Nantahala
1. Cascades: FS Road 327 to 1310 Bridge
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 1.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 210 fpm |
| Gauge | Nantahala River Near Hewitt, Nc |
| Flow Rate as of 37 minutes | 222 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 12, 2025 |
Projects
The Nantahala is one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the nation and the world. Forgiving class II+ rapids, fine water quality and scenery, reliable dam releases almost every day, the security of a nearby road, and a large number of rafting and kayaking outfitters all contribute to [...]Read More
River Description
The Nantahala Cascades are a classic Southern creek run, when they have water. Were it not for the Nantahala Dam diverting water around this reach to the powerhouse the section would be runnable something like 270 days per year. As it is though, paddlers have to take advantage of rain-driven flows that deliver flows through tributaries, or jump on one of eight annual releases that were negotiated by American Whitewater, Western Carolina Paddlers, and the Carolina Canoe Club. Releases are scheduled for a higher flow weekend each April and September, as well as 4 summer afternoons. Duke Energy, the US Forest Service, NOC, and NC Wildlife Resources Commission are supportive partners that help the releases happen.
The Cascades are exceedingly well named, as the river roars over a handful of large roadside drops seperated by continuous technical boogie. At lower flows there is some breathing room between the drops, but at high flows the run takes on a freight train persona. Cocktail Rock and the drop below offer great warm up slides and boofs. V Slot challenges paddlers to avoid or embrace the meltdown. Horns of God requires paddlers negotiate a tricky entrance past a sticky hole to reach the glorious boof between the Horns. Big Kahuna is the crux of the run with its long hole-pocked slide ending in a big gushy boof. Junkyard requires a textbook skip out of a slide hole, and as a finale Chinese Feet offers paddlers a couple tight creeky slot moves. You can scout everything from the road.
If You Walk Laps: Paddlers walking laps on the Cascades need to walk single file, as far off the road as possible, and be very careful to keep you and your boat out of traffic. Paddlers walking in the road sometimes cause frustration with local residents needing to drive on the road. Please go out of your way to not impede traffic, and be respectful even if people are frustrated. If a lap shuttle is available at PB&J, use it!
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...River Features
Put In
There are lots of small dispersed parking options along Old River Road, especially after a mile or so up from White Oak Creek. Just drive up and find a good spot that does not block traffic. It is very important not to block traffic on this road!
Cocktail Rock
A fun Class IIIish slide.
Who's Got A Name?
Fun Slidey drop. Not sure of the name.
V Slot
V Slot is a vertical 8-foot slot on far river right very near the bus turnaround. This drop is tricky to get a clean boof and meltdowns are common.
Short / Traditional Put-In
This is the normal traditional put in for the Cascades. You'll likely want to put in here if you are running laps on a non-release natural flow day, or if you are riding a commercial shuttle up to the Cascades on a release day. Drop-off and parking in this zone though gets really hectic on scheduled release days, so it is better to drive up the dirt road and park well off the road. This eases traffic problems on release days. No matter what, please obey all signs and do not park in a manner that impedes traffic.
Horns of God
A tricky entry move with a sticky ledge hole followed by a sweet 12-foot boof with a shallow landing zone. High pin potential in long boats. As the photo shows, boof between the horns.
After the landing pool theres a 6 foot tall slide that can be run left or right. Be careful if running right as there is a shallow hidden rock that just wants you to piton into it.
Top of Big Kahuna
A long slide that leads into a 10 foot boof over a munchy hole. The standard routine at lower flows is to eddy hop down the right side to set up for the final move. At higher flows the standard line is down the left.
Bottom of Big Kahuna.
There are options: boof left, boof right, or boof center! Just be ready to roll quickly if you flip in the landing because the junky lead-in of Junkyard rapid comes up fast.
Chinese Feet
A big drop with a strange slotty entrance. Good place for elbow pads. Water levels will dictate how the 5 foot entrance drop is run. Then run through the final right slot at the bottom dropping about 10 feet. Left line is typically easier than right, both are fun.
Take Out
PB&J Access Site
This is an optional take-out for the Cascades that adds a minute or two of paddling for another fun rapid. During some releases a free shuttle will pick you up here to avoid the sketchy walk up the road. Look for a long pull-off with a ramp into the water at the downstream end.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportTeacup rapid middle line
Teacup rapid, middle line, hard but do-able landing
Lining up Teacup, paddle HARD!
Ran left line Teacup Rapid above Horns of God, tight! Don't piton
09/25/2022: Cascades/upper Nantahala scheduled release, Sunday Release:
Connor (Wave Sport Project56) and I (LL Alpha 90) paddled upper section ABOVE the Cascades, putting in about 1-2 miles above put in for Cascades, about 1/4 mile above large rapid (locals said: 'Champagne'?), probably high Class 4 middle line, LEFT line definite Class 5 and ugly.
Then paddled down to larger rapid near White Oak Creek confluence (the rapid that everyone can see when they park to put onto the Cascades, locals said: 'Teacup'?). Video posted online (FB), unable to get images to appear here.
Ran that pretty clean in middle. There was a 12ft 2-person raft ran right line, VERY sticky hole. Class 4+ down middle (pin potential) and right line Class 5 (ugly hole, ?undercut). We have cell phone video from bystanders, will attempt to post photos.
Put in was great, just creekside, lots of boogy water, only those 2 big rapids, took about 30-40 mins to paddle to Horns on the Cascades. Not much wood. Lots of small campsites along the river, lots of poison ivy as well.
Really loved extending out the run, the 2 big rapids nicely engaging, and made the Cascades lap all the better with that sort of warm up. ALSO, the parking was a LOT easier!
Ben Huneycutt
Braaaping to the Future on the last day of GAF.
September 2008
September 2008
Dwight Nalbone running the Horns