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🌊 Nantahala River · Class II–III

Is Nantahala Gorge running?

Flow now
94.4 cfs
↗ rising vs. 24 hours ago

Reading from Nov 4, 3:15 PM MT. Site data as of Nov 4, 2026, 4:04 PM MT.

Status
Low
Off season (commercial)
Runnable range: 450–2,000 cfs
86.2368650Thu 29Fri 30Sat 31Sun 1Mon 2Tue 3Wed 4runnable range

Last 7 days (cfs), Mountain time. Low 64.3 cfs, high 672 cfs.

StatusLow
Off season (commercial)
RiverNantahala River
SectionPower Plant to Wesser
ClassII–III
Nearest townBryson City, North Carolina
Runnable range450 cfs to 2,000 cfs
Low 450 cfs · medium from 550 cfs · high from 1,000 cfs · max 2,000 cfs
Source: American Whitewater, on the same gauge shown here. Checked 2026-11-04.
Commercial seasonMar–Oct (typical outfitter season)
Off season (commercial)
GaugeNANTAHALA RIVER NEAR HEWITT, NC (USGS 03505550)
Dam releaseYes, flow is set by dam releases. Release schedule →
NoteFlow is set by Duke Energy releases from the Nantahala power plant.
More infoAmerican Whitewater river page

Flows are informational, not a safety call. Gauge readings can be delayed, provisional, or wrong, and a gauge may be miles from the run. Rivers change fast. Check with a local outfitter or the managing agency (BLM, USFS, NPS, dam operator) before you go.

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