Big Laurel Creek
Hurricane to Hot Springs
May 27, 2026
We had a great day out on Big Laurel with a group of 3 packrafters and a kayaker who joined for the run. The reading on the bridge was approximately -1'. We put on shortly after noon. It was about an 80 minute paddle (we took our time) and an 80 minute hike back to the put-in. Since we had packrafts it was easy to take out shortly upstream of the French Broad confluence and hike the river left trail back to the put-in.
Jan 6, 2026
Hiked 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.
Apr 2, 2022
Level was low -2 to -1 inches note picture of gauge is after the run.
Jul 16, 2013
Sally Walker Edwards on the 3rd of the steps. Level was 0 inches on the painted gauge (low)
Jul 15, 2013
Humble Pie (AKA Commitment Eddy) is the last significant rapid on Big Laurel before it empties into the French Broad river
Jul 14, 2013
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
Jul 11, 2013
Pete running the lower drop of Suddy Hole. The actual, nasty Suddy Hole is at the far left of the picture.
Jul 11, 2013
Prelude (AKA False Narrows, Upper Narrows, or a part of the Narrows) is a fairly long rapid with a lot of choices and moves.
Jul 11, 2013
This is the second drop of Suddy Hole. The bad / nasty Suddy hole is on the left of the picture (boater's right). Peter is on the most commonly run line. The level was +5 inches - medium.
Jul 11, 2013
Strainer blocks the two routes that 99% of all paddlers take. This is the 1st rapid of any significance on Big Laurel
Jul 11, 2013
Cliffside is one of the three rapids after Suddy Hole (and before you get to the French Broad).
Jul 2, 2013
Pete Gutillo in the 4th step (where they start getting large). Level was 3 inches.
Jun 23, 2013
Note: the put-in markers on the Directions page and the Map page are not in the correct place. The put-in is as described on the RiverMain page: it is essentially a big gravel parking lot near the corner of where 25/70 meet 208. If you see the Espresso/Coffee shop (worth a stop BTW) at the corner, you're just about there. Also, there is no Hurricane, NC (at least not in this vicinity).
Jun 13, 2013
Pinball is the 1st rapid with a horizon line. Kimberly is taking the right line of the left (main) chute. Level was 3 inches.
Apr 30, 2011
Stairstep rapid looking downstream- Perfect day on the river (note- new strainer blocking part of river right in last drop. Had no issue, but at higher water could be larger issue.
Apr 22, 2011
The narrows from the river left trail. Could walk this to scout pretty much all of the river, take out if need at high water, etc..
Apr 22, 2011
Second Drop of Stairstep at 0 on painted bridge gauge. Easy to just punch through at this level with a little speed
Jan 14, 2011
This was around 0' on the bridge gauge I think. The sieve becomes hidden quickly at higher levels and it's possible to get surfed into it.
Oct 15, 2005
Rocky and time-consuming, but fun for an East river. Great rope-swing downstream! Best rapids on French Broad River are downstream of confluence.
Mar 17, 2003
Did this run Saturday at about 2 or 3 inches below 0 on the bridge painted guage, guessing it to be about similar now on the Ivy gauge. Bony in the early stages, scrapy at a couple spots, but pretty good III creekin, esp. the Narrows. Very tight, very fun. I would also recommend hiking the 10 minutes back up to Stackhouse instead of running to Hotsprings, as those last 3 miles are mostly flatwater save for the 2 big ones.
