Doe

The Nolichuckey was running at 19000 cfs the other day which is way above my experience level, so decided to try this little section of the Doe. The Doe was running about 290 cfs and we had not been down this section, but we decided to give it a try. It took us about 2 hours to go from the Hampton school to the park in Elizabethton.

250cfs is probably the bare level for this section. It has some nice little play spots and a few nice little class II's. I would highly recommend this section to beginners and those that need practice with ferrying, eddying, and making your moves in tight spaces. Be careful on this run for fallen trees and strainers on the bank at high water levels.
There are plenty of places to put in and take out on this stretch and you are never far from civilization, but it is a beautiful river when it runs. It takes a good rainfall on Roan Mountain for the river to rise to a runnable level.

Take out for the Lower Doe Run.

The dam is gone now, due to this flood!
This is the 1st rapid going into the horseshoe @ flood stage. At normal running levels there is about a 3' drop into a small hole.
Big Water!!!

This section has some good play on it at levels above 800 cfs. I often paddle it and gorge together which makes for 15 miles of whitewater. It's not the most difficult stretch, but it is scenic and has several nice holes and waves. The take-out is at the covered bridge park in Elizabethton.