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Rapid NC Class IV

First bedrock section

American Whitewater 35.3323, -82.8266

Save this feature with the run it belongs to.

Gauge Conditions

East Fork Pigeon River near Canton, NC Downstream Primary

Runnable: 1,000.0 – 10,000.0 CFS

Data from American Whitewater & USGS

Photo

Photo courtesy of American Whitewater

Description

The first bedrock section of the Pigeon's Big East Fork is a technical Class IV rapid with multiple challenging moves through a narrow, boulder-strewn channel. Paddlers must navigate a series of sharp, irregular ledges and constricted drops, requiring precise boat positioning and quick reactions to avoid undercut rocks and potential hydraulic traps. The rapid demands a clean, aggressive line and provides little margin for error, with consequences escalating quickly in the event of a mistake.