Coastals

Paddling the Tellico River around Easter has been a favorite for me, and last year I started putting it on the Coastals calendar. There is usually a group from the Smith River Valley Canoe Club paddling, and a handful from the area around Roanoke where I live.

The Tellico is a creeky and fun river, and one of my favorites! Last year we paddled the Ledges, the section above the Ledges, and the Middle section.

The plan for myself:

Thursday March 24: Drive to the Tellico, and paddle in the mid afternoon to evening. Probably would be the Middle section of the Tellico.

Friday March 25: Paddle the Tellico - Ledges and the Middle sections depending on the river level and paddler interest.

Saturday March 26: Repeat of Saturday.

Sunday March 27: Abbreviated repeat of Saturday and Sunday and drive home.

I really enjoy both the Ledges and the Middle sections and want to paddle both. My Ledges comfort zone is around 1.5+' ish to 2.0+ ish on the gauge. The level is often in that range in the Spring, and usually is a good range for paddling, I've done the Middle section down to 1.2' and caught it around 3' last summer. It's also easy to avoid certain parts of the Ledges if desired, such as Jaredd's Knee. The river is roadside.

Other similar options with the right water level and interest include the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon, the Little River, and Citico Creek.


The Ledges:
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... l/id/1791/

The Middle section:
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... l/id/1792/

Some videos from an earlier trip:
Ledges:
https://vimeo.com/94369849

Middle Section:
https://vimeo.com/92481159

Tellico Plains is here:
https://goo.gl/maps/LMcdP25Sua12

Lodging for me is a cabin, but other options like camping are available.
http://www.tellicologcabins.com/

The gauge:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/tn/nwis/uv/?s ... 0065,00060

Please post/message me or email if interested.

Hi Bill,
I'm glad to see that you're doing this trip again - I really enjoyed it last year. I plan to arrive around dinner time on Friday night, paddle all day Saturday, and once more before I leave Sunday morning. I definitely want to do the Ledges again, maybe twice, water levels permitting, but I love the middle section too.

My wife and I will most likely stay at Cherohala Mountain where I stayed last year. I think it's a really great spot - they have tiny cabins and camping.

Glad to hear you can make it again, Chris.

chromo wrote:Hi Bill,
I'm glad to see that you're doing this trip again - I really enjoyed it last year. I plan to arrive around dinner time on Friday night, paddle all day Saturday, and once more before I leave Sunday morning. I definitely want to do the Ledges again, maybe twice, water levels permitting, but I love the middle section too.

My wife and I will most likely stay at Cherohala Mountain where I stayed last year. I think it's a really great spot - they have tiny cabins and camping.

Brian (my son) and I will join the Tellico trip. I've had this on my mind since missing last year. We will drive down Thu or possibly Fri. Anyone want to carpool? We're starting from Blacksburg.

We'll camp. Is there a group campground where others will be staying?

rob_parker wrote:Brian (my son) and I will join the Tellico trip. I've had this on my mind since missing last year. We will drive down Thu or possibly Fri. Anyone want to carpool? We're starting from Blacksburg.

We'll camp. Is there a group campground where others will be staying?

Good to hear that you are coming, Rob.

Chris (Chromo) is staying at Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground as he had a good experience there last year:
http://www.cmtrails.com/

I'll be staying in a cabin.
http://www.tellicologcabins.com/

Great time on a great river with great folks. The advantages of paddling in a river with water that is blue, rather than brown, cannot be overstated.