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Playspot NC Class III

Ledges

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
Ledges
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

Shortly after the pool below Sandy Bottom, the Ledges start. This rapid is long and frequently split by rock islands. The right sides are almost always good (top one may be marginal at very low flows) and most of the ones in the center and left are good also. When you get to a point where there is a small sandy beach on the right with a large whale shaped rock on the downstream end of the beach the crux ledge is just below you. The normal line is following a wave train about 30 ft off the right bank over the drop. This leads you on a mostly glassy tongue between two holes. At levels above 2,000 cfs another easier line is open about 8-10 ft off the right bank (at levels above 4500 cfs it is nice to know that this alternate line is there. There is a more interesting more technical pair of lines on the left side of this same ledge. Large areas in the center of this ledge are pourover-ish and can be very testy above 3500 cfs. The photo shows a had paddler running the classic line, splitting the wave holes at 1850 cfs. At 4000 cfs these holes are best avoided. There are several good surfing / play spots in this rapid, including a couple just above the pool before Pinball. 

Location
Type
Playspot
Difficulty
Class III
Mile Marker
2.8 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