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Whitewater guide

What CFS is safe for kayaking and rafting?

Why there is no single safe cfs, how to read cfs vs. gage height, and live American Whitewater runnable ranges for the Pigeon, Nantahala, Gauley, Chattooga, Yough, New and more.

By LakeCharts USA · Updated October 26, 2026 · Live tables rebuild with each data refresh

Short answer: there is no single safe cfs. “Cfs” (cubic feet per second) is how much water passes a gauge, and the same number means very different things on different rivers. American Whitewater’s runnable range for the Pigeon below Walters Dam starts at 300 cfs; the Lower Gauley needs 750 cfs just to be low; the Chattooga is measured in feet on a gauge staff (Section IV: 0.9–2.5 ft). What’s safe depends on the river, the section, the class of the rapids and your skill.

Cfs vs. gage height

USGS gauges report discharge (cfs) and gage height (feet above the gauge’s own zero, not depth). Some runs are described in cfs, others in feet, depending on which the paddling community has calibrated. Always compare a reading with the range for that gauge: a range for one gauge doesn’t carry over to another, even on the same river.

What the levels mean

  • Too low: below the minimum. Expect scraping, pinning on rocks and walking your boat.
  • Low: runnable but technical and rocky.
  • Good: American Whitewater’s medium range, what most paddlers aim for.
  • High: pushy water, bigger holes, harder rescues; rapids can rate a class higher.
  • Too high / Flood: above the recommended range or at NWS flood stage. Stay off.

Ratings follow the International Scale of River Difficulty (Class I–VI) used by American Whitewater. Class III means irregular waves and some maneuvering; Class IV and V call for precise boat handling and strong rescue skills.

Live: classic runs against American Whitewater’s ranges

Live data as of Oct 26, 2026. Range = AW’s low-to-maximum recommended range on the gauge linked; “Good” = AW’s medium range. Ranges change as AW volunteers update them, so check the AW reach page.

River / sectionGauge (live page)Runnable rangeGoodNowStatusRange source
Pigeon River: Upper Pigeon (Waterville to Hartford)
Class II–III+		Pigeon River below Power Plant near Waterville300–4,500 cfs700–1,600133 cfsToo lowAW 1782
Nantahala River: Nantahala Gorge (Power Plant to Wesser)
Class II+ (III)		Nantahala River near Hewitt450–2,000 cfs550–1,000659 cfsGoodAW 1101
French Broad River: Section 9 (Barnard to Hot Springs)
Class III–IV		French Broad River at Marshall700–7,000 cfs1,250–3,500833 cfsLowAW 1074
Chattooga River: Section III (Earls Ford to US 76)
Class II–III+ (IV)		Chattooga River near Clayton1.2–4.5 ft2–31.13 ftToo lowAW 475
Chattooga River: Section IV (US 76 to Tugaloo Lake)
Class II–IV+		Chattooga River near Clayton0.9–2.5 ft1.7–2.11.13 ftLowAW 476
Gauley River: Lower Gauley (Woods Ferry to Swiss)
Class III–IV (V)		Gauley River above Belva750–15,000 cfs1,500–7,0001,410 cfsLowAW 2379
New River: New River Gorge (Cunard to Fayette Station)
Class III–IV		New River at Thurmond500–15,250 cfs1,000–6,6002,790 cfsGoodAW 2418
New River: Upper New (McCreery to Thurmond)
Class II–III		New River at Thurmond1.25–9.75 ft3.75–6.253.67 ftLowAW 2417
Youghiogheny River: Lower Yough (Ohiopyle to Bruner Run)
Class III		Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle1–7 ft1.6–41.84 ftGoodAW 1687
Youghiogheny River: Middle Yough (Confluence to Ohiopyle)
Class II		Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle1–7.6 ft1.6–5.61.84 ftGoodAW 1686
Lehigh River: Lehigh Gorge, upper (White Haven to Rockport)
Class II+		Lehigh River at Lehighton500–5,500 cfs725–2,500498 cfsToo lowAW 3138
Kennebec River: Kennebec Gorge (Harris Station to Carry Brook)
Class III–IV		Kennebec River at the Forks350–13,000 cfs—534 cfsRunnableAW 438
Kennebec River: Lower Kennebec (Carry Brook to The Forks)
Class II–III		Kennebec River at the Forks2,400–20,000 cfs—534 cfsToo lowAW 810
Cheat River: Cheat Canyon (Albright to Jenkinsburg Bridge)
Class III–IV+		Cheat River at Albright10.7–18 ft11.5–14.511.35 ftLowAW 2347

Runs where a gauge range doesn’t apply

River / sectionClassPageWhyReach
Ocoee River: Upper Ocoee (Olympic section)Class III–IVOcoee River at CopperhillRuns on scheduled dam releasesAW 1781
Ocoee River: Middle OcoeeClass III+Ocoee River at CopperhillRuns on scheduled dam releasesAW 1780
Gauley River: Upper Gauley (Summersville Dam to Woods Ferry)Class IV–VGauley River below Summersville DamRuns on scheduled dam releasesAW 2378
Hiwassee River: Hiwassee (Apalachia Powerhouse to Reliance)Class IIHiwassee River at Apalachia PowerhouseRuns on scheduled dam releasesAW 1751

For dam-release rivers, the release calendar matters more than any gauge. See the Ocoee, Nantahala, Pigeon and Hiwassee release schedules.

Water temperature: dress for the water, not the air

The National Center for Cold Water Safety recommends thermal protection (a wetsuit or drysuit) whenever the water is below 70°F, and notes that most people get maximum-intensity cold shock in 50–60°F water without it (coldwatersafety.org). Each whitewater river page on LakeCharts shows the gauge’s water temperature where one is measured.

FAQ

What cfs is too high for kayaking?

It depends on the river. Above American Whitewater’s maximum recommended level, or at NWS flood stage, most runs become dangerous. That is 4,500 cfs on the Pigeon below Walters Dam and 2,000 cfs on the Nantahala Gorge at the Hewitt gauge.

What cfs is good for a beginner?

Pick an easy section (Class I–II) and a flow in the low-to-medium part of its range, ideally with a guide or club. Pennsylvania DCNR calls the Middle Yough (Class I–II) ideal for beginning whitewater kayakers and popular with families.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is the water surface above the gauge’s own zero point. A gage height of 2 ft doesn’t mean the river is 2 ft deep.

Where do runnable ranges come from?

From American Whitewater, whose volunteers calibrate ranges for each reach against a specific gauge. LakeCharts shows AW’s range only when it’s defined on that page’s own gauge, and links the AW reach page.

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