Around here
Around Watauga River
Data Source: Recreation.gov · Source: USGS GNIS · Public land: USGS PAD-US
About this river
Watauga River is a 62.1 mile river near River Dog Adventures in Tennessee. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge Watauga River near Sugar Grove, NC (site 03479000). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 7. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
Typical flow by month
1940 to 2026
Watauga River typically runs highest in March, at a median 204 cfs, and lowest in September, at 58 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 25,200 cfs, in 2024.
Show the numbers
| Month | Typical (cfs) | Usual range (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 152 | 106 to 231 |
| February | 185 | 125 to 281 |
| March | 204 | 150 to 302 |
| April | 174 | 126 to 280 |
| May | 136 | 97 to 206 |
| June | 104 | 74 to 160 |
| July | 79 | 57 to 115 |
| August | 66 | 45 to 110 |
| September | 58 | 37 to 96 |
| October | 66 | 36 to 114 |
| November | 84 | 50 to 158 |
| December | 124 | 75 to 204 |
Typical is the median of each month’s daily median values, and the usual range runs from the median 25th to the median 75th percentile, across about 86 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for Watauga River near Sugar Grove, NC (site 03479000). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.
Boat access nearby
8 mapped launches sit in the mapped area of Watauga River. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.
- Rat BranchWatauga LakePublic
- Watauga Lakeshores MarinaWatauga River - Watauga LakeRestricted
- Pioneer Landing CampgroundWatauga LakeRestricted
- Fish Springs MarinaWatauga River - Watauga LakeRestricted
- Watauga DamWatauga River - Watauga LakePublic
- Mallard Cove RoadWatauga LakeRestricted
- Little MilliganWatauga LakePublic
- Blevins BendWatauga RiverPublic
Made to print
Put Watauga River on your wall
This river section as an art print, drawn over the real terrain with its miles, plus the trails, roads and peaks around it. Pick the colors and the size, and see the finished print before you buy. From $39, shipping included.
Embed this gauge on your site
Paste this snippet anywhere, an outfitter page, a club site, a trip report, to show Watauga River's live streamflow, water level and 7-day trend. It reads the USGS gauge directly, updates itself, and links back here.
See every free widget you can put on your site, including live conditions and a 7 day forecast.
