Nantahala River
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Coordinates: 35°01′22″N 83°30′18″W / 35.022687°N 83.50502°W
The Nantahala River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, within the Nantahala National Forest, and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The word "Nantahala" comes from the Cherokee language and means "Land of the Noonday Sun." The river runs through a narrow and steep gorge (the "Nantahala Gorge") where, in some areas, the sun only reaches the ground when it is directly overhead during the middle of the day.
[edit] Overview
This river is popular with whitewater rafters and whitewater kayakers, who often refer to the river as the "Nanny." The river begins high in the mountains and flows into Fontana Lake, which boasts a high surface elevation at 3012'. The raftable part of the river, the lower section below the powerhouse, is 8 miles long and has class II and III rapids. Rafters can choose to go with a commercial outfitter on a guided trip or rent their own raft. The 12 commercial outfitters are permitted by the USDA Forest Service, which mandates that children must weigh at least 60 pounds or be at least 7 years old. Private paddlers must pay a user fee and wrist bands are available for purchase at a variety of outfitters or stores in the Gorge area. Two launch sites allow either commercial guests and private paddlers access to the river. The raft trip begins above Patton's Run. Other notable rapids include "Quarry," "Surfers," "Bulls Run," and "Nantahala Falls."
A serpentine two-lane road Hwy 19/Hwy 74 that was once part of the Trail of Tears runs along the river, and there are picnic areas next to the river. The flow of the river is controlled by a dam owned by Duke Energy. This means that water levels are consistent when the river is "on," usually during daytime hours, but increased rain or a need to lower Nantahala Lake may mean that the Nantahala River is running 24 hours a day. Duke Energy usually schedules dam maintenance for November, and the river is then "off." The river is approximately 52 degrees for most of the year, because the water released comes from the bottom of Lake Nantahala. The mountains and trees surrounding the river give rise to one of its nicknames, "River of the Noonday Sun". The Nantahala River empties into Fontana Lake on the Little Tennessee River just below Nantahala Outdoor Center. Private paddlers must take out upriver from the Rivers End Restaurant.
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The Upper section of the river (above the powerhouse) also runs along a two-lane road. This advanced and steep, narrow section of the Nantahala is called the Cascades by local paddlers. During high water (after a big rain), kayakers test their skill on Class IV-V rapids such as "The Horns of God". A tall waterfall cascades into the river.
The Lower section of the river runs parallel to the scenic railroad and is Class II with two Class III rapids on it, Patton's Run and the Upper Nantahala Falls. Just beyond the usual take-out point is Lower Nantahala Falls a Class V rapid that drops off at about a 45 degree angle.
Commercial rafting began on the Nantahala in 1972 when Payson and Aurelia Kennedy and Horace Holden Sr. opened Nantahala Outdoor Center in the old Tote 'N Tarry Motel. The river is now one of the most popular rivers in the world, with over 250,000 paddlers annually.
[edit] External links
Area information can be found at the Swain County Chamber of Commerce.[1]
Duke Energy's Nantahala Release schedule [2]
