Daddy's Creek

A simple update that a strainer which had been in Rocking Chair rapid for a while was removed in late 2025. As of Jan 11, 2026 no significant strainers observed at a level of 1.9ft

We took a lap down Daddy's Creek the day Catoosa reopened (March 28, 2020). 1.7 was a great level for a R2 and a couple of canoes. There is still a dangerous log blocking the right boof at Fang. Everywhere else was clear of strainers; a beautiful, fun Spring day.

First Drop of the Canyon

Below Rocking Chair

Spike

Body of the Snake

Hole above Fang

Fang

Somewhere in the bottom dozen around 3'

There are a few things to be noted that I will put here in the comments until I have time to edit this page.

Access to Daddys Creek for paddling has been greatly expanded thanks to American Whitewater and local volunteers. For more details on when it is and is not OK to access Devils Breakfast Table as a take out, please see the following link and be sure to click on 'A letter to American Whitewater' as well:

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/34090/display/full/

Note that you can put in at Antioch Bridge and paddle 18 miles down to Nemo on the Emory year round.

Contrary to popular belief, although the difficulty drops to class II-III, Daddys Creek is good down to 1'. Some of the lead in rapids will be a little scrapy, but if you take your time, you can generally find a channel. All of the major rapids go just fine. Two tips about low flow: 1. Spike is worthy of a quick look...run it FAR left (like bow up on the rock far left). 2. The best line at Fang is definitely the right side boof.

Also noteworthy is Daddys Creek Go Fast Day which occurs on the first Saturday of the year when Daddys has a flow between 1.4'-2.4'. For more information, go to and follow Daddys Creek Go Fast Day on Facebook. This is where you will get information on the details of the event and is also where Go Time is announced.

Ran it at 3ft back in April. Left side of Fang was good to go with threading a needle between two rocks as you punch the left hole. Didn't see that line mentioned anywhere else so wanted to point it out too. Watch for the pin potential.

This is a run all should put on their list of plateau gems! We ran this one at high water (2.6ft @ the bridge) which is at the very high end of recommended levels. At this level it was very pushy and squirrely, and the unnamed rapids below Rattlesnake and Rocking Chair became massive holes surrounded by hard eddy lines. The Canyon itself is one of the most scenic places I've ever paddled! You can check out footage of our run here: https://vimeo.com/91223555

At 1.4 feet the boof was too shallow

1300 cfs at the Hebbertsburg gauge. This picture was taken from the top of one of the huge boulders that line this section of the creek.
1300 cfs at the Hebbertsburg gauge. This is a fine way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
1300 cfs at the Hebbertsburg gauge. Keep to the center or right side on this one.
1300 cfs at the Hebbertsburg gauge. Maintaining speed going through this one is important.

When you see these walls get ready for the Snake Dance.
On our first trip down Daddy's in 1993, the level was 2.6'. Gary Gurkin jumped into the eddy, which forms at high water, upstream of this rock. The eddy has no exits since so much water is draining out under the rock. After spinning around in circles his canoe got wedged in the crack. It started backing up water until the pressure was so great that his canoe shot out like a pumkin seed, followed by Gary. It struck me as funny and I laughed until it hurt. Every since then we have called it Gurkin's Crack. In 2002 I asked him to do it again for the camera and here's what I got. Don't go anywhere near upstream of this rock.
Richard Mann in the Rockin' Chair. Note the emerald green, crystal clear water.
This is a good place for lunch after paddling the Snake. You've made it through the most challenging rapids but the fun is just begining.

A dangerous strainer lurks in the right side boof at Fang.

Peter Horne running one of the easier entrance rapids in the gorge.
Peter Horne running Spike.
Peter Horne running Body.
This is a nice shot of Milt Aitken running Fang. Look in the background and you can see the entire 'Snakedance Trilogy' of rapids (Spike, Body and Fang)
Peter Horne running Rocking Chair.