Calderwood Lake Trip Report

March 1st, 2013

Calderwood Lake

We drove two and a half hours to Cheoah Dam (from Flat Rock, NC). Parked the car at 'Calderwood Station' and put on to Calderwood Lake at 3:30 pm.

There was a slight flow to the water. The dam was releasing, but it was still possible to easily paddle against the current.

After paddling for a little over an hour, we decided to stop and camp at 'campsite #4'. Campsite #4 is a short walk off of the lake (has a very poor spot for unloading canoes) and is tucked in on a nice creek. In the summer, the creek would be a great swimming hole spot.

 In very high water, the picnic table and fire pit would be underwater.

The small tent pad (below) is just to the right of where the above photo was taken....

March 2nd, 2013

The next morning we paddled about 2 miles to 'campsite #5'.

Campsite #5 is a nice spot overlooking the lake. A creek meanders around the campsite. There are two tent pads, (one has a picnic table on it), a fire ring and a rock pile. Campsite #5 would not work well with a large group, unless hammocks were to be used...

A hunter must have brought in this pit toilet...

After touring campsite #5, we continued to Calderwood Dam - at this point it started snowing a lot!

Calderwood Dam...

 The Calderwood Dam boat dock was nice!

There's one more flight after this one...

We decided to hike the mile up to Highway 129 to see if you could drive the boats down to the stairs...

Turns out there's a locked gate...

The 'portage' on Highway 129/Tail of the Dragon, does not look safe for walking, especially with a big group.

But, there's a nice view from the overlook.

We then hiked back down, turned around, and continued our journey upstream. Visibility was very low for awhile there!

I was paddling with a ghost paddler!

On our way back, we stopped by Campsite #3 and Campsite #2. All along the lake, were very pretty, skinny (but very tall waterfalls). One was across from Campsite #3, at this point we could hear it, but couldn't see it. Campsites 3 and 2 were very similar and about a 1/4 mile apart. Both have views of the lake and are on hillsides. However, the tent pads and picnic tables were on flat spots. Neither had the best spots for unloading canoes.

Campsite #3:

Campsite #2:

Next was campsite #1, about another mile upstream. Campsite #1 is on Slickrock Creek in the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness area. Today the water was lower, so we couldn't paddle up to the campsite.

Then we paddled back to the car, http://www.southeastwaterforum.org/files/SEWTF09_Ammons&Oliver.pdfcamped there (it was in the teens that night!) and drove back in the morning!

 This adventure was brought to you by:

Carrie and Chris!!!!