Entrance to Bear Creek Rapid
Cheoah - Santeetlah Dam to Calderwood Lake Boat Launch (NC)
Gauge Conditions
Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description
The entrance rapid to Bear Creek is nearly as difficult as the drop itself. Its best to grab an eddy at the top of the approach, to scout the approach, the falls, and the hole at the bottom of bear creek. The Entrance is long and pushy, and suprisingly steep abounding with large waves and holes. The horizon line downstream is the big drop. Routes vary dramatically depending on levels, but at most flows you can catch one last eddy above the falls on the right.
Location
Other Rapids on This Run (20)
Rapid
Put-In
Rapid
First diversion pipe
Hazard
III+
Craik's Ledge
Hazard
IV
The rapid above the pipe
Rapid
III+
Swinging Bridge Rapid
Hazard
IV+
Wilma's Ledge aka God's Dam
Hazard
IV+
Takeout Rapid (not the takeout)
Hazard
Takeout/Entrance
Hazard
Takeout/First Drop
Rapid
IV
Typical Upper Cheoah Scene
Rapid
IV
Typical Rapid on the Middle Cheoah - Yellow Creek Rapid.
Rapid
IV
Land of Holes
Rapid
I
The deadend pool
Rapid
III
The easy stuff
Rapid
The Forest Service Bridge
Playspot
III
Rod's Hole
Waterfall
V
The Falls
Hazard
V
Bear Creek Rapid (The Slide)
Rapid
IV+
Bear Creek - The left side of the Island.
Hazard
V
Bear Creek Rapid (The Hole)
View Full Run
Santeetlah Dam to Calderwood Lake Boat Launch
Cheoah
IV-V
9.1 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
American Whitewater