Short Creek
CR 409 to Guntersville Lake(Lower Short)
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 8.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 77 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 2, 2021 |
River Description
'This is a very nice though short section of Sand Mountian action. The falls at the put-in is a classic and the action continues unabated to the lake. As Short and Scarham combine just above the lake to make on last rapid one has to wonder what was covered up by the lake.' - Will Thornton
Short Creek is an excellent intermediate creek run, sporting a squeaky-clean 18-foot waterfall, a thick stack of quality rapids, and relatively straightforward (but strenuous) access logistics. Though there is a 3 mile lake paddle, and the water quality is poor (definitive 3 chickens, by the AL WW standard), this reach deserves consideration any weekend there's local water.
Short runs relatively frequently, nearly as often as Town Creek. Thanks to StreamBeam, an online gauge exists so you can check the levels before you head out! It can be found at the link below:
http://www.streambeam.net/Home/Gauge?siteID=1
The online gauge updates several times per hour, and correlates almost perfectly with the old stick gauge on the AL 75 bridge. Look for upwards of 0.5' for minimum flow, and above of 1' for good water. Above 2', holes become significantly stickier, and the boil at the base of the falls is particularly ominous. Runs down to 4-5'' on the old bridge gauge have been done without too much hassle, though at that point it's a test of your tolerance for rocks.
The listed address for the put in is approximate – look for a bridge over the creek with a gravel pull off on the river left, downstream side. It is tempting to park at the Hustleville Road bridge to cut off the warmup rapids, but the county has put up no parking signs on both sides of the bridge. If the water is high and you want a more interesting warmup, Drum Creek is a tributary which enters just above the falls and offers some nice class III water. See Alabama Whitewater for a description. The takeout is simple, park at the ranger s
...River Features
Put-In (Martling Road)
The most common put-in is on Martling Road (CR 409), with the other option being the stream crossing at AL 75. It is tempting to put in on Hustleville Road directly above the falls, but the county has put up 'No Parking' signs at the request of the landowners.
There is a large gravel pulloff on Martling Road on the downstream, river left side of the bridge. Park here and carry your boat down to the river under the bridge.
Short Creek Falls
The falls are very friendly and can be run just about anywhere that has water going over. Depending on where you go it’s an 18 or 20 foot drop. The traditional line is about 10 feet off the left bank, over the top of a small curler. Just don’t go too far left, because if you land on the wrong side of the boil at the bottom, it will shove you into the mildly undercut shelf on the bottom left, where an amusing display of carping will likely ensue. Set safety from on top of this shelf. Eddy out behind it, hike back up and run it again. You can paddle behind the falls on the river right side, and watch your friends go over from behind the curtain. Pretty neat.
Grotto Falls
After you get bored of the falls, a few class II-III boogie rapids follow. Keep an eye on the scenery ahead; when you see a sheer cliff face ahead on the right as the river bends left, Grotto Falls is coming up. Following a small slide, beach yourself on the large rock outcropping that divides the flow to scout Grotto. The main line is just a couple feet to the left of the rock you landed on, an easy 8-footer with big boof potential. At low water, keep your boat angled right to miss a piton rock on the left side of this drop. This can also be run further river left as a double drop, just stay away from the undercut bank.
Little Woodall
A few easy rapids follow Rock Cruncher. The next significant rapid starts after a long pool, where the river doglegs right and the left and center are obscured by large boulders. The creek widens significantly here and you'll bump and scrape through the top part of this rapid, which has a few possible routes; the most entertaining option is a tight 3' boof against the far left bank. When the creek begins to channelize again, be wary as the majority of the current barrels down into Little Woodall, a dangerously sticky hole which is known to recirculate boats and swimmers. The safe line is to power into the eddy to the left of the hole, beside an enormous rectangular rock, then wheelchair down the rocks which form the pool on the downstream side. The more adventurous may wish to run the hole off the left shoulder, but be prepared to set safety if anyone plans on doing so.
Lake Guntersville
After a number of wide, easy rapids, you'll reach the lake. If you work far right on the last rapid, you'll find a fun 4 foot boof to end the day with. Additionally, the eddy line on far river left (or is it lake left?) presents one last opportunity for stern squirts as the creek dumps into the lake.
Once you reach the flatwater, celebrate the fact that you made it down the notorious Short Crick, and prepare yourself for the 45-minute, 3-mile paddle out. Just follow the channel all the way to the boat ramp. When the lake doglegs to the left for the first time, don’t get too close to the island or you’ll run aground.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportReid and Russell Bailey - around 1990
Chuck Neese running Short Creek Fall 1984
short on right, scharam on left
Witnessed a bad piton running the rt slot boof @ Gratto Falls while making a low water run on 3/12/06. Had run Short 2 days prior and everyone who ran that line had no problems. I probed the area just below the drop on Sun after the piton and there is a boulder or shelf just under the surface across the entire line of the 8' boof. Take caution while boofing this drop, a pencil would probably not break any bones, but it will put a nasty dent in the front of your boat. The main - double drop of Gratto is good to go at both levels.
Charlie wa rippin it up that day, showing what the local boaters are made of.
He hid under the curtain after his run, trying to fake a accident, to see if we would come rescue him, we did'nt.
One of my first runs off the falls, I loved the place and will be back to visit often.
Can you tell he had a 18 Pack of brews before he ran this? He was throwin' some nice free wheels too.
Short Creek's Paddlers gage is located on the SR 75 Bridge. There are actually two SR 75 bridges crossing Short Creek. The gauge is on the upstream bridge (NE bound traffic) on river right support. Best seen from river right, upstream side of the bridge.
Levels:
ELF: 6'
Low: 9'
Medium: 2.0'
High: 3.0'
Short Creek is best correlated off of the USGS Scarham Creek gage.
When Scarham is:
170-200 cfs Short is 9'
350-400 cfs Short is about 2 feet.
As for Town Creek, its not as good an indicator as Scarham, but its a good backup gage:
When Town is:
500-600 cfs Short is 9'
1400 cfs Short is about 2 feet
I have an Excel 2000 spreadsheet that predicts the levels for Short Creek and several other rivers in the southeast. If you
Digital still pic from a video. North Alabama Whitewater Festival, Short Creek Freestyle Competition.
This is where the waterfall rodeo takes place during a huge paddler party we call NAWF, which is in March at the Locust Fork River in Blount County Alabama
Marty Montana (THE LEGEND!) and I ran Short creek for the first time this weekend. Not sure of the level, but from discriptions' of the 18' I would guess that it was over 14', just a guess. we ran the high point in the center and there was no scrapping, just big smiles. we put in about 2mi. above the Big one, class II with one or two Class III. At this level Great class III/IV with a couple of Class IV+ bekow the falls. I would say that it is a lot harder than Daddy's Creek, TN at 1.9, Little River(sinks section) up to around 4.5', citico @.5 over bidge(only level run), but not as hard as Five falls, Talluha@500. It is a run that is worth checking out. Town was @ 600, but as I said before compare to the discription of the falls I'd say that it was over 14'. The area is Beautiful.
WARNING: Better have a shuttle driver, No parking safe parking at put-ins'. Water fall put-in: ranger said that we would Get Towed and Possibly charged with Tesspassing, posted no parking. The lake paddle makes you look forward to the Chattooga Paddle, But the ACTION UP STREAM MAKE'S IT WORTH IT! Once you are pass the 18' water fall the action starts and does not let up till the lake.