The Green River is an unspoiled hidden gem a mere 90 minutes from Charlotte, 45 minute from Asheville, and 45 minutes from Greenville, SC. It is a magical place that is a must to visit. The river is surrounded by over 18,000 acres of deciduous rainforest, featuring some of the highest floral and faunal biodiversity in the eastern United States. These public lands offer spectacular terrain for hiking, mountain biking, and bird watching, with old-growth forests and stunning views. The river is also excellent for fishing, paddling, tubing, and swimming, boasting clean and reliable waters. The Green River ranges from class 1 to class 5 rapids and is runnable for upwards of 300 days a year.
GREEN RIVER,NC
Location
Nearby Cities
Hendersonville, NC: 20 minutes
Asheville, NC: 45 minutes
Greenville, Sc: 45 minutes
Charlotte: 2 hours
Airports
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL): 30 minutes
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP): 1 hour
Charlotte International Airport (CLT): 2 hours
The Basics
The Green River is a dam released river that is roughly 15 miles long. It starts at Lake Summit in Tuxedo, NC and ends at Lake Adger near Mills Spring, NC. It goes through both Henderson and Polk County. The river is broken down into 3 sections: Upper, Narrows, and Lower.
Activities
Green River Game Lands Trail Maps
Access Points
Paddling
- Upper Green Put In Parking Lot-Shoals Road (35.246820, -82.388671)
- Upper Take Out/ Narrows Put In – Green River Access Parking Lot on Gallimore Road (35.290219, -82.359720) Must have key.
- Narrows Take Out/Lower Put In-Fish Top on Green River Cove Road (35.264067, -82.324582)
- Lower Take Out – Big Rock on Green River Cove Road (35.309555, -82.260840)
Hiking
- Pullium Creek Trailhead on Big Hungry Road (35.29118528753107, -82.3286983604368)
- Bishop Branch Trailhead on Big Hungry Road (35.291386701959006, -82.32435318208896)
- Green River Cove Trailhead on Green River Cove Road (35.27470476957112, -82.30535353345005)
- Big Bradley/Little Bradley Trailhead on Holbert Cove Road (35.265651820158006, -82.28331857501001)
Fishing
- Upper Green Put In Parking Lot-Shoals Road (35.246820, -82.388671)
- Gallimore Road Access Parking Lot (35.290219, -82.359720)
- Fish Top on Green River Cove Road (35.264067, -82.324582)
- Big Rock on Green River Cove Road (35.309555, -82.260840)
History
The Cherokee were the first to inhabit the Green River through the mid-18th century. In the early 18th century, the fertile soil and lush forests attracted European settlers. By the late 18th century, there was a thriving agricultural community. However, in 1916, a great flood caused by back-to-back hurricanes washed away the agriculture, turning the Green River into a ghost town.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that the Green River began to pique the interest of outdoor enthusiasts and the area started to revive. Today, outdoor enthusiasts fish, hunt, bike, hike, paddle, tube, swim, and birdwatch in the protected 18,000 acres of public land. The Green River continues its role in the dynamic interplay between human activity and natural preservation.