| Difficulty | IV(V) |
| Length | 2.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 60 fpm |
| Gauge | Emory River at Oakdale, Tn |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 231 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 30, 2026 |
The Crooked Fork in general, is a great creeking resource for locals, giving up several sizable waterfalls and hard rapids, as well as miles of bedrock sliding in the lower section of the run. This page discusses the Upper Crooked Fork, which mainly just contains a consequential waterfall and some manky Class IV boulder gardens. It's rare that folks only run the Upper, but if that's you, do yourself a favor and after running Upper Potter Falls, head downstream and finish the run below Lower Potter Falls, another challenging Class V rapid. A trail on river-right heads a short ways back to the parking area at the bridge. If you're not looking for a Class IV-V experience, the Lower Crooked Fork is recommended.
Let's talk water quality for a minute here. The Crooked Fork is pretty gross. In addition to a formerly strip-mined, logged watershed that drains a prison as well as agricultural lands, the put-in is at a waste water treatment facility. Most veteran Crooked Fork paddlers haven't suffered any noticeable illness, but it's worth noting that the water quality is not great. If it wasn't for this detail and the water quality was good, the Crooked Fork may well be considered the Big Sandy of the south, a classic, gorgeous run with a little bit of everything.
Flows: While the Emory gauge linked can be a barometer that can indicate the likelihood of ample flow in the Crooked Fork, the only real way to know if there's water in the creek is to drive to the put-in off Hwy 27 and check the visual gauge on the downstream side of the river-right bridge pylon. Here's a characterization of flows:
3.5-4.0 feet - extremely low flow for lower, too low for upper
4.0-4.5 feet - low to good low for lower, 4.5 is minimum for upper
4.5-5.0 feet - medium low to medium for lower, 5.0 is good low for upper
5.0-5.5 feet - medium to high for lower, 5.5 is a nice medium for upper
5.5-6.0 feet - high for lower, medium-high for upper
The put-in is off Hwy 27 beside a sewage treatment plant. Park in the grass but don't block any gates.
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. The falls changed somewhere around 2020, and is now a little harder, as the entry hole that used to slow the river above the lip disappeared. The approach is now faster and narrower, and more flow, preferably 5 feet or higher, is required for a safe run. Many paddlers who have been lucky enough to get a good boof, have been rewarded with a sore back. This drop is much better higher.
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.
This rapid is a boulder field divided by an island. The left line can be run at higher flows but at low water, it is full of bad pin rocks. The right side is more commonly run at all flows, and is junky and has pin rocks as well, just less so.
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.
The top of this rapid is severely congested and the most difficult part. Thread through tight boulders left of center, moving back right of center at the bottom to bash through some holes.
This section ends at Potter Falls. Anyone running the Upper Crooked Fork is going to run Potter Falls as well, and should also probably go ahead and run the Lower Crooked Fork as well. That said, access at Potters Falls is best by parking on the downstream river-right side of the bridge over the creek, where there is room for a few cars. Park such that other folks have room here.
Most folks run Upper Potter Falls down the left these days, where a bedrock stepdown at the lip helps with a boof. A centerline is also run. Avoid the right, where the landing is shallow. Note that broken backs have occurred at this drop. It's wide, the lip is shallow, and controlling landing angle is difficult.
Oct 12, 2010
As 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.
Jul 22, 2008
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).
Nov 18, 2006
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.