Paddling on the Lawson's Fork
is best during the months of October to May. The water table is lowest
during the summer, and on many days, the river becomes un-navigable because
of dry conditions. As the chart below shows, average flow in the river
varies greatly, with March being the best month and September being the
worst. Fortunately, our mild Piedmont weather allows for plenty of good
weather for paddling in winter months.
The chart, which measures the
flow from a gage near the headwaters in Inman, measures cubic feet of
water per second. The ideal flow for paddling on the Lawson's Fork is when
the Inman gage reads 10 cubic feet per second. Use these general
guidelines for timing your outing:
Levels in the Lawson's Fork
can rise dramatically in heavy rains. In fact, the Inman gage has recorded
levels as high as 134 cubic feet per second. Use great caution in
navigating the Lawson's Fork after a rain. Strong currents can sweep your
boat under fallen trees and pin you under water. In contrast, at low
levels, the river is generally still navigable below
Glendale.
