Straight Fork

This run is very nice. It is all roadside. No wood problems as of April 2010. If you enjoy the little in TN but don't have the time to get to it, this makes a great class III option for you. The run is as pretty as other smokies runs, but without any houses (like lower big creek) or passing cars (like at the little). It has a greater wilderness feel to it without the pressure of running class V, like at the other more wilderness runs of the smokies. If you are just getting into creeking or just want to do something new go check out the straight fork. You can also do a one car shuttle fairly easy. Just bring a bike or hike up with your boat if the road is gated off. Which it is not in the spring or summer. The put in is the second bridge. The take out is the parking lot by the gate. Below is a low head dam so it is best to get out at the gate. Above the bridge the creek is unreasonable due to lots of wood. A fishing trail goes into that part but the gradient doesn't pick up and the wood thing is a real problem. All-in-all though I would recommend this run to anybody who loves boating in the smokies. O and the rapids are distinguished and fun class III instead just one long continues rapid. More like what you would see on the little than lower big creek or tremont. However the run is easier than both of those runs.