Chattooga River — Main
Wild & Scenic
Oconee Co. · 50 mi · Class III–V
384CFS/ 1.57 ft
Below Optimal
Stable
Optimal: 800–3000 CFS · USGS #02177000
Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
50 mi
Length
Class III–V
Difficulty
800–3000 cfs
Optimal
1,200 cfs
Avg Flow
1,080 cfs
Hist. Median
#02177000
USGS Gauge
National Wild & Scenic River (1974) · Sumter National Forest · Deliverance River

The Chattooga River is the deep South's most legendary whitewater — a free-flowing National Wild & Scenic River forming the border between South Carolina and Georgia through the Sumter and Chattahoochee National Forests. Made famous by the 1972 film 'Deliverance,' the Chattooga delivers every level of whitewater from the committing Class IV–V of Section IV to the intermediate Class II–III of Section III.

Trip sections
Section II — Class I–II, family float, Burrells Ford to Earl's Ford
Section III — Class III–IV, intermediate classic, Earl's Ford to Route 76
Section IV — Class IV–V, expert committing run with Five Falls sequence
Outfitters
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Chattooga River commercial trips from the Chattooga Outpost
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.