North Carolina has 5 designated Wild and Scenic Rivers protecting 120.3 miles across 13 segments in 11 counties: the Chattooga (shared with South Carolina and Georgia), the Lumber, the New River, Wilson Creek, and the Horsepasture. The National Park Service administers 4 segments (79.6 miles) and the US Forest Service 9 segments (40.7 miles) on these rivers, which range from the ancient flat-flowing New River in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the spectacular waterfalls of the Horsepasture and the blackwater reaches of the Lumber in the Coastal Plain. Click any segment on the map for full details.
Wild and Scenic Rivers in North Carolina at a Glance
North Carolina’s five designated rivers reflect the state’s remarkable geographic diversity, from the Southern Appalachian headwaters of the Blue Ridge to the blackwater Coastal Plain. The New River, flowing north through Ashe and Alleghany counties, is one of the oldest rivers in North America geologically and was the subject of a long conservation battle that culminated in its designation. The Chattooga, forming the North Carolina–South Carolina–Georgia tri-state corner in the Nantahala and Sumter national forests, carries one of the most challenging and celebrated whitewater runs in the eastern United States. Wilson Creek in Burke County offers steep-gradient mountain gorge paddling and access to the Pisgah National Forest. The Horsepasture in Transylvania County is exceptionally short but contains a series of spectacular waterfalls — Turtleback, Drift, Staircase, Rainbow, and Windy Falls — that prompted its designation. The Lumber, winding through the Coastal Plain of Robeson County, is ecologically distinct from the mountain rivers and the longest single designated reach in the state at 55.2 miles.
Classification Breakdown
| Classification | Segments | Protected Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Wild | 3 | 11.8 |
| Scenic | 6 | 45.7 |
| Recreational | 4 | 62.8 |
Recreational-classified segments are the most numerous by mileage, led by the Lumber River’s long, accessible Coastal Plain reach and the more accessible stretches of the New River in Ashe County. Wild segments, though few in number, include the most remote and vertically constrained parts of the Chattooga gorge in the Nantahala Forest. Scenic segments are concentrated on Wilson Creek and the New River’s upper reaches where valley roads follow the river but the corridor remains largely forested and undeveloped.
Managing Agencies
| Agency | Segments | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| National Park Service | 4 | 79.6 |
| US Forest Service | 9 | 40.7 |
The NPS administers the New River (as New River State Park and in coordination with the NPS Blue Ridge Parkway corridor), the Lumber River (as Lumber River State Park under a cooperative agreement), and nearby segments. The USFS manages the Chattooga, Wilson Creek, and Horsepasture within the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests. Wilson Creek was specifically identified as a candidate for Wild and Scenic designation because of its exceptional native trout fishery and its status as one of the few non-tailwater mountain streams in the region with significant wild fish populations.
All Designated Rivers in North Carolina
| River | Miles | Segments | Classification | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber Wild and Scenic River | 55.2 | 2 | Recreational / Scenic | NPS |
| New Wild and Scenic River | 24.4 | 2 | Scenic | NPS |
| Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River | 23.3 | 3 | Recreational / Scenic / Wild | USFS |
| Chattooga Wild and Scenic River | 13.2 | 4 | Recreational / Scenic / Wild | USFS |
| Horsepasture Wild and Scenic River | 4.2 | 2 | Recreational / Scenic | USFS |
The Lumber River’s 55-mile designated reach is the longest and most accessible, flowing through bottomland hardwood forest and blackwater swamp in a landscape culturally significant to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. The New River’s Scenic classification reflects its mature valley-bottom character through Ashe and Alleghany counties — it’s a broad, pastoral river best suited to canoe and tube floats rather than whitewater. Wilson Creek, by contrast, offers technical class III–IV rapids through a steep gorge in Burke County and is one of the few mountain streams in North Carolina with a healthy wild trout population below the normal cold-water zone.
Where to Run, Hike, or Fish North Carolina’s Wild and Scenic Rivers
For multi-day whitewater
The Chattooga’s Section IV, which includes the North Carolina reach and extends into South Carolina, is the eastern benchmark for hard whitewater — class IV–V rapids including Woodall Shoals, Bull Sluice, and the Five Falls require previous experience and appropriate safety preparation. A USFS permit is required on Section IV. Wilson Creek in Burke County offers a more accessible class II–IV experience closer to Charlotte and the Piedmont, with multiple put-in options along Wilson Creek Road during runnable flows (typically late fall through spring).
For hiking and access
The Horsepasture River Gorge Trail in Pisgah National Forest is a short but stunning hike to Turtleback Falls and Rainbow Falls, two of the most photographed waterfalls in western North Carolina. The New River State Park (Ashe County) has riverside camping and canoe access on the scenic upper river. Wilson Creek has a dedicated trail system in the Pisgah National Forest that provides river access for hikers and anglers. The Lumber River State Park at Boardman provides the main access point for paddlers exploring the blackwater Coastal Plain reach.
For native fish
Wilson Creek is one of North Carolina’s best wild brown and rainbow trout streams, with catch-and-release regulations on portions of the designated reach. The Chattooga supports a healthy native trout population in its upper headwater tributaries and designated reaches. The Lumber River, while not a trout stream, supports exceptional warmwater diversity including bowfin, several redhorse sucker species, and the federally threatened Cape Fear shiner in nearby waterways; the NPS manages the corridor partly for its exceptional aquatic biodiversity of the Coastal Plain.
Maps for Neighboring States
North Carolina’s rivers connect to WSR systems in several neighboring states. South Carolina shares the Chattooga designation (the river forms their common border below the NC line). Tennessee has the Obed Wild and Scenic River to the northwest. West Virginia has the Bluestone Wild and Scenic River. Georgia has the Chattooga (also shared). Virginia has no designated Wild and Scenic rivers. For the full national picture, see the US Wild and Scenic Rivers map.
Data Sources
River segment geometry, classification, mileage, and managing-agency attributes come from the US Forest Service Enterprise Data Warehouse, specifically the National Wild and Scenic River Segments dataset jointly maintained by the USFS, NPS, BLM, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Source service: USFS EDW Wild Scenic River Segments. Authoritative national index: rivers.gov. State recreation and fish-management context: NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, Lumber River State Park (NC State Parks), New River State Park.
