North Fork of the South Branch

Cruiser Course - 2006

Seneca Rocks to the Head of Hopeville Canyon

9.6 Miles

Class II-III

Avg Gradient: 22 fpm

Gauge: NFSB @ Cabins, WV

*Pictures compliments of Patty Hachick
Click pictures to enlarge

4/15/2006
Level: 2:00 PM 6.23 ft, 1770 cfs
Craft: OC-1

We ran the Cruiser Course right after our Seneca Creek run.
This is a great canoe run featuring big waves & straightforward rapids. I ran the ledges down the right.
Watch for the pourover below.

Awesome scenery at Seneca Rocks

Hopeville Canyon - 2006

Head of Hopeville Canyon to Hopeville

4.2 Miles

Class II-III

Avg Gradient: 33 fpm

Gauge: NFSB @ Cabins, WV

4/16/2006
Level: 11:00 AM 6.17 ft, 1680 cfs
Craft: OC-1

This was a good level. I tried to stay out of heavy water at times. In a few instances I got caught up in big waves and took on a slight amount of water. Landslide rapid had some of the biggest water but a dry line was negotiated from right to left. We ran a rocky line through Big Ugly. Three large Bald Eagles were sighted. The take-out ledge was a left to right move.

At the put-in

At the take-out

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This is a short run (4 to 5 Miles) packed with a great deal of action and exquisite scenery. It is well worth the trip. For a full day, run this first. Then, hit the Cruiser Course. The noted level was good. Less water would cause the river to become technical. There is information stating that this section could be done at a minimum of 5.1 ft. 7 ft. is given as the maximum.

This trip has a drop-pool nature. Most of the rapids are made up of rock gardens. Occasionally, boulders clog the flow. Islands create channels and incredible rock formations can be seen. Near the beginning, there is a 4 ft. ledge on the right side of an island. Hug the rock on the left. A sneak exists to the left of the island. About halfway, the remains of "Landslide" rapid form a challenging course. This spot and some others in the canyon may require an upstream ferry. Another good ledge was encountered at the take-out. Drop it on the right.

This run was a little more than 8 miles by road. The noted level was good. Lower levels may cause the rapids to become scrapy. Information is given on the maximum and minimum levels. 5.4 ft. to 7.5 ft.

This section of river offered frequent rock gardens separated by short pools. Scenery was astounding. Seneca Rocks, Champe Rocks and other unparalleled outcroppings create the backdrop. Also, there were braids in river. So, you may have to play a game of "pick the channel" At one point, a tree was blocking the optimal path. Stay alert. Near the end of the run, the gradient seemed to increase. We encountered a boulder pile that ended in big waves. After this was a double ledge. If in doubt stay left.