Blue Ridge Country July/August 2024 - 52

Nantahala River. Clay, Macon and Swain
counties, North Carolina. Choose from
kayaks, rafts, SUP boards and inflatable
'duckies' for a paddle here. The waters
are described as
" cold,
splashy Class
II " -and, did we say " cold? " Forty-five
degrees to be exact! The river is considered
intermediate, and guided trips to
learn different water craft are the most
popular. Entertain your inner rockhound
in nearby Franklin, the " Gem Capital
of the World. " nationalriversproject.com/nc/
nantahala-river-21443
Cumberland River. Corbin, Kentucky.
UPPER JAMES RIVER
TOP: Virginia's
Upper James
River Water
Trail offers
great paddling.
LEFT: Baskins
Creek Falls,
Gatlinburg,
Tennessee,
is a relatively
sparsely visited
falls in the
Smokies.
ALLTRAILS.COM | HOPE RICHARDSON
This river offers some of the best whitewater
(rough riverbeds and a drop of 11
feet per mile!) as well as the calm waters
of a flatwater float, depending on where
you paddle. " Dinosaur " boulders and
" wicked reverse currents " combined with
Class IV-V rapids of the former are only
for experienced kayakers. The smooth
section (5.75 miles of flatwater) begins at
the Mouth of Laurel Boat Ramp. Time
your visit with the chance to see a moonbow
(moonlit rainbow) at the falls. fw.ky.
gov/Education/Pages/Cumberland-Riverbelow-the-Falls.aspx
Upper
James River Water Trail. Botepopular
for night fishing. Boat fishing
and shore fishing (including access from
numerous piers) is perfect for all skill levels.
While in the area, take a breathtaking
stroll across Bridge Walk, 876 feet above
the water in New River Gorge National
Park. wvtourism.com/company/plum-orchardlake-wildlife-management-area
RIVER
PADDLING
Ellijay River. Ellijay, Georgia. Put in at
Goose Island Lake to float along this " lazy
river " on a 15-mile course. This waterway
is ideal for drifting (with the occasional
paddle stroke) and letting the current
carry you along. For Class II whitewater,
stay on the river when it joins the Cartecay
in downtown Ellijay. Or come ashore
in the Apple Capital of the state to visit
the many orchards and taste the baked
delights. gapaddle.com/cartecay-river
Upper Saluda River. Pickens and
Greenville counties, South Carolina. This
Blueway meanders for miles through
52 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
the Upstate. Specifically, 50 miles of advanced
paddling and 70 beginner-friendly
ones. Access can be found along any
of the state roads and major highways.
Hardwood forests and pasturelands are
numerous along the shores. The river follows
the west side of Greenville; the perfect
opportunity to see professional sporting
events, catch a theatre production, eat
at fine restaurants and enjoy " America's
Friendliest City. " gopaddlesc.com/waterways/
trail/saluda-river
Knox County Water Trail. Knoxville,
Tennessee. This 44-mile stretch of water,
while named Beaver Creek, begins
as a spring and becomes a navigable
tributary of the Clinch River. Drop-in at
ADA-accessible locations, enjoy shoreline
parks and ongoing plans for more
docks along the route thanks to the efforts
of community groups. Visit museums,
historic homes, the Old City and
take a themed walking tour. visitknoxville.
com/listing/beaver-creek-water-trail/3132
tourt and Rockbridge counties, Virginia.
Explore 11 sections of this water trail,
each with its own personality. (Sections
five and six are the easiest paddling.)
Grab the online map for details on access
points, suggestions and descriptions
of this 74-mile stretch of water passing
through mountains, valleys and farmlands.
Walk the river front park and
famous swinging bridge in Buchanan,
one of many towns seen along the route.
upperjamesriverwatertrail.com
Greenbrier River. Pocahontas and
Greenbrier counties, West Virginia. This
unique 78-mile waterway follows alongside
a former railroad that has been converted
into a hiking, biking and horseback
trail. Paddle by small towns, two
tunnels and more than 30 bridges upon
this intermediate-skill river of " moving
water to Class I " designations. Fourteen
small campsites and several picnic areas
are available to paddlers. Spend time in
surrounding state parks and forests and
visit the old logging town of Cass for
an overnight stay in restored railroad
company structures. diyoutdoors.wvu.edu/
canoeing/greenbrier-river-canoe

http://www.nationalriversproject.com/nc/nantahala-river-21443 http://www.fw.ky.gov/education/pages/cumberland-river-below-the-falls.aspx http://www.ALLTRAILS.COM http://www.wvtourism.com/company/plum-orchard-lake-wildlife-management-area http://www.upperjamesriverwatertrail.com http://www.gopaddlesc.com/waterways/trail/saluda-river http://www.gapaddle.com/cartecay-river http://visitknoxville.com/listing/beaver-creek-water-trail/3132 http://diyoutdoors.wvu.edu/canoeing/greenbrier-river-canoe http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country July/August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country July/August 2024