Top 40 Streams by Alen Baker
Stream County State Cat # Ecology Fishability Miles Width Flow Food / Cover Pressure Regulation Directions-Notes
Avery Creek Transylvania NC FBR 1-82-3 Rainbow Typical 1.5 17 12 Good Heavy Wild Brevard, off US 276, Avery Creek Road
Basin Creek Wilkes NC YAD 1-58-2-2 Rainbow Typical 5 18   Good Moderate Park From 1-77, West off NC 21 on SR 1002 (Traphill Rd) at Hilltop Grill for 5.9 miles, right on SR 1737 (McGrady Road) for 5.2 miles; continue on dirt road for approx. 1 mile. Access also by foot trail from Parkway
Big Horse Creek - Upper Ashe NC (VA) NEW 1-8-6 U Rainbow, Brown, Brook Open 3.8 25 20 Good Light C&R Lure SR 1362 which parallels the stream & an old railroad grade. Headwaters begins in VA
Big Snowbird Creek - Upper Graham NC LTN - 1-2-2-22-6 U Brook Typical 7 2.8 30 Good Moderate Wild Access by foot trail from end of SR 1120 from hooper Bald and from Cherokee Cty, New Cherohala Skyway Road. Very Remote.
Bullhead Creek Wilkes NC YAD 1-58-1-5 Brown, Rainbow, Brook Typical 3.8 22 25 Excellent Light C&R Fly I-77 to exit 83, US 21 N for 6.3 miles to Stone Mtn SP.  Go through park to SR 1739 - foot trail and $15.00 fee for one of 8 sections available
Cataloochee Creek - Upper Haywood NC PGN 1-15-2 U Brown, Rainbow Typical 15 70   Good Moderate Park I 40 to NC 451 and cross the Pigeon River.  Left at end of bridge, 2 miles on paved road.  Left on gravel road for 23 miles into valley. An opportunity to hear and see Elk in NC again.
Courthouse Creek Transylvania NC FBR 1-11--12 Brown, Rainbow Typical 2 22 15 Excellent Moderate Wild NC 215 and the USFS Courthouse Creek Rd. off SR 1369
Curtis Creek - Upper McDowell NC CAT 7-27-U Brown, Rainbow, Brook Tight 4.5 22 12 Feed Heavy Wild I-40 at Old Fort, go North on Curtis Creek Rd. across NC 70.  Access  is by trails off SR 1227 which parallels the stream. 3 tributaries, Big Rock Camp Branch, Licklog Branch (rainbow/brown, then all browns), Bear Drive Branch (rainbow)
Davidson River - Middle Transylvania NC FBR 1-82-M Brown, Rainbow Open 0.5 34 40 Good Moderate C&R Fly From Brevard N on US 276
Davidson River - Special Transylvania NC FBR 1-82-S Brown, Rainbow Typical 1 39 30 Good Moderate C&R Fly From Brevard N on US 276 - below the Pisgah hatchery
Davidson River - Upper Transylvania NC FBR 1-82 U Rainbow Typical 3 16 12 Excellent Moderate C&R Fly From Brevard N on US 276 - road 72 and the rearing station road
E Fork Pigeon River - Upper Haywood NC PGN 1-41 U Brown, Rainbow Open 10 28 30 Excellent Moderate Wild Via foot trail from US 276 off the Parkway
Fires Creek - Upper Clay NC HIW 1-33 U Rainbow Open 4 26 15 Good Moderate Wild From Murphy - East on US 64 East on Mission Dam Road, Access is by USFS 340 road off SR 1344
Harper Creek - Upper Avery NC CAT 7-6-12-3-5 Brown, Rainbow Typical 3 21   Good Moderate Wild From Linville, S on NC 181 and take Jonas Ridge Road past the Parkway, then USFS Lost Cove Road.  From Morganton, NC181 N. to Steel Creek Bridge, East on Akado Road.  From Lenoir, NC 90 to Colletsville, West on Adako Road then N on Brown Mtn Road
Hazel Creek Swain NC LTN 1-4-8 Rainbow, Brown, Brook Typical 13.5 35   Excellent Heavy Park A major stream of the smokies.  Access via boat from Fontana Village on Fontana Lake. A primitive road parallels the stream.  At .5 miles, NPS #86, Proctor, capacity 20.  Then Horseshoe fishing site.  At 3.3 miles, NPS #85, Sawdust Pile, capacity 20.  At 5 miles, NPS #84, Sugar fork, capacity, 8.  At 5.6 miles, NPS#83, Bone Valley, Capacity 20.  At 8.6 miles, NPS #82, Calhoun Camp, Capacity 15.  At 10.5 miles, NPS#81, Proctor creek, capacity 15.  At 133.5 miles, NPS #80, Hazel Creek Cascades, Capacity 12.
Horespasture River - Upper Transylvania NC SAV 2 M Brown Typical 11 58 50 Fair Moderate Wild From Brevard, West on US 64, Access by NC 281, SR 1149 bridge and SR 1152.  Headwaters is Sapphire Valley Resort
Joes Fork Creek Caldwell NC YAD 1-74-2 Brown Typical 6 15 25 Excellent Light Wild From Patterson area N of Lenoir, access is by a rough foot trail off of SR 1502 and a dirt road that parallels the stream. Very remote
Looking Glass Creek - Upper Transylvania NC FBR 1-82-7-U Rainbow Tight 3 16 11 Excellent Heavy Wild Access is by the Blue Ridge Parkway, US 276 which parallels the entire stream
Lost Cove Creek Avery NC CAT 7-6-12-3-7 Brown, Rainbow Typical 6.4 20 30 Excellent Moderate C&R Fly From Linville, S on 181and take Jonas Ridge Road past the Parkway, then USFS Lost Cove Road.  From Morganton, NC181 N. to Steel Creek Bridge, East on Akado Road.  From Lenoir, NC 90 to Colletsville, West on Adako Road then N on Brown Mtn Road.  North on NC 90 from Mortimer, continue to Edgemont.  Access is several northside trails from USFS Lost Cove road and USFS 464. Very remote.
M Fork Pigeon River - Upper Haywood NC PGN 1-42-13 U Brook Typical 4 21 20 Excellent Moderate Wild Access by jeep road off NC 215 and USFS Road off SR 1111.  Foot Trail off of Parkway
Mackey Creek McDowell NC CAT 7-22 Rainbow, Brown, Brook Typical 3.3 20 15 Excellent Moderate Wild Access by jeep road from SR 1412 or by trail off SR 1227
N Harper Creek - Lower Avery NC CAT 7-6-12-3-5-2 L Brown, Rainbow Typical 3.7 17 12 Excellent Moderate Wild From Linville or Parkway, take NC 221 turn south on Edgemont Road.  From Lenoir take NC 90 to Collettsville, turn West on Adako Road.  Access is by foot trail from USFS road 464
N. Toe River - Middle Avery NC NKY 1-9 M Brown, Rainbow Open 7.4 29 50 Good Heavy Hatchery Access is by SR 1157 and US 19E
Nantahala River - Special Macon NC LTN 1-5 S Brown, Rainbow Open 2.5 39 100 Good Light Wild From Franklin, W on US 64.  At Rainbow Springs, South on USFS 57.  Access is by foot trail from Standing Indian Campground
Nantahala River Upper Macon NC LTN 1-5 U Rainbow, Brown, Brook Typical 5.2 23 20 Excellent Moderate Wild From Franklin, W on US 64.  At Rainbow Springs, South on USFS 57.  Access is off of a gravel road by turning right at Wallace Gap.  (second old NC 64 sign off of NC 64 heading west 9 miles from Franklin)
Panthertown Creek Jackson NC TUK 1-76 Brook Tight 2.5 25   Excellent Light C&R Lure Salt Rock entry from NC 64 east of Cashiers, Cedar creek Road, turn on right at pond after pavement ends
Pigeonroost Creek Mitchell NC NKY 1-9-3 Rainbow, Brook Typical 5.3 15 10 Good Moderate Wild Access by USFS Road and Trails off SR 1349. Very remote.
Roaring Creek Avery NC NKY 1-9-52 Rainbow, Brook Typical 5 22 30 Good Moderate Wild Take US 19E North of Spruce Pine.  Access is by SR 1132 which parallels the stream
S. Harper Creek Avery NC CAT 7-6-12-3-5 U Brown, Rainbow Typical 3.8 16 5 Good Moderate Wild Take NC 221 from Linville
S. Mills River - Upper Transylvania NC FBR 1-66-3 U Rainbow, Brown, Brook Typical 2.5 28 25 Good Moderate Wild North on NC 276 from Brevard, right on Yellow Gap Road just beyond Cradle of Forestry
S. Toe River - Special Yancey NC NKY 1-9-18-S Brown, Rainbow Typical 1.5 27 30 Excellent Moderate C&R Fly NC 221/NC 226 N from Marion, West on NC 80.  Access on USFS road
S. Toe River - Upper Yancey NC NKKY 1-9-18-U Brown, Rainbow Open 3.5 15 12 Excellent Moderate Wild Access is by USFS 472 off NC 80
Slickrock Creek Graham NC LTN 1-2-1 Brown, Brook Typical 9.6 31 40 Excellent Moderate Wild Access is by foot trails from Calderwood Lake by boat and 1 1/2 mile trail from the end of USFS road at Big Flat Gap. Very remote
Steels Creek - Lower Burke NC CAT 7-7-3-1 L Brown, Rainbow Typical 2.5 23 25 Good Moderate Wild NC 181 from Morganton, North approx. 3 miles from the Steels creek bridge to USFS Road 128 (gated) on left.  By foot from USFS #128
Steels Creek - Upper Burke NC CAT 7-7-3-1 U Rainbow, Brown, Brook Typical 2.5 18   Good Heavy Wild NC 181 from Morganton, North approx. 6 miles from the Steels creek bridge to USFS Road (gated) on left.  By foot from USFS Road. Very remote
Upper Creek - Middle Burke NC CAT 7-7-3 M Brown, Rainbow Typical 3 27 30 Excellent Moderate Wild NC 181 from Linville (S) or Morganton (N).  Can be reached by foot trail from NC 181 or by a 5.4 mile long jeep trail off USFS Road 982
Upper Creek - Upper Burke NC CAT 7-7-3 U Brown, Rainbow Typical 2 22 25 Excellent Moderate Wild NC 181 from Linville (S) or Morganton (N).  Greentown area is relatively inaccessible but can be reached by foot trail from NC 181. Very remote
Wilson Creek - Middle Avery NC CAT 7-6-12-3 M Brown Open 2.3 31 40 Excellent Light C&R Lure From Linville or Parkway, take NC 221 turn south on Edgemont Road.  From Lenoir take NC 90 to Collettsville, turn West on Adako Road.  Access is by foot trail from USFS 258. Very remote
Wilson Creek - Upper Avery NC CAT 7-6-12-3 U Rainbow, Brown, Brook Typical 4.5 17 25 Excellent Moderate C&R Lure From Linville or Parkway, take NC 221 turn south on Edgemont Road.  From Lenoir take NC 90 to Collettsville, turn West on Adako Road.  Access is by foot trail from USFS 192.