Photo by Kemper Begley of paddler Craig Rollins
Directions:On your Gazetteer look on page 24, the take out is near HWY 27 , BUT it is on Leggit Road, from there you drive up the mountain, once on top you will come to a tri-angle intersection, take a left onto Hendon Road, from there you will cross a branch, this is Hall Branch, your put-in.
Gauge Information
Old School:
| Min Sug. Level: |
800 cfs |
Max Sug. Level: |
1800 cfs |
the above readings are off the North Chick gauge
Painted gauge:
Painted in the 90's on a busted trip. A spray paint gauge exists at the take-out. 2.5 feet is a perfect level.
Photo by Kemper Begley
New School:
please click here for the new flowpage
River Description
Your best bet and to keep it simple is to use Hall Creek for your access point. This makes your paddle a little bit longer , and Class II for several miles. But it's still your better option to keep your car and your valuables safe and parking is easy at Hall Creek.
Once on the river you will come where Hall and Rock Creek meet. This part of the river is fine for boogie boating as now the flow picks up.
You want to pickup your speed because once near the valley the river changes it's mood and the river narrows. Once here you will be on some of the most under rated whitewater on the ridge . No one speaks of it much, but the water thru here is on par with the North Chick, and in some ways more powerful . It's somewhat short in the this section. But paddler beware this is a good place to scout and take a lunch break. Once thru this section it turns back into Rock Creek.
The sad part back in the 80's and early 90's Rock Creek was the ole standby and ran just as much as the Tellico. Things have changed , it's still on of the prettiest places to paddle, but it's a rare treat to catch it at a good water level now.
It's bigger than it looks Paddler Craig Rollins
Photo by Kemper Begley
