Elk River

For the Curtain Bridge to Webster Springs run (the classic race course) between 5.5 & 7 ft. is ideal for the intermediate boater. Between 4.5 & 5.5 ft. this section begins to look boney; however, The Elk below Webster, where the Back Fork (a scenic creek with waterfalls and a hiking trail) enters, is navigable at these levels, & in many ways offers a very fun 'read & run' ride.

Above 7 ft. the Elk truly begins to turn into a class IV-V river. I've came really close to drowning in this river above 8 ft. in a huge pour-over in th race section between Curtain Bridge & PX ... head over heals, no touching the ground, no swimming out (I don't know who came up with the 'turn into a ball' rule, but I had to 'make like a stick' & gracefully pull th 'Jesus pose').