Pigeon, West Fork
2. Garden of the Gods
| Difficulty | V+ |
| Length | 0.82 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 600 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 17, 2025 |
Very tight, technical & steep section of the river through lots of tight slots & boulder gardens. Most of the run is no more than a couple yards from the road but doesn't mean it should be taken lightly. Chip Collins seems to have been the first person to run this section back in 2005.
Check it out in Leland's North Carolina Rivers and Creeks. If Leland and other testosterone-laden creekers don't have a good feeling about running it, very few people will.
A very steep & tight upper drop into a pool before going under the bridge into about a 25ft drop.
Nov 28, 2018
The crux move of the Garden- Mcavoy dropping in.
Nov 28, 2018
Ryan Mcavoy and I did another full descent in November of 2018. We had to portage once for wood though.
May 21, 2018
Pat Keller and Ryan Macavoy just did another descent of this no problems. Happened on May 19, 2018 as I believe.
Jul 11, 2013
I think this is about 1500 cfs.
Sep 20, 2009
Raging whitewater, ~1000cfs at hazelwood guage
Jun 15, 2009
If anyone has pictures of this with water or any information on it please tell me.
Jan 4, 2009
I think he did it about a dozen times, and I'm pretty sure that once you start moving, you can't get out to portage. Oh yeah, he ran it in an inflatable ducky too....
Jun 25, 2008
Who is this Chip Collins and how in the world did he survive? Where did he start and take out? Any rapids walked etc.
Aug 26, 2006
This gives you an idea of the average size of a drop in the steepest section of the Garden of the Gods. Its a fun place to go hiking/canyoneering.
