Green
1. Upper, Tuxedo Powerplant to trail above Hungry Creek(Upper Green)
| Difficulty | II-III+ |
| Length | 3.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 49 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 2, 2024 |
River Description
The Upper Green is an excellent intro to creek boating with frequent optimal dam releases making it readily available. The 3.7 mile long run alternates between Scenic Class I-II and more defined bedrock drops. Two drops in particular, Bayless' Boof and Pinball offer Class III+/IV excitement. Bayless' is easy to scout and portage, with the main line riding the tongue down river left, and a sneak line sliding down the river right side. Stay heads-up for a sloping ledge hole that is the next rapid after Bayless's which can be sticky. Pinball comes after paddling under the I-26 bridge: follow the left-of-center tongue and move just a bit left for a slide through a hole on the left side of the river. Save some energy for a suf just upstream of the take-out.
Perhaps the only downside to the Upper Green is the significant uphill hike-out (0.7 mile and ascending 300' in elevation), and the small amount of public parking at the top of the hill. The hike out begins on river left just upstream of the Big Hungry Creek confluence and just downstream of a fun surf wave. Pass Big Hungry and you'll quickly find yourself in the Class V Narrows.
You'll need to purchase a key to the private take out parking lot to utilize the large paddler parking lot. The other option is to use the 6-8 public parking spaces right at the trailhead, which are often fully utilized during the summer by folks hiking into Big Hungry Creek to swim. Go to Green River Access for info about keys: Green Key
While there is no online gauge for the Green, Northbrook Power Management posts a rolling 3-day release schedule year round, and also complies with an annual schedule during the warmer months. Here is the link: < http://carolinalakelevels.com/Tuxedo.php>. Generation is given in % of unit(s). 100% of one unit is an OK level, especially when it
...River Features
Tuxedo Hydro Plant Put-In
The put-in is on river right on the downstream side of the Pot Shoals Road Bridge which is immediately downstream of the Tuxedo Hydro Plant. The parking area is an unimproved dirt lot and can handle about a dozen cars. There are no bathrooms or other facilities here. River access is down a set of wooden steps.
Saluda Stuffer
About 1/2 mile into the run you will come to a 'real' island which splits the river; about 50 yards below this island the main flow collides with the mildly undercut left bank. Look where you want to go and veer right. Don't get 'Stuffed' under the left bank. This rapid was purportedly named after a large BBQ sandwich formerly served at the Green River BBQ in Saluda.
Bayless Boof
A small stretch of riffly rapids follows the Stuffer, then a pool with a well-used beach on the left (for scouting). The river is split by an island. Most people run left of the island driving left on the obvious left-side tongue. Boof stroke as you go over the final portion of the drop to avoid hitting (or pitoning) the rocks in the foam at the bottom.
Wanda's Hole aka Witches
Immediately following Bayless Boof is a horizon line with a small mid river island with 90% of the flow going right. At the bottom of this sloping ledge is a hole which is blown out on the far right. Most boaters run it on the right trying to just miss the hole but not piton on the right bank boulders. If you catch a bit of the hole doing this you will be OK if you just throw in a left stroke to keep your momentum going.
Z Turn / Devils Elbow
Immediately below Wanda's is a maze of rocks named Z Turn or Devil's Elbow. The most common line is to go from center to left and maybe into an obvious eddy behind a boulder on the bank. From there you must get back to the right. Skirting the right side of the small hole below that first eddy with a little right angle will do the trick.
360 Hole & Safety Meeting
In the middle of a straight stretch the river goes over a mild broken ledge. A surfing hole, where you can do 360's, is on river right with another small surfing hole on the left. At the top of the rapid on river left, you can cut through the overhanging vegetation into a grotto where a cool creek enters the Green. This place is purportedly popular for 'Safety Meetings.'
No Name Ledge
This rapid features a broken ledge with three main lines: the most common line is a 3 ft boof about 5 ft from the right bank with alternate lines on the left and right center.
Interstate Highway 26 Bridge
Once you pass under the Interstate Highway 26 Bridge, that crosses high overhead, you have approximately 1 mile left.
Class 2 above Pinball
After passing under I-26 a flatwater stretch followed by a riffly rapids leads to a horizon line. Run this left to center.
Pinball
Double drop ledge(s). Run the 1st slightly left of center through a notch (you have to approach right of center and follow the current left). At the bottom of the 1st drop you want to move left but wait about 8 ft until you clear the slightly submerged rock - then move left 3-6 ft. Second drop is a smooth & splashy slide.
Takeout Rapid & Wave
A series of shoal type rapids follow Pinball until you get to somewhat of a horizin line for the last rapid, about a hundred yards above the takeout. It's a pretty good glassy wave that changes a little from year to year.
River Exit and Start of Trail
The trail up to the parking area starts just upstream of the confluence with the Hungry River on river left. It is a 0.7 mile hike up that ascends 300' in elevation on a well-built trail that passes through North Carolina Gamelands. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes to reach the parking area on Gallimore Road.
Gallimore Road Take Out-Parking
A large private and gated parking area is available on the north side of Gallimore Road. To access this parking area boaters must pay an annual fee for the key. The other option is to use the 6-8 public parking spaces right at the trailhead on the south side of the road. These are often fully utilized during the summer by folks hiking into Big Hungry Creek to swim. No toilet or other facilities are available at this access point.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportUpper Green 2.0 has some nice surprises and some not so nice. There's one major safety issue, a set of strainers blocking the main channel just above the I-26 bridge. It's covered in the 'Alerts.' Be sure to check that out.
The water level was low, noticeably less than one turbine release equivalent. However, looking at the shoals at the put-in, it was easy to see that there was a shallow but viable path through them. (That's the best I can do for a level measure. Obviously, we need a gauge at Pot Shoals Rd!) At that level, the river is bony in many places, but as long as you pay close attention you probably won't have to get out and drag your boat over rocks. We thought this level would be a good zero for the eventual gauge.
Overall, aside from the strainer above I-26, the main difference in the river's appearance is that there is a lot more exposed rock along the shore, and there are a lot more inviting sandy beaches. There are small landslides and uprooted trees everywhere, and fallen trees line the riverbank in most places. That pleasant slalom warmup at the beginning of the run is mostly replaced now with rubble fields, and there's a tree all the way across the river shortly before the power line crossing. There are a couple of nice new surfing spots, and the old surfing spots are different.
Bayless's Boof should be scouted, which you can do easily from the top of the drop on the right. It's hard to tell how much of the difference was due to the lower water level, but it was different. The usual route on the far left side was not viable. The best route was a bit to the right of that route, and just to the right of that 'halfway-down-the-drop' hole.
Wanda's Hole, Devil's Elbow, and Pinball look a little bit different, but the routes are pretty much the same. You can probably boat-scout and pick your way down. Obviously, watch out for ever-shifting wood and follow your own best judgment.
The take-out is not obvious. It's a small beach next to the mouth of a tiny stream, much closer to the mouth of the Big Hungry than the old take-out. I suggest that you walk down to the take-out and scout it out before putting on the river; otherwise you will probably spend a long unpleasant time picking your way through the piles of fallen trees at the take-out. If there is recovery work going on, go paddle somewhere else. Someone has done a heroic amount of work with chainsaw and backhoe to open that take-out trail. Many thanks to whoever arranged that!
If you loved the old Upper Green, as I did, I think you'll come to love the new Upper Green. It is still beautiful and remote-feeling, with just enough challenge to make it interesting, two big rapids and lots of little features to play in, nice new beaches and rocks to hang out on, and the same old pain-in-the-ass 1 km carry-out that guarantees that you will usually have the river to yourself.
The American Whitewater board meeting was held in Brevard. After we finished up our meetings some of the staff and a few friends had a chance to get on the river. It was flowing at 100% and plenty of fun. We did a few laps at Bayless Boof. We did encounter some wood but it was all easily advoidable by those paying attention.
This is a photo of Joe Berry passing by one of the waterfalls on the Upper Green near Saluda, NC on one of the Hemlock Treatment Days, sponsored by PHHAT, Paddleers Hemlock Health Action Team. Alex Harvey was the organizer of this treatment day.
Ryan J doing 360s in a C-1 at 360 hole.
Ryan J doing 360s at 360 Hole in a C-1
Nathan on a smooth line at Bayless Boof
Curtis C. surfing the wave at the Takeout Rapid.
Kevin G on the most common line at No Name Ledge
Normal path is just to the river right of the center rock in top ledge and left of the 'pinball' rock in the bottom ledge
Troy at Bayless' boof