This river is only paddleable when there is the right amount of water.... Usually in the Spring after heavy rain. Check the USGS gauge. You can put in further up river but I know of one group that did and they found lots of downed trees. I don't know about after where we took out but as you can see there is a dangerous spillway there. The Swannanoa dumps into the French Broad and I do know there is a dam to portage around in order to go further towards Marshall. Hope that helps.
