Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

Runnable as low as 100 cfs but you gotta be really hardup. Ideal is from 250-400 cfs. The Watauga gets harder and harder the higher the flow. There aren't many boaters willing to run it over 650 cfs and those that do often portage some of drops (especially Hydro). The exception to this general rule is Stateline Falls, which is actually harder at very low levels than it is at moderate levels because the ankle-breaking rock just to the left of the landing zone becomes less padded. To find out what the Watauga is running, call the TVA at 800-238-2264 and press 3 or online at Boating Beta - My Flows or here. Note the Sugargrove gauge is upstream of the Gorge itself and can sometimes read low compared to actual conditions in the gorge due to feeder creeks downstream of the gauge.

IV to IV+(V-) (fun in a drought low) 100-150 cfs

IV to V- (low) 150-250 cfs
IV to V- (ideal) 250-400 cfs
IV+ to V (pushy) 400-650 cfs
V (screaming) over 650 cfs

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
WATAUGA RIVER NEAR SUGAR GROVE, NC
usgs-03479000 150 - 650 cfs IV-V 00h41m 157 cfs (rc= 0.0 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
150 - 650 cfs barely runnable-high runnable IV-V

Report - Reports of Watauga 5. Guys Ford Bridge to AW Sherwood Horine Access and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Watauga [NC] Hydro entrance n/a Lee Timmons
Watauga [NC] n/a Lee Timmons
Watauga [NC] Stateline Falls 250? Matthew Christie
Watauga [NC] Let there be boof, and there was. 270 CFS Nathaniel Lesch-Huie
Watauga [NC] Stateline 240 Chris Roberts
Watauga [NC] Stateline n/a Chris Roberts
Watauga [NC] Hydro 275 Chris Roberts
Watauga [NC] Stateline Falls 280cfs Max Jones
Watauga [NC] Split Decision n/a will reeves
Watauga [NC] Lovin' it! 250cfs Dana Culbreth and Will Hanna
Watauga [NC] Hydro n/a Matt Muir
304d17h59m /Watauga-5. Guys Ford Bridge to Watauga Lake [TN] stateline 0 cfs Paul Martzen
304d17h59m /Watauga-5. Guys Ford Bridge to Watauga Lake [NC] 39533.jpeg 0 cfs Paul Martzen
304d18h00m /Watauga-5. Guys Ford Bridge to Watauga Lake [TN] Boof Falls 0 cfs Paul Martzen
304d18h02m /Watauga-5. Guys Ford Bridge to Watauga Lake [TN] "VIDEO" Watauga Rapids with a little surf at Hydro 600Cfs Paul Martzen
315d22h13m /Watauga-5. Guys Ford Bridge to Watauga Lake [TN] Fullgnarlz.com n/a Mark Zak
346d22h39m /Watauga-5. Guys Ford Bridge to Watauga Lake [NC] DN Lining Up 220 cfs Dwight Nalbone
358d15h51m @Watauga 5. Guys Ford Bridge to AW Sherwood Horine Access OC1 - Stateline Falls - DeVoe 0 cfs Paul Martzen
1y269d16h49m @Watauga 5. Guys Ford Bridge to AW Sherwood Horine Access [NC] watauga n/a Mark Singleton
2y138d17h16m @Watauga 5. Guys Ford Bridge to AW Sherwood Horine Access [NC] Watauga n/a royce cowan

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