Oconaluftee River

An Abundance of Mountain Trout

The Oconaluftee River’s headwaters are in the south-central Oconaluftee valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The river flows through the Park and into Cherokee, before it empties into the Tuckasegee River and eventually Fontana Lake. The term "Oconaluftee" comes from the Cherokee village name Egwanulti, which means "by the river". it was recorded by naturalist John Bartram in his journals of 1775.

Wading, tubing, fishing, and canoeing are all popular here. The Oconaluftee is most famous for its abundant healthy rainbow, brook and brown trout. It holds the North Carolina record for brown trout weighing in at 15.9 pounds.

This pristine river is one of the best for catching North Carolina mountain trout. The Oconaluftee River is heavily stocked, 300,000 per year, by the Cherokee Fisheries & Wildlife Management. A special fishing permit is required from the Cherokee Reservation.  Check for fishing regulations specific to this river at http://www.fishcherokee.com and www.ncwildlife.org.

The River is easily accessible in the National Park, along the Oconaluftee River Trail, Oconaluftee Islands Park, and tubing is available in the summer months from Smoky Mountain Tubing.

Or venture out with one of our local fishing guides: