Cullasaja
1. Upper (Lake Sequoyah to below Cosmic Crunch) (Upper Cullasaja)
| Difficulty | IV-V+ |
| Length | 4.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 167 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 8, 2021 |
Projects
Western North Carolina is home to the highest mountains in the eastern US, abundant rainfall, globally significant biodiversity, and large tracts of federal lands. In combination these things add up to an incredible array of whitewater rivers and streams that have long been paddling classics. While many communities rely [...]Read More
River Description
First, anyone running this section of river must be aware that there are several unrunnable waterfalls and slots along with miles of flatwater between the rapids in this section of river. No one runs the whole thing but instead this section of river is usually run in several parts. For example the upper slide is usually done as a one shot waterfall and the gorge above the Nemesis to Bricklayer Falls and Cosmic Crunch section is run by itself as a short class V+ run.
The Cullasaja begins on the west side of Highlands NC, at the outflow dam of Lake Sequoyah. The rest of the run is semi-roadside along Hwy 64.
For the top Park & Huck:
Put-in at the base of the dam. If the first drop scares you, then you should not be on the river. The first drop is a three tiered slide dropping about
60 feet. The drop is similar to Stairway to Heaven on Bear. Then pull your boat back up the rock face to hike back out.
Below Triple Drop is a short gorge with a lot of flat water and wood. There are at least 4 trees of 2 feet plus diameter that cross the entire river bed. The only major drop is a slide/Flume 150yds above Dry Falls. The Flume looks nasty and cuts from center and goes river right before it empties out directly into a rock wall. Run the slide river left, and don't forget to take out as soon as you can because the mandatory portage, Dry Falls is just downstream. Taking out here is short, but rough because of the dense undergrowth.
Below Dry Falls is another gorge with some good class 5 water in it. After that the gorge flattens out for a few miles leading up to the RT 1620 bridge aka Turtle Pond Road is where the USGS on-line gauge is.
There is one more major gorge of note below this. And it includes the big roadside drop, Nemesis. If you are driving upstream from the lower, the first really big d
...River Features
Triple Drop
Park and Huck this one. Put-in below the dam. The first drop is about 6-8FT then line up for the second drop of about 15-20 FT. Run from left to right, using the pillow rock to slide up and over onto the bottom drop that's about a 20FT slide into a big pool at the bottom. There's a good trail leading down to a rock platform between the 2nd and 3rd drop that you can walk down to get a better look for wood.
Slide/Flume
Looks like you would need quiet a bit of water to run it smoothly. There is a flume that runs from center to the bottom river right side. Looks pretty sketchy though. Start looking for a place to carry out after this because death awaits below at Dry Falls.
Dry Falls
Mandatory Portage Probably don't wanna miss the portage on this one. Looks like there's nothing much below here for a little while.
Nemesis
Hopefully you're still in one piece when you get to the bottom here. Don't worry though, you have a few hundred yards to get it gathered back up before Bricklayer Falls.
Nemesis
One of the biggest, steepest, sickest drops on the Cullasaja. Apparently, you can park and huck this one, but looks like the huck would also be sik.
Nemesis
The second drop looks the sickest. Really tight and turbulant water.
Bricklayer Falls
Run left to right and right around the big rock at the bottom.
The Notch
There's some wood blocking the entrance to the Notch. Looks like a pretty straight foward drop with a pretty good pool at the bottom that leads into the big part of the drop.
Cosmic Crunch
Has been ran before but it is stout.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a report1st or possibly 2nd descent of cosmic crunch.
Styling the big drop...
As of March 9th, there was a huge log across the 'notch' above Bricklayer. It crosses the entire river channel, may not be a problem above about 6 feet. Also, looked to be a log in the chute leaving the river left eddy at Cosmic Crunch. And more wood in the next drop right below Cosmic Crunch.
This is the last drop above Dry Falls on the Upper Cullasaja. I don't think it is runnable at this level maybe at 4 ft? There is a sort of flume that cuts across the drop starting in the center and working back to river right. Looks pretty sik though, bad exit point.
Notice the quality of the water from the Highlands Sewage Treatment Plant from the foam piles below the drop.
This is the big roadside drop on the Upper Cullasaja. To get to it drive about 2 miles past T-Bone and when the road getts really close to the river there is a guard rail and if you look out the passenger side window you'll see it lurking below. Park about 1/4 mile past on the right side of the road. Be sure to scout before you put on, cause once you run the lead in drop, there's no getting out. The gorge walls are very steep and very slick.
Better be good in your creeker for this one!! Hang on your getting close to the end!
ahhh you mad it hopefully, now you got a few hundred yards to get your ducks back in a row before Bricklayer Falls and then if your still in one piece, Cosmic Crunch.-----scouting advised
Get ready for the ride.....
Portage Please!!
Run left around the rock at the bottom.
This drop has a log blocking the entrance. Probably wouldn't be an issue at higher water( over 5 ft.).
This is the Big part of Bricklayer. The drop pillows into a huge rock that's not undercut. There's a large eddy on the far left side at the bottom. Looks like it should be run from Right to Left. I'd say class 5.3.
This log was blocking the entire river on March 9th. A small person could sneek under it at low levels. At levels over 5FT it might not be an issue.
Obie Jenkins running the first drop of the Upper Cullasaja.
Easy park and huck on upper, with a good recovery pool at the bottom.
A very scrappy section on the Upper.
This is the first rapid on the Upper Cullasaja. You put in at the base of the dam, take two strokes and then you are into this three tiered slide. The whole thing is probably 60 or 70 feet tall. For more great photos and videos check out Lelands Paddle Page.
The first drop is above, it's not major though, just don't flip!