Stay away from the dam. About a half mile downstream is the site of Buckhorn Falls rapids. Be sure to check the USGS gage for Haw River at Moncure and Deep River at Moncure upstream prior to launching. If the combined flow is over 2,500 cfs, this can be dangerous for inexperienced paddlers and has been the site of several deaths and rescues over the years. Stay left for a more gradual drop or right if you want more challenging rapids. Even at very high water, the river will look calm and manageable below the dam, but eddies, crosscurrents and hydraulics downstream would be very difficult for those not experienced with whitewater and could be fatal. Recovery is difficult since the surrounding land is private property for the next 16 miles and no roads come close to the river. If you are not confident, there is a sometimes muddy trail that parallels the river along Buckhorn Creek, which joins the river about one mile downstream, after the rapids.
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