Class IV
5.5 Miles3 ½” more miles to go once you hit Soak Creek
Max Gradient 400 fpm, with an avg of 130
Overview:
Dunlap is a bittersweet experience, it drops straight off the ridge, unlike any of the other steep creeks in the Piney Watersheds it doesn't chew up all it's gradient at once, it waits until the very end then kicks it in to gear and drops 400 +/-feet per mile in one section, it has a fairly sizeable watershed, and fairly easy shuttle. On paper, it looks great...keep reading...
Now the catch. First is the put-in, it has unfriendly neighbors, their house is right at the put-in, and you will be trespassing if you don't watch your step. The best way to paddle here is to have a shuttle bunny...and paddle here only during the middle of the week while Dunlap's neighbors are at work...oh if it were only that easy...keep scrolling down and I'll give you the rest of the scoop on this Walden's Ridge run.
The Shuttle:
Leave the Piney take-out from Shut-in-Gap road and head back up the mountain on Hwy 68. Once on the mountain look for road named Jewitt Road , the map shows Reed Town road, well the map can lie and look for the old white sign named Jewitt Road on the left. The Gazetteer on page 41 , shows your left turn to be Reed Town Road (Jewitt Road) Then you will drive a little , then go by a nice pond on the right and then look for Sabo Road, then turn left.
Shuttle Service:
For Shuttles contact the following # 423.365. six nine zero zero.
For # 5 dollars a head or $25 a car load. You can get a shuttle. Your car will be driven to the take-out.
NOTE: If you call shuttle drivers and change your mind or go to another creek, please make another phone and CANCEL YOUR SHUTTLE. Don't be that guy.
History:
It was first run by Phil Foti (OC-1) Eric Baker (K-1) and Mark Cumnock (K-1) Nov 11,2009 after Hurricane Ida.
The Run:
Scenery wise it is greatly disappointing.... mankind has done a lot of damage to Dunlap, bulldozed roads...rock harvesting...evidence of old logging...4-wheeler trails and then there is even evidence of dividers where someone is going to sub-divide the old BoWater lands
And in some parts Dunlap could be a handful with more water, but to be honest, even though , down a notch in difficulty , Duskin Creek the next ridge over , is just a nicer paddle...and much prettier. No big rapids really show up that you would expect.
Maps:
Watershed Map (to find location and size of creek) Click Here
Special thanks to Steve Zerefos for making the map.
Topo Map: Click Here
A special thanks to Randy Hale of NorthRiverGeographic for the map
The Piney Watershed
The Piney Watershed Map was donated by Randy Hale of North River Geographic
