Crooked Fork Creek
1. US 27 to Potter's Falls (Upper)
| Difficulty | III-IV(V) |
| Length | 2.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 60 fpm |
| Gauge | Emory River at Oakdale, Tn |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 726 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 12, 2025 |
River Description
Crooked Fork is a tributary of the Emory River on the Cumberland Plateau just south of Wartburg, Tennessee. This is part of the Obed-Emory River System.
If you are into waterfall creeking action, then the upper section of Crooked Fork is the place for you. This section hosts one 20ft drop (Class V) with a mandatory line and one 15ft drop (Class III+) which can be run almost anywhere. The rest of this run is class III-IV (after the first mile of class I).
Some choose to run both the upper and lower sections together while others choose to run only one of the sections.
Creek-boats and open-boats are recommended for this plateau gem, but a play-boat could be an option on a high flow day.
Articles and web links:
Potter's Falls made the front cover of the Summer, 1973 edition of American Whitewater Magazine.
Camping Options:
Camping can be found in the nearby Obed Wild and Scenic River area at the Rock Creek Campground located at the Nemo Bridge. This is the take-out for the Lily to Nemo section of Clear Creek and the Obed Junction to Nemo section of the Obed River.
Probably the closest campground is found in Frozen Head State Park. It's only a few miles away offering not only campsites but also hiking trails to some cool waterfalls.
River Features
Put-In
The put-in is off Hwy 27 beside a sewage treatment plant. Park in the grass but don't block any gates.
LaMance Falls
Launch this 20 ft drop off the rock finger in the center. Making your line is a must since the landing zone is only about 10 feet wide. Rock shelves exists under the falls. As long as you launch off the rock finger, you will clear the rocks. Stay away from the right side of this falls due to the rock shelf.
For those not running the falls, portage on river-left. A path leads to the base where you can walk under the falls. When you're under there, notice the crumbly underlayer of oil shale which erodes much faster than the harder rock overlay, creating the undercut. Cool!
The huge rock monolith down stream of the plunge pool was once the lip of the falls. During the flood of March 1929 (195,000cfs@Oakdale) the rock broke off and was hurdled downstream and buried in the gravel, pointing to the sky and leaning slightly upstream as if bracing against the flood.
A grist mill once stood on the river-right cliff of this falls back in 1895.
Other information on LaMance Falls.
1st Boulder Garden
This rapid is a boulder field divided by an island. The left line can be run at higher flows but at low water, there is a narrow chute that has several pin rocks. We portaged it at 4.6ft.
The right line seems to carry more water. Just be careful in the entrance as there is a badly undercut boulder on the left that has a lot of water going under. Many portage the entrance, walk 20ft and seal launch back in.
Just pick your way through this field of boulders. A few are undercut. You might need to take a quick scout.
2nd Boulder Garden
Same as before, eddy hop your way through the field of boulders. Follow the main channel just left of center.
Potter's Falls
This 15ft waterfall is one of the easiest to run in the Southeast. Though it can be run most anywhere, the most common line is in the center over a small curler (upstream of the lip) which lines you up perfectly for a rock finger. The extreme right side of the landing zone is shallow. Caution: The center line is easy to boof so watch your landing. This is also the takeout for the upper section.
If proceeding downstream (to run Lower Potter's Falls and/or the entire lower section, please read information and cautions about Lower Potter's Falls in the full description for that section.
Other information on Potter's Falls.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportAs of 10/12/2010, the right side of the island below Laymance Falls in the first boulder garden is now clear. A large tree was blocking it but it was removed today. The log had been blocking the right line for nearly 4 year.
Jim is standing on what's typically the flake that you want to boof off of. What's more astonishing is the fact that a sewage treatment plant discharges into this tiny stream. Photo taken during a drought (obviously).
As of 11/18/2006, there is a log blocking the right channel of the 1st boulder garden. Get out and look before you round the bend and drop into the entrance.
'Exiting the pool (below Lower Potters), stay river left and catch an eddy. You?ll see a big boulder in the center of the river half way through the next drop with a big pillow on it. You want to peel out of the eddy ferrying right, into the center and across the face of the pillowed rock into an eddy. This is a pretty cool move. I think the rock may be undercut, so don?t take it too lightly.'
Not only is this undercut, but its actually 2 rocks forming a sieve with wood jammed in it. There is a third boulder as well, just to the right and it is undercut in a BIG way!
Be careful out there.
Hittin the line at the big one!
3.8ft @ Hwy 27 bridge should be your MINIMAL! 4.5ft is prime. 5ft, it gets pushy. Tons of play below Lower Potters at high flows.
Jeff Richards running Potter's at 4.1 ft on the Hwy 27 bridge gauge.
Was a fun day.
An unnamed open-boater makes his attempt to freewheel, as not to be shown up by some butt-boater.
I am posting this comment for Karl Whipp:
Crooked Fork - Us 27 to Camp Austin, III-IV (V)
We ran this fun little stream on 12/15/02. The US27 bridge gauge was about 4.2. This was a fun level, but I would like to see it at about 4.5 - 4.7. 4.2 was a little bony with lots of screw-ya rocks in the boulder gardens below Lamance Falls and I would have liked to see a little more cushion at Lower Potters Falls. Other than the above mentioned, it was a pretty good level.
If you don?t already know this, the water quality pretty much blows on this creek. Just a heads-up and a plug for Coca-Cola. Coke will kill darn near anything you may swallow.
Do not go anywhere near those two boulders below the first drop.
Before the flood at 3.7 feet and during the flood of March 23, 1993. The Emory at Oakdale gauge was at 75,000cfs. You could feel the ground shaking. It was scary just watching it. Emagine the flood of 1927 with 195,000cfs.
Put-In beside Sewage Treatment Plant on US Hwy 27.