only search W.R.W.W.     North Chick Walden's Ridge Classic         Class III.3-V   12+/- Miles Avg Gradient 100 fpm         Water Quality (1 bad 3 good) Wwe debated this due to acid run-off near the take-out, it is getting better but it's not perfect. This could be a 2 star run. Scenery (1 bad 3 good)                U.S.G.S. Stick gage at take-out vs North Chick U.S.G.S. Internet gage   A special thanks to Rob Maxwell and all of his hard work for this correlation:   USGS stick gage vs. USGS Internet gage   *Estimated correlation*     1.45ft (e.l.f.) 390 cfs 1.55ft 430 cfs 1.65ft (low) 480 cfs 1.75ft 500 cfs 1.85ft (med) 575 cfs 1.95ft 620 cfs 2.10ft (med-high) 670 cfs 2.20ft 710 cfs 2.40 (high) 820 cfs 2.6ft 915 cfs 2.80ft 1030 cfs 2.9 ft 1100 cfs 3.0 ft(expert) 1140 cfs     Driving Directions: Trust me you will need them. Leave the Pocket Wilderness parking lot, head back to HWY 27. Head towards Chattanooga. Look for ROBERTS MILL ROAD, turn right onto it. When you SAWYER ROAD , head left AT CORRAL go right. At GREY FRIER go right. Go to the Dead End. Follow the drainage ditch towards the left and follow it to the creek.   THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND NO A PLACE TO PARK WITHOUT PERMISSION. If you can't get permission do not paddle. you must leave. .   Maps:   Watershed Map (to find location and size of creek) Click Here Special thanks to Steve Zerfos for making the map.   Topo Map: Click Here A special thanks to Randy Hale of NorthRiverGeographic for the map   Driving Directions from Google Click Here   MAP:   A Special thanks to Randy Hale of North River Geographic for donating his resources, effort and time to make this map. To blow it up and for finer detail please click on the picture. You will need a PDF reader to enlarge the map. *big file warning :)                       Here are some grid maps provided by Randall Hale of NorthRiver Geographic Click on it to blow it up to make it bigger             http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_C5.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_C6.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_D5.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_D6.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_D7.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_E5.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_E6.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_E7.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_F4.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_F5.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_F6.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_F7.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_G4.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchick_G5.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchickindex.pdf http://www.northrivergeographic.com/wrww/nchickindex.jpg       VIDEO: Here is some video of Paul Hubbard showing the lines on Cain Creek and the North Chick  with a helmet cam.               VIDEO: Here is some video from Jose Jimenez        Article by Matthew Wallace: North Chickamauga Creek, also known as the North Chick, is a true gem in the South-East.  It is a class III- IV + gorge that flows through a pocket wilderness 20 minutes outside of Chattanooga.  The creek is beyond doubt one of the classics that flows off Walden’s Ridge.  The Chick provides a paddler the exclusive sense of an authentic wilderness setting and the conveniences of a city close by.    The most common way of accessing the North Chick is by paddling Cain Creek. This method provides the paddler a few extra class IV-V rapids before arriving at the Chick. Missing only one rapid the paddler will fall into the North Chick. Personally, this is my favorite way to access the Chick. This method provides a true headwaters-to-canyon mouth experience.    Beginning at the confluence with North Chick and Cain, the river is nothing more than a class III+ boogie. The first significant rapid on the run is North Chick Falls.  This rapid can be identified by a series of large boulders and an island that juts out in the middle of the river. The left side of the island runs into the falls while the right side provides a creaky slide.  If a person decides to run the falls, it would be best if they scouted the area from the center of the island. After North Chick Falls there are more class IV boogies that will be encounter.       Paul Hubbard on North Chick Falls       Photo by Robert Smith       V slot, the second major rapid, can be noted by several falls and an outsized boulder on the left side of the river.  There are two possible lines for V slot: the river left sneak or the river right line.  The left sneak always promises an end with an entertaining boof.  However, if someone wishes for a more dicey route, the right line will take you through the trashy hole V slot.  To scout V slot, I suggest taking a look from river right.  This will give you the best idea as to how the rapid runs.    As you boogie down past V slot, be on the look out for Cooper Creek entering the Chick on the left side of the river.  Cooper Creek provides a good Hike and a chance to huck Bed Time for Lothar which is only about ¼ of a mile up the trail.  Following Cooper is Cyclops.  This rapid is a six foot drop ending with a rough hole that is backed up by a rock on river right. Depending on the person’s experience they can either boof left of the hole or take the far right hero line.  For those with the lower level of experience, the rock would provide an easy seal launch.  For the more experienced boater, the far right path will take you for a spin.  However, this direction demands the need to scout out the rapid.  After Cyclops, there will be more boogie until you reach Baby Sweet   Here is a Picture of Cyclops from the Old School  video "Southern Hair"                        Footage donated by Mike "Louie" Lewis     At Baby Sweets, the fourth major rapid from the confluence, it is best to ride down the river right tongue and then take river left.  Taking river left allows the boater to avoid the sticky river wide hole which lies immediately after Baby Sweets.   The last significant rapid is El Roberto. This rapid can be denoted by a large boulder on river left and a vertical canyon wall on river right.  El Roberto provides two lines to avoid the hole in the rapid. The boater can run river left and eddy out in front of a boulder then ferry out below the hole or they can go straight down the wall on river right and skirt the hole.  Nonetheless, keep in mind that when taking river left, a lot of water flushes through on the opposite side of the boulder at the eddy.  Due to the nature of the beast care should be taken when attempting river left.  Once past El Roberto, the river mellows out to a class III read and allows everyone to run some boogies filled with plenty of fun boofs and sticky holes.   The final section of whitewater, Bowling Alley, is the rapid that will cap off a perfect day.  This section is a class III-IV boulder garden boogie that is commonly ran as a hike-up section for those just developing their creeking skills.  After the rapid is finished, you will find yourself at the take out. North Chickamauga creek truly has something to offer for paddlers looking for a great run and is a must do that is located on Walden’s Ridge.