Tennessee · Erwin, TN
Nolichucky River float season
Gauge 03465500 on the Nolichucky Gorge, Poplar NC to Erwin TN. Rafters drop into one of the East's deepest gorges as the Noli slices between Unaka summits on its run from Poplar down to Erwin.
Right now at this gauge
loading CFS
Checking the live gauge…
Well above typical for this date
Live reading from the USGS gauge page for Nolichucky River. Provisional data — subject to revision.
The year on this river
In a typical year at the Erwin gauge, the Nolichucky River runs fullest Feb–Apr and leanest Aug–Oct. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past March days at this gauge ran above 1,750 CFS; the September median is 537 CFS.
| Month | Typical flow (CFS) | Relative volume |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,320 | |
| February | 1,550 | |
| March | 1,750 | |
| April | 1,610 | |
| May | 1,290 | |
| June | 934 | |
| July | 768 | |
| August | 673 | |
| September | 537 | |
| October | 538 | |
| November | 676 | |
| December | 1,050 |
Record context
This gauge has measured daily flow since 1920 — 104 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 50,800 CFS, in November 1978. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.
Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.
More Tennessee float rivers
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Buffalo River
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Caney Fork River
Center Hill Dam tailwater through Happy Hollow and Betty's Island
Fullest: Jan–Mar
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Duck River
Iron Bridge Road to Chickasaw Trace at Columbia
Fullest: Jan–Mar
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Elk River
Tims Ford Dam tailwater through Kelso toward Fayetteville
Fullest: Dec–Feb
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Harpeth River
Narrows of the Harpeth loop at Harpeth River State Park
Fullest: Jan–Mar
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Pigeon River
Walters powerhouse releases through the Hartford rafting stretch
Fullest: Feb–Apr
Common questions
When is the Nolichucky River usually at its fullest?
At the Erwin gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Feb–Apr, with the single highest monthly median in March (about 1,750 CFS). The leanest months are usually Aug–Oct.
What is a typical summer flow on the Nolichucky River?
The July median at this gauge is about 768 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Late summer is this river's lean season, so expect readings to drift down as the season goes on.
Is the Nolichucky River safe to float right now?
No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 104 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.
Which USGS gauge does this page use?
USGS gauge 03465500 (NOLICHUCKY RIVER AT EMBREEVILLE, TN), chosen because it best represents the Nolichucky Gorge, Poplar NC to Erwin TN. Daily records here reach back to 1920.
Data: USGS gauge 03465500, approved daily records 1920–2024, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.