The Lower Gorge River Access or the ‘Guy Ford River Spot’ is a swimming hole near the Boone NC area.
It’s the latest official public access along the Watauga River in the Boone NC area. Though it’s relatively new, it’s been accessed for decades.
The Guy Ford Bridge near Bethel is the put-in to the classic Watauga Gorge.
Nearly inaccessible to everyone but kayakers, the Watauga Gorge has been described as stunning, pristine, spectacular and rugged.
The 5-mile whitewater run to the NC-TN state line features world-class whitewater and Class V rapids, only navigable by expert paddlers. Kayakers have been putting in here since at least the ’70s.
While you won’t be able to enjoy the scenery and exhilarating rapids several miles downstream outside of a kayak, you can still swim and fish the 2.3-acre river property at Guy Ford Road.
The river frontage accessible to the public here is less than 100 yards downstream of the Guy Ford Bridge.
Known these days as the ‘Guy Ford River Spot’ on Instagram, this area became a popular swimming hole and hangout spot for college kids a few years ago. It’s also been a local fishing hole for decades.
The area is open to swimming and is also part of the Public Fishing Access Program managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. A trout stocking program is unlikely right now, but it is a good access point for wade fisherman looking for smallmouth bass.
The Lower Gorge Access or Guy Ford River Spot access is made possible by a few different groups.
In 2016, the Blue Ridge Conservancy purchased the 2.3-acre property with the financial support of the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and 140 private donors, mostly paddlers with American Whitewater.
Funding for the construction project of the Lower Gorge River Access came from the local TDA, State of N.C. and the TVA. This construction project is on-schedule to be complete this summer – perhaps as early as the end of July 2020.
The project included a much-needed 27-lot parking area with fencing, handrails, signage and a concrete ramp leading to a beachy area along the river.
Boulders stud the property but aren’t climbable from a boulderer’s perspective. The rapids are pretty swift. I’ve seen people tube from the bridge to edge of the property.
The currents here are pretty swift, and tubing isn’t recommended – especially downstream of the access. Again, some dangerous whitewater exists for miles downstream and new signs at the access warn as such.
The Guy Ford River Spot isn’t a waterfall destination in the Boone NC area. It mostly features lounging spots on the beachy area or surrounding rocks. The river here features some swimming holes that kids and everyone else can swim in or float that are outside of the swift currents.
Click to read more about this project and the Guy Ford River Access.
