Water
Quality (1 bad 3 good)
Scenery (1 bad 3 good) 
FR 341 to Holly Springs Rd Bridge
Class III.7
Length 3 Miles
Average. Gradient 130 fpm
Max. Gradient 280 fpm
Internet Gage: Please check our flowpage.
The creek level is based off the Tellico River gage which is in the same
area.
Paddler's gage:
At the take-out bridge
Level's
14" is min.
16"-18" it takes the boney out.
24" A nice first time level
28" You get the picture : )
History:
First run by Mike Lewis
Conasauga Falls was first run by Chad Lewis (C-1) solo.
The Takeout:
It can be a little hard to find the first time. You need your Tennessee
Gazetteer and
look on Page 26 and 27
From Tellico Plains, go 2.5 miles south on Highway 68. Turn onto Holly
Springs Rd.
Look for a sign that states Towee Falls Church. Drive for about 3 miles,
here's the hard part.
Look for a "Y" in the road, head right. You will not cross the creek head to
the right.
Now you will go about a 1/2 to the bridge that crosses the Conasauga. Park
in the spot
on the river right side of the bridge. You common sense and try to park like
a guest.
The Put-in:
Get back on Hwy 68, then look for FR 341 .Pulling up the hill leaving
Tellico Plains.
IT COMES UP QUICK! Turn right onto it. There is a sign, stating Conasauga
Falls. You will go
for about 2 1/2 miles. GO SLOW, it's tricky here. Look for the
Conasauga Falls trailhead. If you want to scout the creek walk the
trailhead, (but the creek is verystraight forward.) I would just onto the
put-in.
Now the tricky part:
Past the trailhead drive another 2 miles, you will come to the creek. In the
summer when the leaves
are up this road can me a b*tch to get your bearings to Conasauga Falls. 2.5
miles down the road
there is a right turn for the Falls Trailhead. (You can scout the creek from
this trail.)
To get to the put-in, (the actual creek) drive past this turnoff another 2 miles this will get
you to the creek.
Bootleg camping can be had here.
Here is a picture taken from the local
visitor's center in Tellico Plains. Its direction to the falls, I saw this
on a bulletin board and took the picture with a cell phone.
River Description
This is a fun run , not a hair ball run, its mainly slide type cascades.
Half the run is flat-water
the other half is whitewater. Its mainly a Class III run with the exception
of Conasauga Falls.
But that said it has a lot bang for the buck.
Warning: This run is noted for its strainers.
Right off the bat is a 5 foot ledge that is very straight-forward. You will
paddle for awhile. It then picks
up speed, and you will be the in steepest part of the run.
Look for an island, because this area seems to hold the strainers.
Then you will a nice horizon line, this is what you came for if running 35
footers is your cup of tea :) If not
the portage is straight forward. Conasauga Falls is really two drops.
Here is a video of Chad Lewis making the drop look easy.
From there, more straight-forward creeking. You will come to the rapid
"Chutes and Ladders"
It's basically 4 straight forward slides. Scout for trees then proceed. Very
straight-forward rapids.
From there, you will have more ledge type drop. Conasauga feels like you are
paddling a live topo map,
and every slide-ledge is a line on a map.
Keep paddling to you get to the take-out. Once done , head over to
Coker
Creek to finish your day.
All photos furnished by Chris King
From Chris:
"Fun creek I would like to go back @ a normal level,
what ever that is Tellico was 1.87 when we put on and 6.27 when we took off.
"
Here is the put-in:
Here is the first major rapid.
Here is the bottom section of the first major section
Paddler Mike "Louie" Lewis
Here is the really only major wood currently to deal with,
but always be aware.
Conasauga Falls this picture does it no justice
After the falls you will deal with this section.
Paddler Jeff Richards
It starts to mellow out in the lower sections
Paddler Fred Alten
Paddler Alex Vargas
Paddler Chris King
This is the last type of rapids you will be dealing in
the lower section
Conasauga Falls
Conasauga Creek
