Watauga River 321 Access Upper Gorge Park

Sugar Grove, North Carolina
Managed by MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper

Watauga County owned and maintained public access park. Put in for Section 3 Watauga Gorge.

Parking for nearby popular swimming holes Laurel Creek Falls, Snake Pit.

Delayed harvest trout fishing upstream to Hubert Thomas.

Covered picnic shelter.

Get directions to this beach
COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality
  • Failed to meet water quality standards

  • Current Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on May 28th, 2020. MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on May 29th, 2020 at 3:22 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

Watauga River 321 Access Upper Gorge Park is sampled weekly from May 1st from September 30th.

Source Information

The Watauga Riverkeeper, housed at the MountainTrue, monitors the Watauga River Watershed for E. coli, a bacteria found in the waste (feces) of most warm-blooded animals, including humans. High levels of E. coli can pose a health risk for people swimming in the water.

Participating volunteers take weekly water samples, and sites are listed as failing to meet water quality standards if they exceed the EPA's recommended safe level for E. coli of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 ml of water. Volunteers take samples early each week, and results are posted on Thursday or Friday. This sample data provides a general guide to the health of the waterway and should only be used for informational purposes. This data does not guarantee the sampled area is safe for swimming at all times. Overall, E. coli levels in the Watauga River are low, and the river is typically safe for swimming. However, E. coli levels can change at any time and frequently increase after rain events. As a general rule, if the water is clear, then E. coli levels are likely to be low. Please contact the Watauga Riverkeeper at andy@mountaintrue.org if you have questions. Please also contact us if you would like to volunteer to take water samples.

Water Quality Graph

Watauga River 321 Access Upper Gorge Park

Sugar Grove, North Carolina
Managed by MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper
COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality
  • Failed to meet water quality standards
  • Current Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on May 28th, 2020. MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on May 29th, 2020 at 3:22 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  

Watauga County owned and maintained public access park. Put in for Section 3 Watauga Gorge.

Parking for nearby popular swimming holes Laurel Creek Falls, Snake Pit.

Delayed harvest trout fishing upstream to Hubert Thomas.

Covered picnic shelter.

Get directions to this beach
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

Watauga River 321 Access Upper Gorge Park is sampled weekly from May 1st from September 30th.

Source Information

The Watauga Riverkeeper, housed at the MountainTrue, monitors the Watauga River Watershed for E. coli, a bacteria found in the waste (feces) of most warm-blooded animals, including humans. High levels of E. coli can pose a health risk for people swimming in the water.

Participating volunteers take weekly water samples, and sites are listed as failing to meet water quality standards if they exceed the EPA's recommended safe level for E. coli of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 ml of water. Volunteers take samples early each week, and results are posted on Thursday or Friday. This sample data provides a general guide to the health of the waterway and should only be used for informational purposes. This data does not guarantee the sampled area is safe for swimming at all times. Overall, E. coli levels in the Watauga River are low, and the river is typically safe for swimming. However, E. coli levels can change at any time and frequently increase after rain events. As a general rule, if the water is clear, then E. coli levels are likely to be low. Please contact the Watauga Riverkeeper at andy@mountaintrue.org if you have questions. Please also contact us if you would like to volunteer to take water samples.

Water Quality Graph

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