Obey, West Fork
TN 85n Bridge to Dale Hollow Lake
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 15.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | West Fork Obey River Near Alpine, Tn |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 15 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 8, 2023 |
River Description
Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Streams of Tennessee, B. Sehlinger and
River Features
Put In
Put-In (Puncheon Camp Creek)
Put-In (Puncheon Camp Creek)
Take-Out (Highway 52 Bridge)
Highway 52 Bridge - River access on the downstream river-right side.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportPut-In: Puncheon Camp Creek
Take-Out: Highway 52 Bridge
Distance: ~6.0 Miles
Flow: ~700 CFS
Class II-III / Average Gradient: 22 FPM
Ran the river today around 650 plus or minus cfs. Ran it in a Rocky Mtn Phat cat Shredder. Lots of decent Class II at this level with not too much flat water in between. Will be trying it again at 1000cfs or so next trip. Saw a bald Eagle on the run as well about halfway through. We put in at Puncheon Camp creek to the bridge on 52. Will post pics in coming days
Obey River Tennessee
Identified Put-in is potentially private and gated and blocked by local landowner. Use address of 1414 Wilder Rd, Allred,Tn just up the road on Puncheon Creek. Scrapy short paddle to river.
Typical Take-out address is 3210 Jamestown Hwy, Alpine, Tn. under bridge.
6 Mile paddle from these points
Ran this on 4-5-08 from the put in near the hwy85 bridge to the hwy52 bridge around a 5mi run. 5ft on the guage at take out.1400cfs probably. very pushy but lots a fun. big waves. class III at this level. great scenery with waterfalls entering from both sides throughout. there are a some hazards to be aware of. About a quarter mile from put in or less is a steel cable hanging from an old foot bridge. you can easily go underneath it on river left. Also between mile 1-2 is a river wide strainer, a large tree. At this level it is just below a section of rapids so pay attention. At this level boats could go over its top thinner branches on river left. At lower levels you can duck under the thick trunk on river right...........................Directions to put in, driving on hwy85 northbound decend the switcbacks once you cross the bridge over the west for obey river continue to drive and look for a cemetery on right, turn sharp right on gravel road at cemetery and follow down to put in. short drive to take out turn right on hwy after leaving put in drive a few miles to hwy52 turn right drive to bridge and park.
waterfall on the river
West fork of obey at 1400cfs