Our staff says this this is one of the most remote and scenic sections of the popular Greene River, offering “a lot of excitement and fun for your intermediate kayaker.”

Once the Greene emerges from Lake Summit, it’s generally dry for its initial 1.3 miles down to the Tuxedo Hydroelectic Plant. Below the plant, however, where this section begins, is a little over 3.5 miles of what the Benners in their “A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Carolinas” (see below) describe as “pleasant, semi-continuous Class II water.” With two exceptions.

The first, about a mile in, is a Class IV drop known as Bayless’ Boof. Just below the I-26 bridge is a double drop, of 4 feet then 6 feet, known as Pinball.

For a complete description of this stretch, including hazards, consult “A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Carolinas” (see below).

More info, including maps and access: “A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Carolinas,” by Bob and David Benner (Menasha Ridge Press, 2002)

Getting there from downtown Charlotte

Photo: boatingbeta.com

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Rating: Class II-III, one IV
Length: 3.6 miles
Drive: 1 hour 45 minutes from downtown
Put-in: Tuxedo Hydroelectric Plant
Latitude: 35.1491
Longitude: 82.2334
Take-out: SR 1151
Latitude: 35.1649
Longitude: 82.1812
Time to complete: 1.5 hours
Gauge: visual
Minimum flow: NA
City: Saluda
State: NC