The Blackwater Paddler's Guide: Tennessee Edition

Nolichucky River

American Whitewater calls the Nolichucky Gorge an incredibly beautiful, deep mountain gorge with lots of great play, mostly in the first half. Most of the bigger rapids come in the first three miles, among them Quartermile, a 3 to 4 foot ledge you can scout on the left, and Roostertail. A railroad runs along river left, yet the gorge stays remote.

Class

Class III to IV

Where

The Nolichucky Gorge, Poplar, North Carolina, to Chestoa, Tennessee

Best season

No season is published for the Gorge. Run it on the gauge, not the calendar.

Length

9.2 miles

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published.

Gauge

American Whitewater reads the Gorge on USGS 03465500, Nolichucky River at Embreeville. American Whitewater gives a runnable range of 1 to 4.5 feet on this gauge. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

USA Raft runs Gorge trips from its resort near the Chestoa take-out.

Camping

No camping is published on this run.

Hazards

Hurricane Helene reshaped nearly every rapid in 2024. Railroad work then made a new Class IV drop near the old Rollercoaster, with an undercut rock and a big hole. Scout it on the right.

The runs

Poplar, NC, to Chestoa, TN (Nolichucky Gorge) (9.2 mi). Class III to IV. The big rapids are in the first three miles.

Put-ins and take-outs

Poplar, North Carolina (put-in); Chestoa, Tennessee (take-out)

Recommended by

American Whitewater

Suggested: Nolichucky Gorge, Poplar to Chestoa (9.2 mi)

1. Put in at Poplar, North Carolina, and run 9.2 miles of Class III to IV to Chestoa. The big water is in the first three miles. The new Rollercoaster drop ends a swift wave train; scout it on the right.

Snacks and lunch in a dry bag. Two liters per person for the day.

Little River

American Whitewater lists four sections from Elkmont to Melrose. Inside the park, Elkmont to the Sinks is Class II to III and the Lower Little below the Sinks is Class III to IV+. The Elbow to the Y at Townsend is Class II+. Below Townsend, the stretch to the mill dam at Melrose is a Class I to II run.

Class

Class I to IV+ by section

Where

Great Smoky Mountains National Park down through Townsend

Best season

Below Townsend it runs best in spring and winter. Summer and fall runs need plenty of rain in the Smokies.

Length

Four sections, from Elkmont down to the dam at Melrose

Permit and access

Inside the park the Park Service does not recommend water recreation. Jumping from bridges is banned.

Gauge

The Park Service points to the USGS gauge on the Little River near Townsend, which reads flow, height and temperature. USGS 03497300 sits above Townsend. American Whitewater gives 2.8 to 6 ft (Elkmont to the Sinks) and 2.6 to 5 ft (Elbow to the Y) on 03497300. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river.

Camping

No riverside camping is published for these runs.

Hazards

Park rivers can rise fast when a storm hits the high peaks, and undertows hide under calm water. Mary's Rock is an undercut boulder with serious entrapment risk. Never paddle near or over the Melrose dam.

The runs

Bridge at Elkmont to the Sinks (Class II to III). Inside the park. 7 to 8.8 miles, per American Whitewater.
Elbow to the Y, Townsend (Class II+). Mary's Rock is an undercut boulder.
Townsend to the dam at Melrose (Class I to II). Put in at the public picnic area in Townsend.

Put-ins and take-outs

Townsend public picnic area (park launch); Bridge at Elkmont (put-in); Sinks (take-out); The Y, Townsend (take-out)

Recommended by

American Whitewater

Clinch River below Norris Dam

Below Norris Dam the Clinch is moving water down to Highway 61, and the Pellissippi Blueway says it is best run when the dam is discharging. Farther down, about 19 miles from Pellissippi Parkway to Melton Hill Dam are a state scenic river. Before the dams, the Clinch was a major producer of freshwater mussels and pearls.

Class

Moving water below the dam

Where

Norris Dam down through Clinton on the Pellissippi Blueway

Best season

Best when Norris Dam is running water. TVA posts a recreation release schedule from May to October.

Length

Blueway ramps from mile 77.1 at Miller Island to mile 63.7 at Eagle Bend

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published. Launch at the Blueway's named ramps.

Gauge

No USGS gauge on this reach is listed. The water comes from Norris Dam, so check TVA's release schedule for Norris the day you go. No paddling range is published for this river. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

The Pellissippi Blueway lists River Run Outfitters in Oak Ridge for rentals and shuttles; ask whether they run this reach.

Camping

No camping is published on this reach.

Hazards

Beware the weir dam, the Blueway warns. TVA says never paddle close to the face of a dam, and releases can change without notice for weather or power needs.

The runs

Miller Island to Peach Orchard (Mile 77.1 to 73.5). Moving water below Norris Dam.
TN 61 Ramp to Eagle Bend Ramp (Mile 66.3 to 63.7). Blueway ramps near Clinton.

Put-ins and take-outs

Miller Island (ramp); Peach Orchard (ramp); TN 61 Ramp; Eagle Bend Ramp

Recommended by

Pellissippi Blueway; Tennessee Scenic Rivers Program (TDEC); Tennessee Valley Authority

Suggested: Miller Island to Peach Orchard

1. Launch at Miller Island, Blueway mile 77.1, and float to Peach Orchard at mile 73.5. It runs best when Norris Dam is discharging, so check TVA's schedule first.

Snacks for a short float. One liter per person.

Hiwassee River

American Whitewater calls the Lower Hiwassee a spectacular river for novice paddlers and their families, with clear water you can see 6 to 15 feet into. The upper run, from the Apalachia powerhouse to Reliance, is 5.5 miles of Class I to III. Below Reliance it eases to Class I to II.

Class

Class I to III

Where

The Apalachia powerhouse down past Reliance and Gee Creek

Best season

No season is published. The Dries above the powerhouse run only when Apalachia Dam spills or the plant shuts down, about once a year.

Length

5.5 miles above Reliance, 4.9 miles below it

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published. American Whitewater says every Lower Hiwassee launch it names is public.

Gauge

The water comes from TVA releases at Apalachia Dam, so check TVA's release schedule before you launch.

Outfitters

American Whitewater names Hiwassee Outfitters at Reliance. Self-shuttle between the public ramps.

Camping

Gee Creek, in Hiwassee Scenic River State Park, has the access ramp most paddlers use as a take-out. The campground closes for renovation from spring 2027, with reopening expected in summer 2028.

Hazards

The Dries, above the powerhouse, are Class III to IV, and over 3,000 cfs American Whitewater expects big waves and holes. Stay on the lower runs unless you have the skills.

The runs

Apalachia Powerhouse to Reliance (5.5 mi). Class I to III.
Reliance to the US 411 bridge (4.9 mi). Class I to II. Gee Creek and Patty Bridge are other take-outs.
Turtletown Creek to Apalachia Powerhouse (the Dries) (5.7 mi). Class III to IV, only when the dam spills.

Put-ins and take-outs

Reliance (put-in); Gee Creek (take-out); Highway 411 (take-out); Patty Bridge (take-out)

Recommended by

American Whitewater (Lower Hiwassee, Hiwassee Dries)

Suggested: Reliance to the US 411 bridge (4.9 mi)

1. Put in at the state ramp by the railroad trestle in Reliance and float 4.9 miles of Class I to II to the US 411 bridge. Most people take out at the Gee Creek Campground ramp; with more time, go on to Patty Bridge.

Packed lunch and snacks. Two liters per person for the day.

Ocoee River

TVA calls the Ocoee Gorge one of the premier whitewater rivers in America, and it hosted the 1996 Olympic whitewater events. The Middle Ocoee is 5.5 miles of continuous Class III below Dam No. 2. American Whitewater says it takes strong intermediate skills and a solid roll, and the top half, from the dam to the Doldrums, is a little harder.

Class

Class III to III+

Where

The Ocoee Gorge, below TVA's Ocoee Dams No. 2 and No. 3

Best season

It runs on TVA dam releases. Check TVA's release schedule before you drive; it can change without notice.

Length

5.5 miles on the Middle Ocoee. The Olympic course is 1 mile.

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published. A life jacket and helmet must be worn on the Upper and Middle Ocoee whenever water is released, private boaters included (Tennessee State Parks).

Gauge

The Middle Ocoee has no current USGS gauge. The river runs when TVA releases water from Ocoee Dam No. 2, so the release schedule is your water level. No paddling range is published for this river. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river in the sources this page uses.

Camping

No camping is published on this run.

Hazards

TVA warns release schedules change without notice and large amounts of water can come down at any time. American Whitewater calls it Class III for its entire length.

The runs

Ocoee Dam No. 2 to No. 2 Powerhouse (Middle Ocoee) (5.5 mi). Class III+. Goforth Creek is a halfway put-in.
Olympic whitewater course (1 mi). Fed by releases from Ocoee Dam No. 3.

Put-ins and take-outs

Goforth Creek (put-in)

Recommended by

Tennessee Valley Authority; American Whitewater

Suggested: Middle Ocoee, Dam No. 2 to the powerhouse (5.5 mi)

1. Launch below Ocoee Dam No. 2 on a TVA release day and run 5.5 miles of continuous Class III to the powerhouse. First time? American Whitewater says many put in halfway, at Goforth Creek, to get a feel for it.

Snacks for the run and lunch at the car. One liter per person on the water.

Tennessee River Gorge

The Tennessee River Blueway runs 46 miles from Chickamauga Dam through downtown Chattanooga and the Gorge to Nickajack Dam. It opened in 2002 and was certified a National Recreation Trail in 2006. The Gorge, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Tennessee, winds 27 miles through Cumberland Mountain sandstone. TVA rates it mostly Class I.

Class

Class I, big water

Where

Chattanooga and the Tennessee River Gorge, Chickamauga Dam to Nickajack Dam

Best season

The Blueway is open every day, sunrise to sunset. Storms come up fast here, so watch the sky. Times may change. Check the official site for current times.

Length

46 miles on the Blueway, from Chickamauga to Nickajack Dam

Permit and access

Free. Launch and land only at designated sites, camp only where it is allowed, and stay below the high-water mark.

Gauge

Flows here follow TVA dam operations; check TVA before you launch. Chickamauga and Nickajack Dams set the flow, so check TVA's release and streamflow for Chickamauga before you go. No paddling range is published for this river. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river in the sources this page uses.

Camping

Primitive campsites line the Gorge, among them Williams Island and Pot Point on TVA's map. Camp only at designated sites, and no campfires unless a site allows them.

Hazards

Barges and big boats use this river, so stay against the shoreline and out of the main channel. Dam releases change the depth and current fast, storms bring wind and chop, and some stretches have no cell service.

The runs

Ross's Landing to Suck Creek Ramp (10.3 mi). About 3 hours, TVA says. Downtown into the Gorge.
Suck Creek Ramp to Raccoon Mountain (8.9 mi). About 3 hours.
Raccoon Mountain to Sullivan's Landing (4 mi). About 1.5 hours.

Put-ins and take-outs

Ross's Landing (ramp); Suck Creek Ramp; Raccoon Mountain (ramp); Sullivan's Landing (ramp)

Recommended by

Tennessee Valley Authority (Gorge paddling map); Outdoor Chattanooga (Tennessee River Blueway)

Suggested: The Gorge, Ross's Landing to Sullivan's Landing

1. Launch at Ross's Landing downtown, river mile 463.6, and paddle 10.3 miles into the Gorge to Suck Creek, about 3 hours by TVA's reckoning. Spend the night only at a designated primitive campsite from TVA's map.
2. Paddle 8.9 miles on to Raccoon Mountain and 4 more to Sullivan's Landing. Hug the shoreline, stay out of the barge channel, and check TVA's releases each morning.

Two days of meals and a spare. No campfires unless the site allows them, so bring a stove. A gallon per person per day, or treat river water at camp.

Big South Fork of the Cumberland

The Park Service says the Big South Fork and its main forks, the Clear Fork, North White Oak and New River, hold everything from beginner water to runs only highly skilled paddlers should try. The 11-mile gorge from Burnt Mill Bridge to Leatherwood Ford is Class III to IV under sheer, massive sandstone cliffs.

Class

Class I to IV by section

Where

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Tennessee and Kentucky

Best season

The gorge is a fall, winter and spring run. Leatherwood Ford to Blue Heron is often run for fall color in October.

Length

11 miles through the gorge. Park runs go from 6 to 27 miles.

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published. The Park Service asks every party to travel in at least three boats.

Gauge

The park's river guide reads USGS 03410210 at Leatherwood Ford. It calls the gorge Class III with one or two IVs at 500 cfs and Class III to IV at 1,800 cfs, and says rescue gets very hard at 3,500 cfs. Those notes date from 1989 and the river changes. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river. Plan your own shuttle.

Camping

The park opens the river flood plain to camping under its backcountry rules. A backcountry permit is required, with a fee, from a visitor center or pay.gov.

Hazards

Conditions change quickly and help can be hours away. In the gorge, Double Falls, Washing Machine and The Ell keep their drops. Below Leatherwood, portage Angel Falls on the right at any level.

The runs

Burnt Mill Bridge to Leatherwood Ford (11 mi). Class III to IV, the gorge. Fall, winter and spring.
Peter's Bridge to Brewster Bridge (6 mi). Class I to II. A nice half-day trip when there is water.
Leatherwood Ford to Station Camp or Blue Heron (8 or 27 mi). Class I to II. Portage Angel Falls; Devils Jump is IV.

Put-ins and take-outs

Peter's Bridge (put-in); Burnt Mill Bridge (put-in); Leatherwood Ford (take-out); Station Camp (take-out); Blue Heron/Mine 18 (take-out)

Recommended by

National Park Service (Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area); American Whitewater

Suggested: Burnt Mill Bridge to Leatherwood Ford (11 mi)

1. Put in at Burnt Mill Bridge and run 11 miles of Class III to IV through the gorge to Leatherwood Ford. Go with at least three boats. The park names emergency ways out at the O&W trestle, Pine Creek and a steep path at Honey Creek.

Lunch and snacks in a dry bag for a long day. Two liters per person for the day.

Obed Wild and Scenic River

The Park Service says the Obed's whitewater draws seasoned paddlers from all over the East. It names six put-ins: Potters Ford, Devils Breakfast Table, Barnett Bridge, Jett Bridge, Lilly Bridge and Nemo.

Class

Class I to V

Where

National Park Service land on the Cumberland Plateau, with Clear Creek and Daddys Creek

Best season

January through April is the heart of the season. May and December may have water. The rest of the year needs unusual rain.

Length

Runs from 4.1 to 9.8 miles

Permit and access

No fee. Camping in the backcountry needs a free permit, up to 14 days, and there are no set sites.

Gauge

USGS 03538830 Obed River at Adams Bridge, 03539778 Clear Creek at Lilly Bridge, 03539600 Daddys Creek near Hebbertsburg and 03540500 Emory River at Oakdale. American Whitewater gives 700 to 8,000 cfs at Oakdale for the canyon and 300 to 1,000 cfs at Adams Bridge for Goulds Bend. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river. Run your own shuttle, and bring at least three boats as the park recommends.

Camping

Rock Creek Campground at Nemo is primitive and tent only, $15 a night, reserved on Recreation.gov. Backcountry camping needs the free permit.

Hazards

The park warns that undercut rocks, sieves and strainers can kill. You need experience in remote whitewater up to Class V. As a rule, cell phones do not work in the gorges.

The runs

Obed Junction to Nemo (Obed Canyon) (9.8 mi). Class II to IV, the classic wilderness run.
Adams Bridge to Potters Ford (4.1 mi). Class I to II+, with one IV.
US 127 to Adams Bridge (Goulds Bend) (9.6 mi). Class I to IV, with one Class V.

Put-ins and take-outs

Potters Ford (put-in); Devils Breakfast Table (put-in); Barnett Bridge (put-in); Jett Bridge (put-in); Lilly Bridge (park launch); Nemo Bridge (park launch)

Recommended by

National Park Service (Obed Wild and Scenic River)

Suggested: Obed Canyon, Obed Junction to Nemo (9.8 mi)

1. A full day of Class II to IV in a remote canyon, ending at Nemo Bridge. Go January through April, with three boats or more. Cell phones will not work in the gorge, so leave your float plan on shore.

Lunch and snacks in a dry bag. Two liters per person for the day.

Emory River

The Park Service calls the Emory a Class II to III free-flowing whitewater stream. A railroad runs the length of it on river left, American Whitewater says.

Class

Class II to III

Where

Nemo, in the Obed Wild and Scenic River, down to Oakdale

Best season

Winter and spring, when rain keeps it up. Summer and fall need unusual rain.

Length

9.2 miles, Nemo to Oakdale, or about 5.7 to Camp Austin Road

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published. Nemo is Park Service land, open to paddling and floating.

Gauge

USGS 03540500, Emory River at Oakdale, sits at the take-out. American Whitewater gives 350 to 8,000 cfs at Oakdale; below 350 it is not passable. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river. Run your own shuttle from Nemo to Oakdale.

Camping

Rock Creek Campground at Nemo is primitive and tent only, $15 a night, reserved on Recreation.gov.

Hazards

The park asks you to watch the flow, the rapids and changing conditions. Over 8,000 cfs, American Whitewater warns, a swim can mean fishing your boat out of Watts Bar Lake weeks later.

The runs

Nemo Bridge to Oakdale (9.2 mi). Class II to III, the Park Service says.

Put-ins and take-outs

Nemo Bridge (park launch); Camp Austin Road (take-out); Oakdale (take-out)

Recommended by

National Park Service (Obed Wild and Scenic River)

Suggested: Nemo Bridge to Oakdale (9.2 mi)

1. Put in at Nemo Bridge; the easy Class III ledge is just around the first corner. Then come Class I to II rapids, bunched in the first half, down to Oakdale. At low water, take out at the Camp Austin Road Bridge, about 5.7 miles.

Packed lunch and snacks. Two liters per person for the day.

Caney Fork below Center Hill Dam

Below Center Hill Dam the Caney Fork is a cold tailwater, popular with trout anglers. The Corps' new operating plan keeps a small, steady flow in the most critical months, cool and full of oxygen, close to the river's natural base flow. The Corps expects that to give paddlers more width and depth and fewer run-ins with wading anglers.

Class

Cold tailwater below a dam

Where

Below Center Hill Dam at Lancaster, Middle Tennessee

Best season

TWRA stocks trout here March through December. The Corps posts the next day's release plan on its website.

Length

No run length is published for a paddling trip.

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published. Launch at the Corps and TWRA sites named on this page.

Gauge

USGS 03424860, Caney Fork at Stonewall. No paddling range is published for this river. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river.

Camping

Long Branch Campground, just below Center Hill Dam on the tailwater in Lancaster, has 60 sites.

Hazards

The Corps says its new plan may raise the risk to paddlers and waders in the second hour of generation. Know the release plan before you launch, and use caution below the dam, as TWRA says.

The runs

Long Branch Campground, below the dam (Length not published). Corps campground on the tailwater.
Buffalo Valley Nature Trail (Length not published). Improved river launch, trailer parking and restrooms.
Happy Hollow Recreation Area (Length not published). TWRA's bank-fishing list names it; no boat launch is confirmed. Check before you go.

Put-ins and take-outs

Buffalo Valley Nature Trail (park launch); Long Branch Campground (park launch); Happy Hollow Recreation Area (park launch)

Recommended by

US Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District; Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Cumberland River at Nashville

The Cumberland River Compact runs summer kayak cleanups; its June 2025 one launched from the Shelby Park Boat Ramp and welcomed first-timers. Metro Parks says Shelby Bottoms has about 3 miles of river frontage, with bottomland forest, fields and wetlands for birds, amphibians and deer. Upstream, the Corps names ramps at Lock 2 Park and Peeler Park between Old Hickory Dam and downtown.

Class

Big river with locks

Where

Nashville, from Old Hickory Dam down to Shelby Park

Best season

No best season is published. Pick a calm day and check the gauge at Nashville.

Length

No run length is published. Shelby Bottoms has about 3 miles of river frontage.

Permit and access

No paddling permit is published.

Gauge

USGS 03431500, Cumberland River at Nashville. No paddling range is published for this river. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

No outfitter is listed for this river.

Camping

No camping is published on this reach.

Hazards

This is a working river with locks. Old Hickory Lock lets out more than 15 million gallons each time it empties. Boats locking through should contact the lockmaster on radio channel 13, 14 or 16. Wear the life jacket.

The runs

Old Hickory tailwater, Lock 2 Park and Peeler Park (Length not published). Corps and Metro Parks ramps below Old Hickory Dam.
Shelby Park Boat Ramp (Length not published). Metro Parks ramp; the Compact's cleanup launch.

Put-ins and take-outs

Old Hickory Lock and Dam tailwater ramp; Lock 2 Park (ramp); Peeler Park (ramp); Shelby Park Boat Ramp

Recommended by

Cumberland River Compact; Metro Nashville Parks; US Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District

Duck River

The Duck is 284 miles long, the longest river entirely inside Tennessee, and about 270 miles are in the state scenic river program. It is long deep pools and shallow stretches of small rapids, with Normandy Dam and smaller drops. More than 50 kinds of mussels and 150 kinds of fish live in it. TWRA calls Normandy Dam to the second bridge below it a good canoe or kayak float.

Class

Pools and small rapids

Where

Normandy Dam and Shelbyville down to the Tennessee River near New Johnsonville

Best season

No paddling season is published. TWRA stocks trout below Normandy Dam November through June.

Length

284 miles long. No run length is published.

Permit and access

TWRA lists 30 public access sites with no fees. Floating is legal; standing on a private bank or bottom is trespassing.

Gauge

USGS 03597860 at Shelbyville and 03599500 at Columbia. No paddling range is published for this river. Read it live in the CWS app before you launch.

Outfitters

Local outfitters rent canoes and kayaks and run trips, including overnight camping trips, the state says.

Camping

Local outfitters can set up an overnight camping trip.

Hazards

Normandy Dam and smaller drops break up the pools. Below the dam the river runs swift and rocky down to Hall's Mill, TWRA says.

The runs

Normandy Dam to the second bridge below it (Length not published). TWRA: a good canoe or kayak float.
Three Forks Bridge to the Hwy 41A bridge (Length not published). TWRA: a fishing float near Shelbyville.

Put-ins and take-outs

Normandy Dam (put-in); Three Forks Bridge access (put-in)

Recommended by

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Tennessee Scenic Rivers Program (TDEC)

Watauga River

Below Wilbur Dam the Watauga is a cold tailwater. TVA says it turns to whitewater on recreation releases and is calm enough for canoes and kayaks the rest of the time. An American Whitewater trip report runs it from Wilbur Dam to Blackbottom in Elizabethton.

Gauge

USGS 03486000

Hazards

TVA: watch for limbs, barbed wire and bridge piers, never paddle near the dam face, and check its May to October schedule.

Recommended by

Tennessee Valley Authority; American Whitewater

Pigeon River

A dam-release river. American Whitewater calls the Pigeon Gorge a fun, quick Class III run of 4.3 miles to Hartford Bridge, with big-water rapids like Lost Guide and Accelerator. Releases run Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tue, Wed, Thu and Sat, noon to 6.

Best run

Waterville exit bridge (2026 put-in) to Hartford Bridge (about 3.3 mi, until the Walters access is rebuilt)

Gauge

USGS 03460795

Hazards

Hurricane Helene reshaped the river in 2024 and the rapids are still changing. The 2026 put-in is at the bridge off the Waterville exit.

Recommended by

American Whitewater

French Broad River

TDEC says novice and experienced paddlers both love the French Broad. Its 33-mile scenic section has nine access points on a blueway from the North Carolina line to Walters Bridge. TDEC says rafting is popular from the state line to Del Rio, and the French Broad Paddle Trail manager says it runs on to Bridgeport.

Best run

Del Rio to Bridgeport Boat Launch (7.5 mi)

Gauge

USGS 03455000

Hazards

Above Del Rio is rafting whitewater, and the Paddle Trail manager says the last section to Bridgeport has some small rapids. American Whitewater rates the Del Rio to Bridgeport Market run Class I to III.

Recommended by

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; French Broad Paddle Trail

Powell River

The Powell River Preserve, north of Tazewell and south of Harrogate, gives canoes and kayaks parking and a stairway carry down to the river. TDEC, TWRA and The Nature Conservancy paid for it, and it is on the Powell River Blueway. Open sunrise to sunset.

Gauge

USGS 03532000

Hazards

The river road is narrow; drive with care. No camping, fires, restrooms or trash cans at the preserve.

Recommended by

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; Powell River Blueway

Tellico River

American Whitewater lists four runs; two of them are these. The Upper Tellico, or Ledges, is only 2.2 miles of Class III to IV, but the whitewater makes it feel longer. The Middle Tellico is 5.3 miles of Class II to III, usually taken out at the Oosterneck day use area.

Best run

Bridge below Jared's Knee to the Ranger Station (5.3 mi)

Gauge

USGS 03518500

Hazards

Bridge work at Bald River Falls closed Tellico River Road from 2023 until May 30, 2025. Check road access first.

Recommended by

American Whitewater

Sequatchie River

The Sequatchie winds 116 miles down its valley to the Tennessee near Jasper. The Blueway promises gentle thrills and has opened public access at Upper East Valley Road in Pikeville, the Hwy. 30 ramp, Old York Hwy. and Hudlow Road in Dunlap.

Best run

Old York Hwy. access, Dunlap, to Stove Cave Road Bridge (7 mi)

Gauge

USGS 03571000

Hazards

Much of the bank is private farmland. Stay off it and use the public access sites.

Recommended by

Sequatchie Valley Blueway

Elk River

TWRA calls the Elk a 195-mile river known for outstanding fishing, paddling and wildlife. Taking out Harms Mill Dam restored a free-flowing stretch. TWRA lists Dabb's Ford Bridge as a paddling access, and the Harms Mill Dam access area reopened in July 2026.

Gauge

USGS 03578000, USGS 03582000

Hazards

Below Tims Ford Dam, TVA can release large amounts of water at any time, and schedules change without notice.

Recommended by

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Tennessee Valley Authority

Stones River

Murfreesboro's Stones River Greenway has three small-craft launch points. In Nashville, Metro Parks lists 6.6 miles of public paddling on the Stones.

Gauge

USGS 03428200, USGS 03430200

Hazards

The city warns the greenway floods fast. Get off it at once in heavy rain.

Recommended by

City of Murfreesboro; Nashville Parks and Recreation

Harpeth River

About 21 miles are a state scenic river, with bluffs, hardwoods and farmland, and a blueway links Harpeth River State Park to nearby towns. Removing a low-head dam in 2012 made it the second longest free-flowing river in Middle Tennessee.

Gauge

USGS 03434500

Hazards

Launch at Blueway access points or TWRA boat ramps.

Recommended by

Tennessee Scenic Rivers System

Buffalo River

The longest free-flowing river in Middle Tennessee and the longest tributary of the Duck, home to nearly 85 kinds of fish. Canoeing and kayaking are most popular on the middle and lower river, and local companies rent boats and run overnight trips.

Gauge

USGS 03604000, USGS 03604400

Hazards

Most land along the river is private. Above Flatwoods it is floatable only November through August.

Recommended by

Tennessee Scenic Rivers System

Hatchie River

A slow, meandering swamp river full of oxbows, 238 miles long. All 202.8 miles in Tennessee are a Class I state scenic river, and two national wildlife refuges protect over 21,000 acres of its floodplain. TWRA runs public ramps along it.

Gauge

USGS 07029500, USGS 07030050

Hazards

Most of the frontage is private. Launch at TWRA ramps such as Estanaula, Hwy 100 or Hwy 57.

Recommended by

Tennessee Scenic Rivers System; Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Wolf River, Ghost River Section

An unchannelized stretch of bottomland forest, cypress and tupelo swamp and open marsh in a state natural area. Blue markers lead a canoe trail about 14 miles from Yager Road in LaGrange to Bateman Road. The Wolf River Conservancy puts it at about 6 hours.

Best run

Yager Road, LaGrange, to Bateman Road (About 14 mi)

Gauge

USGS 07030392

Hazards

The channels are a disorienting maze, the state says; follow the blue markers. No camping in the natural area.

Recommended by

Tennessee Division of Natural Areas; Wolf River Conservancy