Little Buffalo, East Fork
Deer to Murray (7.3 miles)
| Difficulty | III-IV(V+) |
| Length | 7.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 60 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 3, 2017 |
River Description
Note: The combination of Steep banks and lots of dead red oak trees (thanks to the borer beetle infestation) tend to clog the creek with wood from time to time, so keep look out. Currently has trees at the end of the 2nd (Obliterator) and 3rd (Swinging Bridge) gorges!
Put-in: Located at confluence of the East Fork and Barberry Creek.(elevation 1490) From Hwy 16 at Deer. Go North on County Road 8872 for 2.7 miles to the end of the main road. Ask for permission to park at the last house overlooking a large pond and carry/drag down the old road 1 mile to the creek.
Take-out: At Murray either at low-water bridge below confluence with Stepp Creek (Elevation 1065) or on river left at low-water bridge below confluence with Thomas Creek (Elevation 1030). 3-options:
Option 1, Go West on Hwy 16 to Swain and turn North on County Road 8920, go 3.1 miles and take the right fork on County Road 8642. This road will descend the mountain to the low-water bridge at Murray. Park along the road/creek as you will likely not be able to ford the creek to the park/community building if the creek is running.
Option 2, Go North on Newton County Road 8876 from Hwy 16 at Deer and head to Wayton. This road takes you past the Alum Cove recreation area. Turn left (West) on Newton County Road 8500 at the Wayton Baptist Church. Go 2.3 miles and turn left (South) on Newton County Road 8541(Snow cemetery is on the right). Continue ~2.5 miles down the mountain to the community of Murray. Be sure to check out the scenery on the way down. Especially the tall waterfall above the first small creek crossing. At the bottom of the hill, there are a couple of houses on the right then a triangle intersection. The creek is a couple hundred yards to the left. Park at the community building next to the intersection. Be sure to thank any locals and leave a donation for this facility.
Option 3, Access from Hwy 21 j
...River Features
Put-in
Confluence of Upper East Fork and Barberry Creek. Access via ATV trail at the end of Heydenrich road in Deer.
Half-Moon
Curved ledge with some nice surfing above and below. Watch for the stout hole at the bottom at higher flows.
Johnson's Falls
A bedrock ledge with a large boulder sitting in the middle. At most levels, the name 'Johnson's Squeeze' is more appropriate as all of the water funnels between the left wall and the boulder through a 2.5-ft wide flume with a sharp turn.
Hazards include pinning by wedging one end of the boat on the left wall as the other end wedges under the boulder, cuts from the sharp edges on the left wall and shallow bedrock, hard hits from the boulder.
At very high water levels, water pours over the ledge on the right side of the boulder for a true waterfall drop.
Portage on the left at water level at most levels.
Johnson's Falls Gorge
A mile of bouldery rapids more technical than those upstream. The walls become more vertical and close in on the river. The rapids open up a bit at the Long Branch confluence to give a short break before the lower gorges.
Obliterator Gorge
Large boulders dominate the streambed as the water pours through. There are five distinct drops with some action inbetween. The first ledge is the 'Obliterator' and it has an appetite for boaters. An ATV trail runs along the right side.
Low-water slab crossing
Private drive crossing for house on the left. Can be used as an emergency exit on the right to get out to the county road.
Signals the final onslaught of rapids are just around the corner.
Swinging Bridge Gorge
Similar to the 'Obliterator Gorge' as the large boulders funnel the water into powerful hydraulics over 5 main drops with some action inbetween. Don't let the vintage bridge overhead distract your attention.
First Low-Water crossing
First of two county road crossings at Murray. Park on river left in the pull-out area or on river right at Willis Park or the community center depending on how you came down the hill. Right heads upto Wayton, Left heads up to Hwy 16 at Swain.
Alternate take-out is 1.2 miles downstream at the next crossing which exits river left up to Hwy 21 at Mossville.
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