WHAT YOU WILL SEE

NC704 Bridge in Madison -to- Settle Bridge
704 Access: Across NC 704 Bridge into Madison. Follow signs to access under bridge.
Difficulty: Class I Distance: 8 miles Duration: 3 to 5 hours
Description: Wilderness experience part 1: At 1/4 mile from the put in the Mayo river enters from river left. One half mile later, the river passes under US Hwy 220. From that point until the take out there are no bridges, roads, or buildings visible from the river. At Slink Shoal (1/4 mile past US 220 bridge) the river makes an interesting run through a long rock-lined sluice and a series of wingdams built by the Corps of Engineers in the 1880s. Throughout this and the following section are remains of bateau navigation structures and Native American fish traps.
Settle Bridge Access: From Settle Bridge Road (SR 2145): 1/4 mile south of the bridge turn east on Dan River Road. Access is on the left at the end of the road.
Difficulty: Class I and II (Intermediate) Distance: 11.5 miles Duration: 4 to 6 hours
Description: Wilderness experience part 2: For the first ten miles of this section there are two bridges, but no roads or buildings visible from the river. About 1 1/2 miles downstream from the put in is Eagle Falls island, the original site of Jackson Town. The route to the left of the island goes through a wing dam and a sluice (c. 1820s and 1880s), while the route to the right features shoals with an interesting series of drops. Over the next 3 miles the river makes a 180 degree turn from due east to due west known as the "Bent." Harrington Highway Bridge at mile 8 features a nice little Class II drop. Mile 10 features the bateau port Leaksville Landing (c. 1820s) and the graceful arch of the old Hwy 87 Bridge (c. 1922). One half mile past the bridge is the massive stone pier of the Leaksville Covered Bridge (1852), which should be run on the right. The Smith River joins from the left about 1/4 mile before the take out.
