Rocky (Cape Fear trib.)
1. Route 2170 to NC Route 902(Upper Rocky [Carolina Hill Rd to Pittsboro-Goldston Road])
| Difficulty | I-III |
| Length | 6.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 21 fpm |
| Gauge | Rocky R at Us 64 Near Siler City, Nc |
| Flow Rate as of 34 minutes | 2 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 8, 2024 |
River Description
Data from Joe Greiner, local expert
Additions by Garrick Taylor - half baked paddler
Great alternative when the Lower Haw is too high. Lots of Class II rapids with some flatwater in-between. Some nice play spots to have fun. It is a narrow river so watch out for wood. The is a good squirt line a couple of miles in where a rock protrudes into the river from river left. There is an old stone wall back in the woods on river left at this spot.
More Class I-II rapids follow with some flatwater thrown in between.
Section of Class III about mid-way into the run. The river drops over an old 4-5' stone mill dam. This is followed by 100 yards or so of Class II water as the river bends to the right. This is followed a 3-4' ledge that forms a nice sized hole at high water. Following this is another 3-4' ledge with another hole. This is followed by a wave train that has a couple of 4-5' waves at high water.
A large eddy follows this where you can pick up the pieces or paddle back up to just below the bottom ledge to run the wave train again or to practice some surfing.
After this the river has a bit of flat water followed by more Class I-II rapids mixed with flatwater.
Class II rapids begin again and run for several hundred yards just before reaching the takeout at the NC 902 bridge.
Trip took 2 1/2 hours at 1-1.5 feet on the paddlers' gage.
River Features
Put In
Stonewall
Busted Dam
Run just right of center. A small hole is at the bottom.
Wood's Mill Bend
Eddy left to boat scout or portage if not confident. Then ferry river right to catch the main flow. If you stay right, you will avoid the bulk of the holes below each ledge. Once you reach the channel after the drops, watch for wood in the right channel.
The Green Zone
This set of rapids is smaller than some of what is found earlier in the run, but is technically a bit more challenging. Towards the end, with the 902 bridge in view is a larger hole to punch or avoid.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWe ran this at 730 on the Siler City gage and 660 on the Tick Creek gage. Meadow Creek was pumping pretty high as well and looked to have a decent drop at the confluence that we didn't run. The water was nearing the banks, but was not flooded, despite some low level islands being submerged throughout. Waves were in the 2-3 ft range throughout and 4-5 ft in the Wood's Mill area and at the end. There were some good surf waves throughout, but we had trouble catching them in our inflatables. None of the holes were sticky in terms of keeping you in them dangerously, but a few were big enough you'd need to punch to make it through (think WWC drops as a comparison). At this level the flat sections were not much of an issue since the current moved fast through them. Very good level if you have a roll and good crew to paddle with. There were no portages required although there were some floating logs and trees that seemed to be cracking along the banks on the way through. With very little play, the whole trip took about an hour and a half.
04/14/2019: Ran at level somewhere between 2000-4000. GREAT waves, no nasty holes, too many strainers to count (only 1 tree in main channel). Run took about 90 mins with minimal play.
Jonathan surfing the first good wave - notice the 'limbo log' in the background
One of many small ledges
Another nice Class II rapid. Great play hole at the bottom of the pourover but couldn't play in it due to the tree - maybe next time.....
Yet another Class II rapid......
And yet another Class II rapid
Just above where the Class III section starts. It begins with a 4'5' old stone milldam. At higher water as in the picture, it is less of a drop. Following this is 100 yards or so of Class II rapids as the river bends out of sight to the right. This is followed by a 3-4' ledge with a large hole at high water. Following this is a similar ledge with a similar hole. After the hole is a wave train. At the level in the picture, there were several 4-5 foot waves in the run-out. Nice eddy at the bottom of it all to collect the pieces and/or hop back up to run the wave train again and/or surf the waves.
Jonathan plays just below the milldam while Buddy starts down the Class II lead-in to the fun stuff
Hard to see but Jonathan is eddied out between the two ledges while Buddy punches the hole on the bottom ledge.
Buddy riding up the crest of the second wave at the bottom of the second ledge while Jonathan waits in the eddy above
Jonathan riding up the crest of the second wave below the bottom ledge
The paddlers' gage downstream river right of NC 902 bridge at the takeout. Dropped from 1.5' to 1' while we paddled.
Put in
first rapid, midway down
variable waves, haystacks, curlers
top of rapid
first major rapid/wave train
Great level, beefy, pushy, huge crashing waves, wires across river anounce beginning of rapid, some wood at bottom right channel