One of the most spectacular sights around Lake Glenville is the scheduled recreational release of water from the dam. The 2018 season's scheduled recreational releases from Lake Glenville are June 9, July 14, July 28, August 11, and August 25 between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.
The releases are set at 250 cubic feet per second, the optimal flow for whitewater paddling. The course is six miles long, narrow and challenging, and is recommended for advanced paddlers only.
Limited parking is available at Lake Glenville, along Pine Creek Road near the trailhead, for the approximately one-mile hike to the kayak put-in. Some designated parking is also provided near the takeout at the Thorpe Powerhouse along NC 107 on the road to Sylva.
For the more physically fit, the one-mile-long High Falls Trail, which stretches from Glenville Dam to the base of High Falls, provides paddlers upstream access to the river for the releases and is a spectacular hike for those who want to observe the kayaks, or just enjoy the beautiful woods and waterfall. Beware!! The hike back up is much harder than going down!!
These scheduled releases are required through the license granted to Duke Energy by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).