Right now
Nolichucky River gauges
Readings are every 15 minutes from the U.S. Geological Survey, shown hourly for the last seven days. The page checks USGS again each time it opens.
Nolichucky River at Embreeville
USGS gauge 03465500
Latest reading 12:30 AM EDT, Thu, Oct 1
Gauge height
1.10 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 1.09 to 2.66 ft
Nolichucky River below Nolichucky Dam
USGS gauge 03466500
Latest reading 12:15 AM EDT, Thu, Oct 1
Flow
535 cfs
Down 23 cfs in 24 hours
7-day range 523 to 1,730 cfs
Gauge height
41.73 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 41.72 to 42.51 ft
Nolichucky River near Lowland
USGS gauge 03467609
Latest reading 12:30 AM EDT, Thu, Oct 1
Flow
607 cfs
Down 44 cfs in 24 hours
7-day range 607 to 1,760 cfs
Gauge height
6.70 ft
Down 0.07 ft in 24 hours
7-day range 6.70 to 8.15 ft
Float trips
Floating and paddling the Nolichucky River
The Nolichucky Gorge starts in North Carolina and ends in Tennessee at Chestoa; below it the river eases off.
Nolichucky Gorge: Poplar, NC to Chestoa
Runnable range 1 to 4.5 ft at Nolichucky River at Embreeville (American Whitewater)
Chestoa to Sawmill
Runnable range 1 to 5 ft at Nolichucky River at Embreeville (American Whitewater)
Before you launch
- After Hurricane Helene, the Forest Service reopened the Poplar launch on June 12, 2026. Check access status before going.
Sources: US Forest Service, Poplar reopening
Bigger purchases
Gear compared for floating the Nolichucky River
The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.
Eating what you catch
Nolichucky River fish consumption advisory
TDEC’s fish consumption advisory for Nolichucky River, from its August 2026 list of posted waters.
From Douglas Reservoir (French Broad River) to North Carolina state line (99.21 miles) including Davy Crockett Lake.
Mercury
Precautionary advisory the entire length within Tennessee for black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted). Precautionary advisory for channel catfish in the lower portion from Douglas Reservoir to the mouth of Bent Creek at river mile 14.9.*Precautionary means: Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not consume the fish species named. All other persons should limit consumption of the named species to one meal per month.
Weather
Nolichucky River weather and wind forecast
Thu, Oct 1 night
57°F
Mostly Clear
Wind SE 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1
86°F
Sunny
Wind S 0 to 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1 night
62°F
Mostly Clear
Wind S 0 to 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2
86°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind S 0 to 5 mph
39% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2 night
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wind NW 0 to 5 mph
57% chance of rain
Sat, Oct 3
78°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind 0 mph
85% chance of rain
National Weather Service forecast, updated 1:06 AM, Thu, Oct 1.
Sun and moon, Fri, Oct 9
USGS readings from the Nolichucky River, refreshed each time the page opens.
Go fishing
Where to get on the Nolichucky River
Common questions
Nolichucky River level and paddling questions
Where are the Nolichucky River gauges?
USGS runs 3 gauges used on this page: Nolichucky River at Embreeville; Nolichucky River below Nolichucky Dam; Nolichucky River near Lowland.
What does cfs mean on the Nolichucky River?
Cubic feet per second: the volume of water passing the gauge each second. It is the best single number for how big the river is running. Gauge height is the water surface against a fixed point at that gauge and only compares with readings from the same gauge.
How often do the Nolichucky River readings update?
USGS gauges record every 15 minutes and usually report within an hour. This page checks USGS each time it opens and shows the time of the latest reading.
Can you float the Nolichucky River?
The Nolichucky Gorge starts in North Carolina and ends in Tennessee at Chestoa; below it the river eases off. Sections on this page: Nolichucky Gorge: Poplar, NC to Chestoa (9.2 miles); Chestoa to Sawmill (5.4 miles).
What is a good level to paddle the Nolichucky River?
Nolichucky Gorge: Poplar, NC to Chestoa: 1 to 4.5 feet on the Nolichucky River at Embreeville gauge (American Whitewater); Chestoa to Sawmill: 1 to 5 feet on the Nolichucky River at Embreeville gauge (American Whitewater). The badge on each section shows where the gauge is right now.
What should you know before paddling the Nolichucky River?
After Hurricane Helene, the Forest Service reopened the Poplar launch on June 12, 2026. Check access status before going.
Do you need a life jacket to kayak the Nolichucky River?
Yes. Tennessee requires a wearable life jacket for each person in a canoe or kayak, and anyone under 13 has to wear one while underway. Canoes and kayaks without a motor do not need to be registered.
River readings come from the U.S. Geological Survey and are provisional, as USGS publishes them. Forecasts come from the National Weather Service. Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated for the location. Tennessee Fishing Spots is not affiliated with USGS or NWS.
Keep going
More the Nolichucky River water, and who fishes it
Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.