E) Sturgeon Gorge: Sturgeon Falls to NF2270/FSR193 (4.87 miles) Wild

NOTE: We have no awareness of best runnable flows. All flow ranges are merely tentative.  Create a 'Trip Report' stating listed flow and your impressions (low/moderate/high). Experienced, skilled, and appropriately cautious paddlers may opt to minimize the carry-in and start at the head of the gradient (as given by the presently indicated put-in). This gives very nearly a half-mile of fine rapids leading to Sturgeon Falls. A sharp jog to the left precedes this very dangerous and deadly falls. For any and all less-skilled or timid/uncertain paddlers, we recommend instead carrying that 0.5 mile down the trail to put in below Sturgeon Falls. Take-out is at Sturgeon Gorge Road bridge, just above Prickett Lake. Downstream of that dam, save one spot, the river is all slow, meandering low flood-plain lazy river. This section is very scenic and mildly playful depending on water. The run starts with some Class II low angle sloping ledges and wave-holes, later turning into numerous boulder rapids with an occasional small surf wave. The majority of the whitewater features are located in the first half of this reach, which averages about 50'/mile. The second half is primarily a moving water egress paddle. This reach, combined with the 10.9 miles of river upstream of Sturgeon Falls, is a fairly popular canoe run through a scenic valley. Starting from the USFS Sturgeon Road campground there is mostly quietwater until a short distance above the falls. For those without whitewater experience and equipment, caution is advised in the approach to the portage for the falls, especially at flows above our listed 'minimum'. There's only a small eddy before Sturgeon Falls. While there are some sweet rapids (waves and holes) in the stretch above the falls, there is extreme risk of going beyond the 'point of no return' and being swept into/over the falls. There has been at least one death as a result of misjudging this. Several years ago a paddler in a recreational kayak (non-whitewater type like the Keowee) lost control in the approach to the falls and elected to swim for shore -- he failed to make it. This was at a flow of about 700 cfs. For this reason, a put-in below the falls is recommended.