Tuckasegee

Duke Energy constructed a new river access location upstream of the Whittier Post Office. Downstream of Whittier the river widens and becomes shallow at flows below 1500cfs. About a mile upstream of the confluence of the Oconaluftee the Tuck flows through a rock band that looks similar to the bedrock ledge at the old Dillsboro Dam site. At levels above 1500cfs the rapid formed by the ledge can be significant (class III+) and scouted on river right. Below the confluence of the Oconaluftee the river mellows and widens. There are many old cars stacked on the river bank, part of a 1960s era effort to stabilize the river channel. As the river enters Bryson City, Devils Dip rapid signals the takeout location at Island Park on river right (also a popular picnic area just upstream of the confluence with Deep Creek).

ALERT: Didymosphenia geminate, a slimey invasive algae known as rock snot, was found in the Tuck in 2016. Please rinse all mud and sand off your boat and gear before leaving the Tuck, and clean, drain, and dry your stuff before heading to the next river. It is our responsibility to avoid transporting this damaging algae to other rivers to prortect the native aquatic species.

Typically known as the Ela put in, easy class 1-1+ down to Darnell Farms, great place to stop and eat lunch. If you don't know what a Dream Whip is? Find out. So delicious on a hot day.

The immediate rapid is a easy Class 2, run river right, watch out for the bridge pylons above this rapid and watch out for strainers, the river is wide with many possible options and waves to be surfed.

Boogie down to The Devils Dip passing easy 1-1+ on the way. Depending on water levels there's a few different lines, higher water you can miss it altogether but if it's lower you can skip the dip by passing just river left by a few feet. Or punch the dip for a nice bit of hole busting. You can surf the hole, and there's good stern squirt lines on surfer right.