Big Laurel Creek
Hurricane to Hot Springs
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 3.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 50 fpm |
| Gauge | Ivy River Near Marshall, Nc |
| Flow Rate as of 52 minutes | 51 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 9, 2024 |
River Description
Please note the gauge referenced on this page is for the Ivy which is near the Big Laurel but is not a direct correlation to the water level of the Big Laurel.
Big Laurel ranks as one of the classic Western North Carolina whitewater runs thanks to its great moderate Class III/IV rapids, nice scenery, and frequent runnable flows. At low flows and medium flows Big Laurel is a great training ground for paddlers making the transition from river running to creek boating. At higher flows it is a booming river in its own right. Paddlers should be aware of an easily avoided sieve partway down on the left side of Stairstep Rapid, as well as a stout easily avoided hole on the right side of Suddy Hole. Hiking and swimming has picked up dramatically along Big Laurel in recent years so expect company in the summer. The trail borders the entire run and offers easy scouting and portaging.
The putin for this run is in Hurricane, NC. The takeout is in Hot Springs, NC. Big Laurel drops 200 feet in 3.7 miles before flowing into the French Broad, the last 3.3 miles of the run. To avoid paddling the French Broad, take out in Runion (below Stackhouse). Shuttle Directions: From Hot Springs, take US 25 north for 4.7 miles to Hurricane, NC. In Hurricane, US 25 turns right at a stop sign, just after passing over Big Laurel Creek. Turn right, following US 25 north. The putin is immediately on the right from the large gravel parking area. From the gravel parking lot at the putin, turn left onto US 25 south and take an immediate left, following US 25 to Hot Springs. Continue on US 25 south for 4.7 miles. In Hot Springs, turn right just before the bridge over the French Broad River onto Paint Rock Rd. At the end of this road, turn left onto Lovers Leap Rd. Pass under the US 25 bridge and the takeout is just upstream of the bridge. A public, dirt parking lot is available at the end of the road if parking is not available at one of the commercial outfits at the takeout.
...River Features
Put In
Put on at the upstream end of the large river-left parking lot. In this spot the river is very close to the lot and small trails connect.
Pinball / First Rapid
Pinaball / 1st Rapid is the 1st horizon line that you come to. Almost all paddlers will run the opening left of center. At the bottom is a rock squarely in the most direct path. One method is to boof left into an eddy above and left of the rock. This is fairly easy. The other method (shown in the photo) is to angle right of the bottom rock. The problem is that there is a hidden underwater rock that you will hit if you cheat and head right too soon. It will pinball you into the rock at the bottom which you are trying to avoid. This is much more of a problem at lower water levels. At higher levels the pinball rock is further under water and you can start right earlier. I'm leaving the old text below.
Run the left hand chute! The right hand chute (which appears to be the obvious route) runs into a pinning rock.
Suddy Hole
Suddy Hole consists of two drops. Most boaters will eddy out after the 1st. As you look at the horizon line of the second, you will see a 'dead' tree across the creek and at the bottom of the rapid. This tree is still partly alive and has a prominent 'Y' about 15 ft from the bottom. If you aim for this tree, you will be on the most commonly run line. The nasty recircing Suddy hole is on boaters right. There is an exciting line on river left at higher (above 6 inches) levels.
Narrows
Start on river right moving towards river center over the first drop. Run the slide that immediately follows down the center.
Take Out
The most common way to paddle Big Laurel is to continue onto Section 9 of the French Broad and take out in Hot Springs.
Confluence with French Broad River
To skip the 3 mile section on the French Broad, some paddlers take out at the railroad tressle on river left, carry 0.7 miles up the railroad tracks to Stackhouse. You can also hike the river-left creekside trail back out to your car.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportHiked down the Laurel from the Store on Jan 2nd for after dinner exercise and general river scouting. The river was very low. Saw a 4-ft x 6' pine log in the river-left sieve at Stairstep Rapid. Judging from the condition, it had been there a long while, but was still strong and was jammed under a rock. It took me 15 minutes to free it by pulling upstream. This was with very little water pressure. Really nasty with branches coming off of it. It would be a near certain hang-up for any object passing thru.
Level was low -2 to -1 inches note picture of gauge is after the run.
~18'
A fun day sunny day.
Sally Walker Edwards on the 3rd of the steps. Level was 0 inches on the painted gauge (low)
Humble Pie (AKA Commitment Eddy) is the last significant rapid on Big Laurel before it empties into the French Broad river
This strainer is in the left line of Suddy Hole. You need around 5 inches to run this line and most people don't run it anyway. Photo taken around 3-4 inches
Strainer there as of July 19, 2013. Blocks the normal route.
Strainer blocks the two routes that 99% of all paddlers take. This is the 1st rapid of any significance on Big Laurel
Kevin in the lower half of Prelude (AKA False Narrows, Upper Narrows)