Nantahala River at Bryson City
North Carolina · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 03505550 — NANTAHALA RIVER NEAR HEWITT, NC · NWS forecast point HEWN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Very high — big-water conditions well above the seasonal norm
At 665 CFS, this gauge is running 217% of normal for late July — above the 306 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 21 years of record (2005–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Bryson City
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge HEWN7, issued by WFO GSP. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 21.0 ft
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Moderate flood 18.0 ft
- 19.0 ft PARTS OF WEST HIGHWAY 19 AND HEWITTS ROAD WILL BE FLOODED. FEREBEE MEMORIAL PICNIC AREA WILL BE FLOODED.
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Minor flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft LOW LYING AREAS ALONG WEST HIGHWAY 19 NEAR HEWITTS RD WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD. FURTHER FLOODING OF FEREBEE MEMORIAL PINIC AREA WILL OCCURR.
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Action 9.0 ft
- 9.0 ft FEREBEE MEMORIAL PICNIC AREA WILL LIKLY BE FLOODED.
- Right now 2.75 ft
12 months of flow at Bryson City
Daily values from USGS gauge 03505550. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Bryson City
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 6.92 ft | 6,350 CFS | May 30, 2018 |
| 5.58 ft | 3,940 CFS | Jul 6, 2013 |
| 5.22 ft | 3,280 CFS | Dec 29, 2015 |
| 4.83 ft | 2,770 CFS | Dec 9, 2009 |
| 4.43 ft | 2,240 CFS | Jan 6, 2009 |
| 4.34 ft | 2,140 CFS | Dec 22, 2013 |
| 4.33 ft | 2,010 CFS | May 20, 2005 |
| 4.27 ft | 2,060 CFS | Nov 30, 2010 |
| 4.25 ft | 2,030 CFS | Oct 14, 2014 |
| 4.20 ft | 1,880 CFS | Jan 17, 2006 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Nantahala River at Bryson City
This gauge measures Nantahala River at Bryson City, North Carolina — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
NOC and the largest raft-outfitter cluster in the region.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 306 CFS for late July, from 21 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Nantahala River at Bryson City — common questions
What is the current flow on Nantahala River at Bryson City?
As of the last reading on this page, Nantahala River at Bryson City was running 665 CFS at a gage height of 2.75 ft, or 217% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03505550, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 306 CFS, calculated from 21 years of record (2005–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 03505550, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge HEWN7.