Right now
Which Tennessee runs are in range
19 sections have a published runnable range on a USGS gauge. The badge compares the latest reading with that range each time the page opens.
| River and section | Class | Range | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo RiverUpper Buffalo: Murphy Bridge to Topsy Bridge | I (II) | 700–1,200 cfs | 125 cfs Below the range12:00 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Little RiverTownsend to Melrose Dam | II | 450–3,000 cfs | 103 cfs Below the range12:15 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Little RiverElbow to the Wye | II+ (III) | 2.6–5 ft | 1.40 ft Below the range1:15 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Little RiverElkmont to the Sinks | II–III | 2.8–6 ft | 1.40 ft Below the range1:15 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Obed RiverUS 127 to Adams Bridge | I–IV (V) | 300–1,000 cfs | 7 cfs Below the range11:45 PM, Wed, Sep 30 |
| Obed RiverAdams Bridge to Potters Ford | I–II+ (IV) | 250–1,000 cfs | 7 cfs Below the range11:45 PM, Wed, Sep 30 |
| Obed RiverPotters Ford to Obed Junction | I–III | 250–2,000 cfs | 7 cfs Below the range11:45 PM, Wed, Sep 30 |
| Obed RiverObed Canyon: Obed Junction to Nemo | II–IV | 700–8,000 cfs | 41 cfs Below the range1:00 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Daddys CreekAntioch to Devils Breakfast Table | III–IV | 300–1,500 cfs | 12 cfs Below the range12:00 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Daddys CreekDevils Breakfast Table to the Obed | II–III | 250–2,500 cfs | 12 cfs Below the range12:00 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Clear CreekBarnett Bridge to Jett Bridge | I–II (III) | 250–2,000 cfs | 6 cfs Below the range12:45 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Clear CreekJett Bridge to Lilly Bridge | II+ (III) | 200–2,500 cfs | 6 cfs Below the range12:45 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Clear CreekLilly Bridge to Nemo | II–IV | 250–3,000 cfs | 6 cfs Below the range12:45 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Big South Fork of the CumberlandThe Confluence to Leatherwood Ford | II–IV | 400–5,000 cfs | 51 cfs Below the range12:30 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Big South Fork of the CumberlandLeatherwood Ford to Station Camp | I–II (Angel Falls IV) | 500–5,000 cfs | 51 cfs Below the range12:30 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Big South Fork of the CumberlandStation Camp to Blue Heron, KY | I–II (Devils Jump IV) | 500–10,000 cfs | 51 cfs Below the range12:30 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Nolichucky RiverNolichucky Gorge: Poplar, NC to Chestoa | III–IV | 1–4.5 ft | 1.10 ft Inside the range12:30 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| Nolichucky RiverChestoa to Sawmill | I–II (III) | 1–5 ft | 1.10 ft Inside the range12:30 AM, Thu, Oct 1 |
| West Fork Stones RiverBarfield Crescent to Nice Mill Dam | II (III) | 300–2,000 cfs | 21 cfs Below the range11:00 PM, Wed, Sep 30 |
Cumberland Plateau
Cumberland Plateau float trips
Obed River
A National Park Service Wild and Scenic River in sandstone gorges. Most of it is whitewater and only runs after rain.
Daddys Creek
A steep Cumberland Plateau creek feeding the Obed, runnable after rain.
Clear Creek
Part of the Obed Wild and Scenic River, from gentle riffles to a Class IV canyon.
Big South Fork of the Cumberland
A National River and Recreation Area. The gorge above Leatherwood Ford is serious whitewater; below it the river is mostly Class I–II with two big rapids.
Sequatchie River
The Sequatchie River Blueway runs down the valley between the plateau walls.
East Tennessee
East Tennessee float trips
Little River
Clear, rocky Smoky Mountain water. Class II below Townsend and harder in the park.
Hiwassee River
A TVA tailwater below Apalachia Powerhouse, Class I–II, paddled when TVA runs the generators.
Ocoee River
Dam-controlled whitewater and the 1996 Olympic course. Water runs on TVA’s scheduled release days.
Nolichucky River
The Nolichucky Gorge starts in North Carolina and ends in Tennessee at Chestoa; below it the river eases off.
French Broad River
The French Broad Paddle Trail runs from North Carolina into Tennessee, with numbered mileposts.
Powell River
The Powell River Blueway in Claiborne County is Class I. A change on the Jonesville, Virginia gauge reaches Tennessee 18 to 30 hours later.
Clinch River
Above Norris Lake the Clinch is a free-flowing Class I–II river. Clinch River Valley State Park at Kyle’s Ford was dedicated in August 2026 and warns that levels change fast.
Every range is tied to one USGS gauge and one source.
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee float trips
Harpeth River
Class I, slow and winding, with Harpeth River State Park sites along the way. The state park lists a seven-mile float around a looping meander and a 5-mile float from the Narrows through Bell’s Bend.
Buffalo River
Tennessee’s longest undammed river west of the Appalachians is mostly Class I with a few Class II spots.
Duck River
A long, gentle Class I river. The stretch from Iron Bridge Road (river mile 136.4) up to the Maury–Marshall county line (river mile 173.7) is a state scenic river, and TWRA counts 30 free public access sites on the river.
Caney Fork River
Cold, clear water below Center Hill Dam. Floats are timed around the dam’s generation, and the river rises fast when the turbines start.
Elk River
A cold tailwater below Tims Ford Dam with easy trips of a few hours to several days.
Red River
A quiet Class I river near Clarksville.
West Fork Stones River
A Murfreesboro-area float with low-head dams to watch for.
Bigger purchases
Gear compared for Tennessee float trips
The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.
Common questions
Tennessee paddling questions
Where can you float in Tennessee?
This page covers Harpeth River, Buffalo River, Little River, Duck River, Caney Fork River, Obed River, Daddys Creek, Clear Creek, Big South Fork of the Cumberland, Elk River, Hiwassee River, Ocoee River, Nolichucky River, French Broad River, Red River, West Fork Stones River, Sequatchie River, Powell River, Clinch River. Each river page has its sections, access points and live gauge readings.
What are the easiest float trips in Tennessee?
The sections rated Class I here, a few with an occasional Class II spot, are on the Harpeth River, Buffalo River, Duck River, Caney Fork River, Elk River, Red River. At normal levels they are slow, flat-water floats.
Where is whitewater paddling in Tennessee?
Sections rated Class III or harder are on the Daddys Creek, Ocoee River, Nolichucky River. Most Cumberland Plateau runs only have water after rain.
What does the runnable range mean?
It is the lowest and highest reading on a named USGS gauge at which the source considers the section worth running. Below it you drag bottom; above it the river is pushier and more dangerous.
Which Tennessee floats depend on dam releases?
The Duck River, Caney Fork River, Elk River, Ocoee River, French Broad River, Clinch River run below dams, so the water level follows the generation schedule. The schedule is on each lake’s page.
Do you need a permit to kayak in Tennessee?
No permit is needed to paddle your own canoe or kayak, and boats without a motor do not need to be registered. Businesses that rent them need a TWRA permit. Some parks require a permit to camp overnight.
Do you have to wear a life jacket in a kayak in Tennessee?
Every canoe and kayak has to carry a wearable life jacket for each person. Anyone under 13 has to wear one while underway, and inflatable life jackets are not approved for anyone under 16.
How current are the river levels?
USGS gauges record every 15 minutes. The badges on this page check USGS each time the page opens and show the time of the reading.
Sections, classes and runnable ranges come from American Whitewater, the National Park Service, Tennessee State Parks and the other sources named on each river page. Life jacket rules are from TWRA. Gauge readings are provisional USGS data. Rivers change after floods; scout anything you have not run.
Keep going
More Tennessee 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.