Public Access to the Obey River is Being Threatened. Act Now!
Do you spend a lot of time using the Obey River? We want to hear from you! If legal challenges ever do arise regarding the public use of the Obey River we will NEED documentation showing that the river has been use by the public and should stay that way.
If you have ever kayaked on the river, that could be crucial in a legal proceeding.
Please use our general contact form to let us know how you enjoy the Obey River! It's important!
"Ran it yesterday (9/18/04) with a group of nine; 5 open boats, 3 kayaks and an inflatable. Rocky Garrett led. We put on at about 11 am with the level at 2,600 cfs. The day was beautiful and sunny, the water warm compliments of Ivan. Overall gradient is a bit over 40 fpm with some sections at 130. The run is almost 14 miles. The shuttle is easy. Put in at Cliff Springs Road right off TN 164 about 5 miles north of Monterey. The take out is on TN 85. Go n on 164 to 85, go right and drive to the bridge over the river.
There are several miles of flat water easing up to class III and then a gorge with a class V drop through a congested boulder field. We walked the first pitch of this drop (I don't know its name), scouted several more times and completed the rapid with a seal launch. Someone in the group said: "this is as hard as anything on the Russell Fork", to which there was general agreement.
Then comes a loonnnnng ( maybe 6 miles) class I and II section, split by the intermediate putin/takeout point, where 2 of our number left us because Ben broke his boat in the big drop above.
At the end of this flat section comes El Horrendo which we all portaged river left. The portage is more then 100 yards through the woods and on an old logging road and then down a steep hill. to put in below the rapid. I am told that it has been run but mostly walked by even excellent boaters. It is a long, steep drop, congested with a bad sieve at the bottom.
Next rapid, coming quickly is Afterbirth, also steep and congested with a serious undercut at the bottom left. On this one we ran the top, made several ferries and lifted over the bottom pitch.
Following Afterbirth is a nice mile or so of fun read and run, somemore flat flat water and then Surf City. I am not much of a play boater but this has got to be one of the finest play hole/waves anywhere. It is big and fluffy, is attainable on either side and has no danger factor. If the East Fork were not such a challenge this would be a destination play spot. Even though we were exhausted, we all took some turns at it.
The last significant rapid is Fat Man's Squeeze, which (surprise) is a big blind, congested rapid full of huge boulders.
Another mile of very nice II and III read and run brought us to the takeout which we reached about 6:30 pm. All together, we portaged 3 (in some cases 4) times, scouted maybe 8 or 10 times, carried around river wide wood twice. Rocky's leadership was impecable; safe and knowledgable. This is his home river. We had no misahps but scrapes and cuts from the rocks and trees.
I had an excellent time but was exahusted at the end. The big drops were very challenging for me. Nevertheless, I won't recomend it except to those who want an expedition type day. Here is why. Intermediate boaters cannot mess with the hard stuff; it is just too dangerous and the portages would be horrible. Class V boaters will probably be impatient with the miles of flat water. (I have more tolerance for the flat water than most.) Another factor is that it is unusual to catch the East Fork in nice weather. In March, with shorter days, this could be a long cold paddle.
I liked it but unless you want this kind of challenge it may not be your cup of tea. There is also on the East Fork the interesting issue of syphons; places where a significant portion of the river dissapears underground. I did not see this as so much a danger issue (although at one point it did appear that the syphon was in an undercut) as a water availablity issue. Apparantly at low water you can lose the water and end up gorilla walking your boat. We had high water so it was not an issue but it means you may either have high water for these bigger drops or are losing your stream."
-Chris Kelly (Sep 19, 2004) AmericanWaterwater
🚨 Public Access Alert – Obey River Let it be known that two long-standing public access points to the Obey River are currently under threat. The access at the East Fork crossing may soon be closed to recreational use. According to the Overton County Sheriff, these locations will no longer be available for public river access. This is a significant concern for our community and all who enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the Obey River.
Obey River Public Access is a grassroots initiative dedicated to preserving and expanding the public’s ability to responsibly enjoy the Obey River and its surrounding waterways. Founded on the principle that navigable rivers are a shared natural resource, our mission is to protect existing access points, advocate for new ones, and promote sustainable recreation that honors both the land and those who enjoy it. We aim to build partnerships with local residents, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and conservation-minded landowners to ensure future generations can experience the river’s beauty and heritage.
Our News & Events page will serve as a dynamic hub for updates, stories, and opportunities to get involved. In the months ahead, we’ll publish reports about river access challenges—including respectful documentation of landowner confrontations when public rights are unclear or contested. These updates will help foster transparency, encourage dialogue, and equip our community with the knowledge to advocate effectively. You'll also find information about upcoming events, educational campaigns, volunteer projects, and legislative developments related to public access in Tennessee. As we grow, this space will reflect our commitment to openness, progress, and community engagement.
