| Difficulty | I-III |
| Length | 12 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 20 fpm |
| Gauge | Obed River at Adams Bridge Near Crossville, Tn |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 117 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 23, 2026 |
This remote section of the Obed River provides twelve miles full of solitude, peace, and quiet, as well as enough Class I-II rapids here and there to keep the pace nice and flowing. That said, there's still quite a bit of flatwater. If you're in a hurry to get to the end, it'll be painful. The river also has the occasional Class III surprise, particularly in the lower miles, where frequent Class III rapids, often with some penalty points, begin to stack up. This final third of the river makes what would otherwise be a nice canoe overnighter a bit spicy for most.
Flows: At the low end, expect a bumpy, slow paddle where every mile is earned. From 400-600 cfs, there's plenty of water, and the river moves nicely between rapids. 800 cfs and up is getting pushy, and the lower miles will feel pretty continuous and big. If you're overnighting, consider that the flow may change overnight, by other dropping out on you, or flashing from rains upstream. The river has a 107 square mile drainage at the put-in, and has grown to around 155 square miles just upstream of the Daddy's Creek confluence.
TWRA/Catoosa WMA/Access Issues: The put-in at Upper Potter Ford, off Potters Ford Road, is not accessible February 1st through the last Friday in March. During this time, paddlers will need to tack on another 4 miles by putting in up at Adams Bridge. This makes for a 16 mile run! During big game hunts, paddlers have been granted access to other portions of Catoosa WMA, but access at this location may not be part of the deal. Check TWRA's website for Catoosa WMA, or your Hunting Seasons Guide for the year to discern when big game hunts occur. Citations for being in Catoosa during hunts and closures are expensive, though to be clear, you're allowed to float through. It's the shuttling that's the issue. At any rate, most people who paddle this stretch do so as part of a longer multi-day itinerary.
The other access concern is that t
...Potter Ford Road is only open when Catoosa is open. Avoid it during big game hunts, and during the wildlife rest period from February 1st until the last Friday of March.
You'll see a big rock pile consuming most of the river on the left, with a small eddy right. Grab the eddy and find a way to scout the exit of the Rock Maze to make sure it's clear of wood. This rapid at certain levels can be snuck with care to the right. If clear, a tight and exciting corridor through overhanging rocks can be run down the left, ready to move back to the right.
An arc of rocks from the left shore funnels flow to the right in a (typically brief) rapids here.
Caution! Wood is likely to accumulate on rocks and block the river here. Just downstream, the river curves to the right, and will likely run through a fine wave-train as it does.
A significant rocky jumble spans the river (almost like a broken-out rockdam). On river-left, a short ledge/hole leads directly into a large rock sentinel standing on shore, diverting flow out toward center.
A series of rocks in the water (standing almost like piers, though perhaps covered at good flows) lead to a rocky jumble, likely to make another short confused rapids.
Slightly longer than most of the rapids on this run (though still not all that long), a series of ledge/wave/holes, leading to a huge river-left-shore rock diverting flow to the right.
A large slab rock (center-right), and a more vertical rock (center-left) split the flow. River-right may be a bit of a sticky hole (or a wave), while river-left is more likely a brief wave-train.
A very rocky narrowing appears likely to create a significant hole at certain flows. (This may merit scouting at times!) Again, one of the longer rapids, with more continued ledges, rocks, and holes after the initial action.
Rocks at river-right are likely to make a river-left chute preferred. Just downstream, a large rock river-left will direct flow back to the right.
Likely the most lengthy and potentially complex drop on the run, running more than a quarter-mile, with twists and turns, boulder fences (and likely wood accumulations), diagonal ledges, a flume/drop or two, waves, and holes.
A short pourover into a quick rock-jumble and a brief pool preceed the confluence with Daddys Creek, and (shortly beyond that) your take-out on river-left.