Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Rapid NC Class III

Big Pillow

French Broad - 9. Barnard to Hot Springs (NC)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
French Broad River at Marshall, NC Upstream Primary
Runnable: 700.0 – 7,000.0 CFS

1200 is a reasonable minimum for the section from Stackhouse to Hot springs

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
Big Pillow
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

From the short pool below S Turn, you will see a horizon line with a lot of rocks  on river right and a huge opening on river left. If you head toward the center of that opening, you will see a wave train that starts out modestly and gets progressively larger as it crashes into the Big Pillow rock. In this photo, taken at 1640 cfs, the "pillow" rock is approximately in the center of the photo with a little of the top out of the water. At 2000 cfs you can't see the rock from upstream only the pillow and aerated water. There are many strategies for running this rapid. At levels up to 4500 cfs, the easiest line is to ride the initial ramp more or less down the center, then get on the right side of the wave train, angle right, and paddle right to the fairly large eddy on the right side. Boaters with more skill will want to catch the eddies on the left and right on the way down.

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class III
Mile Marker
1.9 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
9. Barnard to Hot Springs
French Broad
III-IV 8.2 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater