| Difficulty | III |
| Length | 10 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 40 fpm |
| Gauge | Emory River at Oakdale, Tn |
| Flow Rate as of 53 minutes | 231 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 31, 2026 |
Clifty Creek is a Class III creek that runs only when the area gets hammered. It's adorned with all the frills one would expect from a true classic, from jaw-dropping scenery, to a nice pace, and consistently quality rapids that are, like many creeks in the Lower Emory drainage, mostly bedrock, with occasional boulder sequences and moves. A few harder rapids punctuate the rhythm in key moments, and the finish of the run sees paddlers floating out of the canyon to a procession of waterfalls streaming in from seemingly everywhere. It's easy to get to the take-out from many places, but there is no official put-in access. The creek was a late bloom in the paddling community, and while a very friendly local has provided access in the past, the access situation is sensitive and demands our respect of the local community where Clifty is located.
ACCESS:
The only legal access is at Lower Rockwood Road, but this makes for a 10 mile run that starts pretty small and has its share of downed trees and dealing to get all the way down to where the canyon begins to form up well. The final half of the creek is where the magic really kicks in, and the upper half has only occasionally been paddled so the latest conditions are unknown and only the lower 5 miles of the run will be discussed here. If you plan to do the whole thing, get an early start, also knowing that the creek will be much smaller and lower volume at the top than at the bottom. Current rain event timing needs to be considered and a competent group with some resilience to get through the first half are necessary. Even if it's a bit of a mission, it's still worth it. If reliable access above the bottom half ever gets arranged, this would allow more of a session run of moderate length where laps are all too easy. As it is, it's there.
FLOWS:
Clifty is smaller than most of the other creeks in the area, and takes at least a few inches of rain to get going, thoug
This is the only legal access, and parking may be problematic. A drop off would be clutch, or staging elsewhere. Stay within bridge right of way and respect local landowners.
This rapid begins right where a very tall wall develops on river-right. Hope out on the left and scout to the corner to see the line required to miss the undercut river-right wall, and to ensure wood is not blocking the route. Easy scouting/portaging as need on the left.
The river bends left, the creek squeezes agains the right wall and plows through some curlers, a sticky hole, and a nice slot to finish. Always check this one for wood.
Rounding another left bend the creek fans out over a wide slab and drops over a 5 foot tall ledge on the left, and a less vertical slide on the right. Watch the hole on the left at high water.
From Harriman, drive up Riggs Chapel Road on river-right side of the Emory, and when it begins to climb up to the left, turn right onto Clifty Creek Road. Cross the creek just ahead and pull off on the upstream river-left side in a wide pull out. This is state land and part of Clifty Creek Preserve SNA, so access is legit.
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