Southeast

Cowbell, Nolichucky River,TN



Directions to the Nolichucky River, just upstream of Cowbell. The nearest town is Erwin, which is located in eastern Tennessee. Use this town for reference.

From the North: On Highway 23, take Exit 15, turn left off ramp.
From the South: On Highway 23, take Exit 15, turn right off ramp.

After exiting as directed above:
Turn right onto Temple Hill Road, the first right after exiting the highway. Go ¾ of a mile (you will pass a Holiday Inn) and turn left at the Chestoa Recreation Area sign onto River Road (which follows the Nolichucky River). Go ¼ mile and turn left crossing the bridge. Turn right immediately after crossing the bridge onto Jones Branch Road. You'll see a USA Raft sign. Continue for approximately 1¼ miles to the end of Jones Branch Road. The campground is to the left.

Cowbell is a couple hundred yards downstream.

1000 to 2000cfs is ideal level for Mystery’

USE THIS RIVER GAGE

03465500-- Nolichucky River at Embreeville

http://tenn.er.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/gen_stn_pg?station=03465500

Directions to Ocoee from Atlanta:
I-75 North to I-575 North
In Blue Ridge, GA go north (left) on Hwy 5 to
McCaysville.
In McCaysville make a left on Hwy 68.
Exit off of Hwy 68 onto Hwy 64
Take a left off of exit ramp onto Hwy 64.
Follow to Ocoee put-in alongside Hwy 64.

The Ocoee has a lot to offer as far as mysteries go.
Although a run down the river can be pretty rough on
your boat, it's worth it to hit all the spots.

There are a couple of spots on the Olympic Section of
the Ocoee, the best being right above the most
significant rapid on this section. The upper is
pretty powered up so stay on your toes at this spot.
The spot is on river right just above Humongous rapid.
There is a small ledge against the bank here. The
current always seems to want to take you to the middle
of the river when you are down so be ready to paddle
like hell back to the eddy when you surface. (I might
not be steering correctly, you might get a different
surfacing location from other folks).

On the lower the first spot going down the river is
just above a tupperware gathering area called "Staging
Eddy." There is a spot just above the staging eddy
rapid (sort of a pourover thing in middle river left)
that offers up 1-3 second mysteries.

Beyond "Staging Eddy" is some shallow boogy water that
will inevitably make you wince as your boat pounds the
sharp seemingly unavoidable rocks. There are some
chest deep catch on the fly spots above this rocky
stuff that are fun.

After the rocky stuff is broken nose rapid, then some
more rocky stuff, then Slice and Dice rapid. Below
Slice and Dice is Moon Shoot (recognized by the butt
crack looking rock). There is a spot between these two
rapids that look like nothing but will get you down to
yer nose.

Below Moon Shoot is Sweet Cheeks. This is recognized
by this weird looking rolling seam on river left just
as Moon Shoot rapid flattens out. This spot serves up
0-7 second mysteries. Have heard that once you're
down you should switch rotation from counterclockwise
to clockwise and you'll drop into the "green room"
which is sort of an underwater eddy. Have been there
once on accident when my skirt blew. This is a fun
spot. Can at least consistently get your head wet,
have seen folks do much better.

Below sweet cheeks is Double Suck rapid then Double
Trouble. The next major rapid is Flipper (can get
tupperware mysteries here). Flipper is a violent
pourover that is serves up fool proof mysteries as
long as you like being pounded (I'd prefer a longer
boat for this spot).

After Flipper is the Doldrums which is just a flat
section of the river. The next major rapid is
Tablesaw. After Tablesaw is Diamond Splitter. After
Diamond Splitter are some wave trains. Towards the
end of the last wave train before the next real rapid
is a small pourover on river left. This spot seems to
be a one shot deal cause it sends you deep and long to
where you can't get back up to the eddy. This is a
nice spot. My favorite on the river cause it's the
easiest on yer body for the depth and time.

The next rapid is called Cats Pajamas. I think they
used to have squirt comps down here. I haven't
completely explored the realms but I'm sure Nate, Jim
S., Zitsow, and others could expand on this spot, but
here's what I know. At the bottom of this rapid there
is a seam on river left right up next to the rock on
river left. It seems you've got to go as far back up
stream as you can on this side of the river and do a
regular entry. This spot is pretty powered up. I
understand that long distance travel can be had.
You'll have to probe it yourself or ask some of the
vets. Mysteries can also be had on the river right
pour over. Downtime seems to depend on how boily it
is.

There's a cool mush spot in the river left eddy below
Hell Hole, the next rapid.

So that's my three cents on Ocoee mysteries. There's
much more you've just got to find it or find someone
who knows the spots.
Keep it deep!


By, Benji Salter

Whirlpool on the Nantahala River, North Carolina

Fun spot, convenient access, deep pool (one of very
few on the Natty), but a few drawbacks: Timing is
critical and typical mysteries are just head under,
its hard to get extended DT. Water is always cold (45-
50 degrees) and the open boaters are completely
inconsiderate in the squirrely eddy while they wait to
surf the small top wave.
The whirlpool is located about a mile below the
Ferabee Putin just past Quarry rapid (fun rodeo hole
by the way). If you've never been there before, the
easiest way to find it is to putin at Ferabee and
paddle down until you find it (the whirlpools are
obvious). Once you know where it is you can park on
the side of the road near the spot & hike down to the
river and upstream a little way. Its hard to see from
the road.

The Nantahala River is halfway between Topton and
Wesser, NC on US 19.

By, Kegs

Location, western North Carolina, upstream from the NOC outpost which
is in Wesser NC, along Hwy 74.

To get to Whirlpool, go upstream from the NOC outpost about 5 miles.
Turn around at Ferabee Memorial Park which is a large picnic area on
the right. Driving back downstream, park at the second large
pull-off on the left. There, a steep short trail cuts down to the
river and you walk upstream on the path for about 300 yards to
Whirlpool rapid. This is a dynamic eddy line with fast current
coming around a right hand bend and an angular rock jutting out from
the left. The whirlpool forms about every 5 seconds. Consistent
mysteries of about 3 to 6 seconds are possible. But...., dress like
it's winter because the water is cold year around. Wear gloves,
drytop, and a beanie. Interesting fact: Because of the consistent
temp of the water, in the middle of the winter it is warmer than
rivers like the Noli. The water comes off the bottom of the highest
lake in NC. Water quality is fantastic. The standard release level
is good, up to about 4 feet. Watch out for large quantities of
rafts, rafters, swimmers, and newbie boaters bobbing around the eddy
out of control in the middle of the summer. Great place to sit and
be entertained between sessions.

By, Greg Hall