Hazel Creek

This creek is known as the 'Crown Jewel' of trout fishing in GSMNP. It is a large creek, unusual for the park in that it has a gravel road for at least5(maybe 7 miles upstream. Carts are allowed.I'd say that with a lot of water, it'd be a great class3-4 run, with some 4+ drops.in the lower 5 mi.(There are some nice Sluice-type drops. Have not been up past 5.6 miles, where Bone Valley Creek comes in. A couple miles up from there, on the main stream, is a falls of some extent. Put on your heavy hiking boots(that gravel is tough on the feet.) Get a good cart.)Don Kirk's popular book 'Smoky mountains Trout Fishing Guide can give you more trail info. I'd like to fish way on up the trail-but without a helicopter, or someone to carry a big open boat for me, ddoubt that I'll be fortunate enough to paddle it! Check it out.Catch a fish. I imagine that the water is fishable no matter how high the water. Hopefully someone will have the gumption to boat across Fontana, get their boat 5-7++? miles up the stream, and write a paddlin' report. I'll buy you a beer! A horse and a Kayak or C-1 might actually get you way up there.(Documentary material!) Gradient shows 100ft./mi. for the lower 5 mi.