The Cheoah River Has a Scheduled High-Flow Release on October 24, and It Is Not for Beginners

By Jon Tharp, Broker  ·  October 11, 2026

On Saturday, October 24, the Cheoah River has a scheduled 1000 CFS release from 8am to 4pm, according to the schedule Nantahala Outdoor Center posted. The 9.25-mile section the release serves is continuous class IV-V whitewater.

The run starts at Santeetlah Dam and ends at Calderwood Lake Boat Launch. The 2026 calendar has only two fall releases, and the other one comes on November 7.

When is the October Cheoah River release?

Saturday, October 24, 2026. The scheduled flow is 1000 CFS from 8am to 4pm, per NOC (https://noc.com/events/cheoah-river-release/).

The last scheduled release of the year follows on Saturday, November 7, also at 1000 CFS from 8am to 4pm. These two fall dates are the last scheduled high-flow releases of 2026.

Who should paddle the Cheoah?

Advanced paddlers. NOC describes the section as continuous class IV-V water, with classic drops, wave trains and play holes.

The rapids are not the only hazard. Trees, root balls and brush show up throughout the section, and NOC says paddlers need a rock-solid roll. If your roll is not reliable yet, save this one for later.

Why does the Cheoah have scheduled releases?

This stretch of river was dewatered for 77 years. In 2005, American Whitewater and Western North Carolina Paddlers secured scheduled releases for the next 40 years.

Santeetlah Dam, in Graham County, impounds Santeetlah Reservoir. The Santeetlah facility, which consists of a dam, pipeline/tunnel and powerhouse, was completed in 1928, according to the Safe Waters page (https://safewaters.com/facility/santeetlah/). The dam releases flows into the Cheoah according to a regular schedule based on average daily inflow from the preceding three months. Those flows are meant to protect, enhance and restore the river's aquatic and riparian communities.

What is different on the Cheoah this fall?

Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydro is doing planned maintenance at the Santeetlah project from late September through approximately mid-November. During that work, water that normally runs through the powerhouse and into the Little Tennessee River goes directly into the Cheoah instead.

River users can expect atypical flow conditions during this period. Brookfield expects flows to stay relatively stable but says they may vary with weather and inflow, and it asks river users to use caution and check Safe Waters for updates. As of the evening of October 11, the dam was discharging about 57 cfs into the Cheoah.

NOC sponsors American Whitewater, the nonprofit that helped win these releases, and its event page links to membership information for anyone who wants to support that work.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next Cheoah River release?

The next scheduled release is Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 1000 CFS from 8am to 4pm. The last scheduled release of 2026 is Saturday, November 7, also at 1000 CFS from 8am to 4pm.

How hard is the Cheoah River?

The 9.25-mile section from Santeetlah Dam to Calderwood Lake Boat Launch is continuous class IV-V whitewater. Trees, root balls and brush appear throughout, and Nantahala Outdoor Center says paddlers need a rock-solid roll.

Why is the Cheoah River flowing differently this fall?

Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydro is doing planned maintenance at the Santeetlah project from late September through approximately mid-November. Water that normally goes to the Little Tennessee River is being released directly into the Cheoah, so river users can expect atypical flows and should check Safe Waters for updates.