Little (Eno trib)

Route 1461 (Johnson U.) to US Route 501

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February 1, 2025

Low Flow is Still Good

ReporterZach Schiada
Gauge Reading2.75 ft at LITTLE RIVER AT SR1461 NEAR ORANGE FACTORY, NC
FlowLow Flow

We paddled from the South Fork at Guess Rd to 501 with 2.5 ft on the gage putting on, jumping to 2.9 ft by the time we got off. There were a few places we scraped on the South Fork, but Russell Mill Ledge just before S Lowell Rd was runnable and no scraping once we reached the confluence with the North Fork. Some drops before the gorge had some surfable waves including a good wave about a mile and a half below the forks coming together. In the gorge, the rapids were a bit more difficult than my previous run at 3.4 ft due to having more rocks to dodge, but not as difficult as when I ran it before at 4.5 ft since current was mild. The first bigger drop at Swimming Hole rapid had some fun play on the bottom wave. Rapids leading to Fossil Rapid and the drop itself were a bit more technical, but not particularly difficult. For anyone wondering what would be too low, I would think about 2.5 ft would be a good minimum for the 'gorge' section and any lower would probably be too scrapey for fun, especially upstream of Johnson Mill Rd.