1st bridge upstream to Locust Fork

Graves only runs immediately following a good rainstorm when the Locust is on the rise.  Cheap thrills if you are in the area and lucky enough to catch it.  Most of the action is in the first quarter mile of the run.  Put in at the bridge on Mardis Mill Road. Shortly after you'll see the horizon line for the falls.  If you've never run it before, scout your line before you put in.  The drop isn't as clean as Baby on Tellico; there are a couple of rocks on both sides of the landing people have broken teeth and boats there.  With that said, the falls are commonly run about ten feet off the right bank. Below the falls and throughout the run, watchout for strainers.  Wood tends to accumulate in this small creek.  The superslide is fairly straight-forward -- just stay off the right wall/undercut. After that, it is class 2 all the way to the Upper Locust.  If you paddle Graves all the way to the Locust, you'll come out about 3.6 miles above the normal Highway 79 put in for the Locust. Water quality is pretty bad here due to the run off from the Tyson Chicken plant. See also www.alabamawhitewater.com.