| Difficulty | II-III+ |
| Length | 3.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 49 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 2, 2024 |
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
...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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
Once you pass under the Interstate Highway 26 Bridge, that crosses high overhead, you have approximately 1 mile left.
After passing under I-26 a flatwater stretch followed by a riffly rapids leads to a horizon line. Run this left to center.
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.
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.
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.
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.