Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Waterfall NC Class V

The Falls

Cheoah - Santeetlah Dam to Calderwood Lake Boat Launch (NC)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
Cheoah River near Bearpen Gap near Tapoco, NC Downstream Primary
Runnable: 400.0 – 3,000.0 CFS
Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
The Falls
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description
Bear Creek Falls is the largest vertical drop on the Cheoah. It's about 12 feet tall and found not far upstream from Tapoco Lodge. The lower two miles of the Cheoah drop 106 and 146 feet. This represents a whitewater experience on a mid-volume river not often found in the Southeast. At all water levels, the river right line consisting of a slide into a trashy hole is the normal route. At flows of 1000 you can boof off the right center of the falls. A left boof toward the eddy will land on rocks. At medium water levels (above 1500), I think the best line here is a gorgeous far left boof. The added water will allow you to miss the rocks on the eddyline, but you will be playing very close to them. At higher water (over six feet), the only reasonable line is river right. Set safety because the rapid downstream is hazardous. 
Location
Type
Waterfall
Difficulty
Class V
Mile Marker
7.5 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
Santeetlah Dam to Calderwood Lake Boat Launch
Cheoah
IV-V 9.1 mi
Hazard — Exercise extreme caution in this area.
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater