Trips and Runs

River Waltz

Trips and Runs

By now you’ve read some stuff about the rivers and creeks but need some info on trips or runs on the Obed / Emory system of rivers and creeks. This is where your search ends. We offer you some information in this section about trips and runs that are “traditional” ones. There are others.

Remember that this is a rain fed system so the water levels are subject to Mother Nature. The levels can change quickly. The gauge does not always tell the full story but you know that. This area is remote so don’t expect roadside assistance and a lot of onlookers. Be very careful of strainers and undercuts and BIG but scenic rocks.

We’re grateful to Monte Smith for using his info here. Monte lists 18 trips in “A Paddler’s Guide to the Obed/Emory Watershed”. Before you ask, it’s out of print but his other book is available (see below). We have offered fewer than 18 trips here at the web site.  Also, rather than using a “high” indication on the flow levels we elected to use “advanced”. This means that at the level noted only “advanced” boaters should be on the run at that level of water or higher. Know you skills and your risk level.

Important Notice About Access at Devil's Breakfast Table (DBT) for 2001

Catoosa Wildlife Management Area is closed to all users February 1 through the last Friday in March. 

Additionally Catoosa is closed for Turkey Hunts:
April 6-8; 13-15; 20-22; 24-26; 27-29
May 1-3.

The fine is $142 per person during these closure times. The Catoosa WMA road gates are actually open and not marked as closed at these times. So long as you don't go on Catoosa land, you're fine to paddle through DBT but you can be fined if you are on Catoosa land. Be careful.

Island Creek Bridge Access

TWRA has acquired the road at Island Creek Bridge from Cumberland County.  They have closed the whole area along the road leading to and past the Island Creek bridge as part of their winter closure for Catoosa from January through February and the Spring turkey hunt dates.  TWRA may be planning to put up a gate on the road in the future. 

This is an expansion of the restricted Catoosa area we have been struggling with. There was no notice of this and no communication with users other than hunters.  

Enough of the warnings. Check out the trips on the navigation bar to your left and we’ll see you at the take out. 

Thanks to Monte Smith, author of Southeastern Whitewater: 50 of the Best Rivers from Alabama to West Virginia, for permission to use his property here.  Click here for more information

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