturday) but we could find space between raft groups
- we ran Maytag down the left bank but there was even more room to the right of the holes to pass safely
-a good description can be found in Kirk Eddlemon's 'Whitewater of the Southern Appalachians, Volume 2: The Mountains'
-overall a gentle run and a nice change of pace for beginners. It is wider than the Tuckaseegee and didn't appear to offer as much opportunity for eddy and ferry practice and due to the width rescue could be more challenging.
Aug 28, 2004
Me and some buddies ran this stretch of the Pigeon today. We had a great time. The ledges provide a number of play opportunities...did some bow stands and such today at the larger set of ledges after the 1st I-40 bridge. Maytag is fun, just stay to the left! Good short trip, could run it twice probably. We took some pictures...will add them on here as soon as possible.