North Carolina whitewater, Fires Creek Clay county, Two miles above Horse Park to Leatherwood Falls section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS II-III+     8 miles   The starting location is a short drive from Cornelia, as you can see on the road map further down. If you've been whitewater rafting and kayaking outside this state you might find the rivers here a bit more forgiving, so don't forget that quite a few of the sections in this state are pretty easy. The scenic beauty of North Carolina and the beautiful way the water current moves down the stream are reasons enough to come here and paddle.     The Two miles above Horse Park to Leatherwood Falls stretch of Fires Creek is 8 miles long and is rated by American Whitewater as a class II-III+ section. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem but do book a room before you come because it is a very popular destination. There are some good stretches to paddle in this river system, the Two miles above Horse Park to Leatherwood Falls stretch is one of them. The campgrounds here at Fires Creek are pretty good. When you're paddling down a Great Smoky Mountains river like this one you always get great scenery along the way too. This section is long enough   to enjoy a good non stop paddle, suitable for an afternoon trip. Getting some good exercise and a chance to spend some time outdoors have a lot of people coming here. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking in this general area you'll find lots of paddling places. Briefly about the general area: Hiking along the Thorn Mountain Trail is great fun; Fires Creek is a place with many visitors from Andrews. Life's too short to enjoy all the enjoyable stuff in the Great Smoky Mountains. Mule Flats Bend is something you shouldn't miss while you're here at Fires Creek, and Fires Creek is right by the CHoga Trail. Fires Creek, Two miles above Horse Park to Leatherwood Falls road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.     Map Detailed Map Stats Stats for this river stretch Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Fires Creek.   Whitewater Near Fires Creek: Fires Creek, Clay County, 1 miles away       Class II-III+ - 8 miles long (Two miles above Horse Park to Leatherwood Falls) Fires Creek, Clay County, 1 miles away       Class -blank- - 5 miles long (Mule Flats to Arch Bridge) Hiawassee River, Clay/Cherokee County, 5 miles away       Class I-II - 18.3 miles long (Hayesville to US Route 64) Whitewater Outfitter - Carolina Outfitters Whitewater Rafting, Cherokee County, 11 miles away       Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Appalachian Rivers Raft, Cherokee County, 11 miles away       Whitewater outfitter Nantahala River, Macon/Swain County, 12 miles away       Class II+(III) - 8 miles long (Power Plant to Wesser) Nantahala River, Macon/Swain County, 13 miles away       Class III - 3.2 miles long (Route 1310 Bridge to Highway 19) Snowbird Creek, Graham County, 13 miles away       Class III-IV - 12 miles long (Junction to First Bridge Downstream) Nantahala River, Macon County, 13 miles away       Class IV-V - 0.7 miles long (FS Road 327 to 1310 Bridge) Whiteoak Creek, Macon County, 13 miles away       Class IV-V+ - 2 miles long (Above Nantahala Cascades)   Ski Areas Near Fires Creek: Sky Valley, Georgia , 32 miles away, 210 foot drop, 2 lifts, 5 runs Scaly Mountain, North Carolina , 34 miles away, 225 foot drop, 4 lifts, 10 runs Ober Gatlinburg, Tennessee , 37 miles away, 600 foot drop, 3 lifts, 8 runs Cataloochee, North Carolina , 55 miles away, 740 foot drop, 4 lifts, 10 runs   Marinas Near Fires Creek: Chatuge Cove Marina, Hayesville , 7 miles away Yacht Club Mermaid, Hiawassee , 9 miles away Boundary Waters Resort & Marina, Hiawassee , 11 miles away Deyton Camp Boat Dock Rentals, Robbinsville , 13 miles away Santeetlah Marina, Lake Santeetlah , 15 miles away   Hotels Near Fires Creek: Quality Inn Andrews, Andrews , 5 miles away The Ridges Resort And Club Fieldstone Rs And Conf CT, Hiawassee , 9 miles away The Ridges Resort And Marina, An Ascend Hotel Collection Member, Young Harris , 9 miles away Holiday Inn Express & Suites HIAWASSEE, Hiawassee , 10 miles away Lake Chatuge Lodge, Hiawassee , 11 miles away   Campgrounds Near Fires Creek: Bristol Horse Camp, Hayesville, 1 miles away River's Edge RV Park, Hayesville, 5 miles away Fires Creek Hunt Camp, Brasstown, 5 miles away   Trails Near Fires Creek: CHoga Trail, Cherokee , 6 miles away Thorn Mountain Trail, Macon , 14 miles away Arkaquah Trail, Union , 14 miles away Rufus Morgan Trail, Macon , 18 miles away Rartram Trail, Macon , 18 miles away   Public Lands Near Fires Creek: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg - TN , 39 miles away Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia , 21 miles away Moccasin Creek State Park, Georgia , 21 miles away Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina , 21 miles away   Golf Courses Near Fires Creek: The Ridges At Mountain Harbour, Hayesville , 6 miles away Ridges Golf Course, Hayesville , 6 miles away Chatuge Shores Golf Course, Hayesville , 7 miles away   Lakes Near Fires Creek Chatuge Lake, Clay , 6 miles away Nantahala Lake, Macon , 11 miles away Santeetlah Lake, Graham , 16 miles away