Jul 16, 2026
**Previous content for Obed Canyon description, concerning logistics options:** Read carefully-- what follows is a varied mix of three options to run approximately 10 miles of the Obed River canyon. Option 'A' is the one that correlates with the actual AWA description of this section: Obed Junction to Nemo. The other two options are probably listed here because most east Tennessee paddlers do not fancy the half mile hike from parking area to the Obed River and more often choose option 'B' or 'C' as a rule. It bears repeating that you cannot drive to Obed Junction; you can only hike/portage. The half mile trail is an old jeep road that is relatively well-maintained, is wide enough for a party of 4 to carry an inflated 6-person raft using its chicken lines and the hike includes a bridge over a small creek. In March 2022 the park service improved the parking area for the Obed Junction Trail off of Potters Chapel Road. The trail is still a half mile in length; they did not shorten it. CHOICES: You have options for put-ins depending on how long a trip and what type of run you're looking for: A) Hike half mile down to Obed Junction listed put-in for this run and you will get 10 miles of the incredible Obed River Canyon down to Nemo Bridge takeout. B) Run [Daddy's Creek](http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1740/) from Devils Breakfast Table access area (NOTE: the road to reach DBT is sometimes closed with a locked gate depending on the posture of the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area). This makes for a 12 mile run as you get 2 miles or so on Daddy's Creek. Your takeout is still at Nemo Bridge. C) Run [Clear Creek](http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1732/) to its confluence with the Obed and then down to Nemo takeout. You entirely skip the rapids listed below because via Clear Creek you enter the main Obed below each of them. A good argument could be made to remove option 'C' entirely from this description to keep it simple. Logistics: To reach the take-out from the town of Wartburg (where there is a National Park visitor center), follow the signs to the Nemo Access from Old Highway 27. Head out the southwest corner of town and continue 6.0 miles to the river. A day-use area with ample parking, changing area, and picnic tables can be found upstream river left of the old Nemo Bridge. This makes a great meeting point, has above average pit toilets, and in any event Nemo Bridge is the center of gravity for many creek runs in the area. From Obed Junction (which is at the confluence with Daddy's Creek), the river contains class II/III rock gardens until you reach a one mile class III/IV section containing **Ninety Right-Ninety Left**, **OhMyGod!**, **Rockgarden** (be aware of the dangerous spot that exists on the right in this rapid), and **Submarine Falls**. Soon after these drops, Clear Creek enters from the left. You will encounter four more class III rapids (separated by calm stretches of river), the last two of which are known as **Keep Right** and **Widowmaker**. After the confluence with the Emory River it is just a mile downstream to the take-out at Nemo Bridge. A check of the National Park Service website for Obed Wild & Scenic River will be time well spent. A phone call to the ranger Visitor Center, in Wartburg, is an even better use of your time if you want to clarify any concerns about shuttle drives, parking areas, locked gates and so forth. [https://www.nps.gov/obed/index.htm]\(https://www.nps.gov/obed/index.htm)
At the listed put-in drainage area is ~332 square miles (as calculated by USGS StreamStats 4.2.0 software).
After 4.6 miles (after confluence with Clear Creek), the combined drainage becomes ~514 square miles.
After another 4.3 miles at the confluence with the Emory, drainage becomes ~613 square miles for the final mile to the listed take-out.
Mar 5, 2017
I ran from Obed Junction (OBJ) to Nemo on 2017-03-04
The river gauge listed for this run, Emory River at Oakdale, is 9 miles _downstream_ from the takeout at Nemo.
The proper gauge for this run is Obed at Lancing, https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tn/nwis/uv/?site\_no=03539800&PARAmeter\_cd=00065,00060. You paddle right past this gauge on river left about 1.3 miles above the confluence with the Emory--look for a galvanized culvert-like column on the left bank and a cable crossing just downstream.
If you want to know the flow in the section above the confluence with Clear Creek, add the flow from Clear Creek at Lilly from the Obed gauge.
Sep 27, 2013
Obed River, Potter's Chapel Road to Catoosa Road Class 2-4 (listed on AW as Obed -4. Obed Junction to Nemo)
- Minimum flow is 1000 cfs for canoes and 1200 cfs for the Avon Ranger on the Emory River at Oakdale, TN
- Max flow is 8000 cfs
- Run is 10 river miles
- AW says 'From Obed Junction which is at the confluence with Daddy's Creek, the river flows through 2.8 miles of class II/!!! rock gardens before you reach a one mile section containing Ninety Right-Ninety Left (class III-), OmyGod! (class III+), Rockgarden (class IV) Be aware of the dangerous spot that exist on the right in this rapid, and Submarine Falls (class II+). Soon after these drops you will pass Clear Creek which enters in from the left 4.2 miles into the run from Obed Junction. You will encounter four more class III rapids separated by calm stretches of river, the last two of which are known as as Keep Right and Widowmaker.'
May 10, 2013
Rock Garden - The scout from river left is easy, and more importantly, in my opinion you get a better view of the entire rapid. There's a good line on the far left side, but it's advisable to check this line for wood, which may not be visible from the river right scout.
Sep 15, 2010
I have opened a hostel for paddlers and climbers at my home, a five minutes drive from Lilly Bridge (Clear Creek).
Check it out at:
http://obedriverhostel.wanderingstars.com/
Oct 17, 2009
ran lilly to obed at 800cfs great time relatively safe for intermediate rafters then obed to nemo bridge 4500 cfs relatively sale for intermediate rafters had a great time george esteban debie sue etc...
Jul 20, 2009
It should be made clear that you cannot drive down to Obed Junction. This is where Daddys Creek comes into the Obed and there has been no vehicular access from at least 1971 to the present time. When we paddled Daddys in spring 2009, we hiked up the trail to the road. Do not leave a car there since there have been multiple break-ins. We left ours at a nearby house and gave them some money.
May 15, 2009
May I suggest that the 2002 whitewater clinic pictures do not show enough of the Obed to be useful?
Apr 1, 2005
Beautiful and rainy Spring day on the Plateau. Larry and I were the only souls on the river.
Fairly long rapid, with a zig-zag s-turn starting on the right and working left to avoid the numerous holes and the nasty pin rock river ctr (which most of the current pushes towards) Have been close calls here. Easy walk on river right, but the rapid is not too difficult and a lot of fun.
Mar 17, 2004
Hoofers Outing Club trip to the Obed watershed.
Apr 20, 2002
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.
The Bluegrass Wildwater
Association holds it's annual
beginner clinic on the short stretch of
class II whitewater that runs from the
large flatwater pool at the
Emory/Obed confluence to Nemo
rapid in this beautiful National Wild
and Scenic river system. These
photos from the 2002 BWA clinic are
'video frame captures' from footage
shot during the clinic.