2.Upper, Route 1310 Bridge to Hwy. 19

The beauty of the Nanty Gorge continues upstream and is a terrific Class III step-up run. Technical paddling is required, and there are sections of continuous whitewater. Most if not all the holes are punchable and not very sticky though, so the consequences are relatively low. Magic Carpet Ride, PB&J, Troll Hole, and some other rapids are notable. This is a great run either at a creeky level (250 releases) or with a lot of water. (450 or rainfall) The entire run is road scoutable.  Please check for wood on your way to the put-in. Put-in: Six bridges upstream from commercial put-in.  If you start to see large Class V-looking drops and waterfalls, you've gone too far upstream and reached the Nantahala Cascades. There is a big turnout just before the bridge for shuttle and unloading boats.  Access the river via the staircase downstream of the bridge, river right. Please be thoughtful when parking if it is busy.  The lot can accommodate many more cars if parked side by side instead of parallel.  The Forest Service has been monitoring the lot on busy days so please do your best to keep the lot clean. There is also a new put-in (with concrete steps, ramp, etc. just below PB&J.) Take-out: Nantahala River Launch Site just downstream of the commercial put-in. There are periodic 'bypass' releases which provide water to run the Cascades / Upper Nantahala. The releases which occur during 'Week of Rivers' (near July 4th) and during the Nantahala Outdoor Center's Guest Appreciation Festival (GAF) will be quite busy. The remainder of the releases much less so. On all the releases the Forest service closes several parking areas which are popular put-in locations and turns them into unloading areas. The Duke bypass flow releases can be found here.