Cape Fear River — Elizabethtown to Lock & Dam #1: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 23, 5:45 PM UTC
No runnable range yet
We don’t have a runnable range for this section yet — many of these are calm or dam-controlled reaches. Here’s the current gauge reading; check it (and, for tailwaters, the dam’s generation schedule) before you go.
Estimated range
1,100 cfs
15.0 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 02105769
What this means today
There is no published runnable range for this reach, so we won't grade the reading against one. What we can show is what the gauge itself is doing.
Daily average flow — a different measurement from the gauge height this reach is graded on — has run between 852 cfs and 1,240 cfs, 16% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Elizabethtown to Lock & Dam #1
Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown to Lock & Dam #1 is a 12-mile Flatwater float in North Carolina — no rapids under normal flows, just moving water and the odd riffle. Most paddlers put in at Elizabethtown (Tory Hole / river access) and take out at Lock & Dam #1 near Kelly, a trip that runs about 5.5 hours at a relaxed pace.
We track USGS gauge 02105769 for this reach, but there isn't a published runnable range for it yet, so we won't invent a firm number. Use the live reading and 7-day trend above to see whether the Cape Fear River is rising or falling, and check with a local outfitter or paddling club before you commit to a launch.
Flows here are usually most dependable March–November. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Flatwater
- Length
- 12 mi
- Float time
- ~5.5 hr
- Best months
- March–November
- Put-in
- Elizabethtown (Tory Hole / river access)
- Take-out
- Lock & Dam #1 near Kelly ↗
Reading USGS gauge 02105769 — CAPE FEAR R AT LOCK 1 NR KELLY, NC ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Cape Fear River — Elizabethtown to Lock & Dam #1?
- We don't yet have a published runnable range for this section, so we can't give a firm number. Check the live USGS gauge and ask a local outfitter before you go.
- How do I check Cape Fear River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 02105769 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Cape Fear River — Elizabethtown to Lock & Dam #1 good for beginners?
- This is a flatwater section — no rapids under normal levels — so it's beginner-friendly when the gauge is in range. High water changes everything: cold, fast water is dangerous for anyone.
- When is the best time to paddle Cape Fear River here?
- Typically March–November, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.
- How long does it take to float Cape Fear River — Elizabethtown to Lock & Dam #1?
- This reach is about 12 miles, roughly 5.5 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.