Obed River - Definition and Overview

The Obed River is a stream draining a part of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. It and particularly its tributaries are important streams for whitewater enthusiasts.

The Obed River rises in Cumberland County, Tennessee just south of the county seat of Crossville. It is bridged by U.S. Highway 70 between downtown Crossville and the municipal airport, and meets its confluence with the Little Obed River near a bridge on U.S. Highway 70N and an abandoned railroad bridge which was formerly part of the rail system linking Nashville and Knoxville. Shortly thereafter, it is bridged by U.S. Highway 127 and Interstate 40. Except during periods of very high flow, the stream is scarcely visible from these bridges due to the depth of its gorge.

From here the stream enters a rather remote area. After several miles it is bridged by Tennessee Highway 298 (Genesis Road). From this point to its mouth it is designated as a "Wild and Scenic River" under the Tennessee Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The direction of flow changes gradually from largely south to north to largely west to east. Shortly after crossing into Morgan County it receives the flow of Daddys Creek, which durning periods of high flow, especially as is typical in spirng, is considered one of the best and most challenging whitewater streams in the entire southeastern United States. Downstream from this is the mouth of Clear Creek. This stream is also part of the Obed River "Wild and Scenic" designation; like Daddys Creek, it too is a premiere whitewater stream during periods of high flow.

Several miles below the mouth of Clear Creek is the confluence with the Emory River. Many geographers regard what occurs here as a violation of convention. At the confluence, although the Obed is almost always the larger of the two streams, the name used from this point downstream is that of the smaller stream, the Emory River.