The Watauga River is generally comfortable for kayaking, canoeing, and rafting during the summer months, but care must be taken to prevent hypothermia by prolonged exposure to the cold river water. As TVA also guarantees a minimum release schedule during the summer season for riverine recreation below the TVA Wilbur Dam, the Watauga River will draw commercial whitewater rafting companies from distant rivers—such as the Nolichucky River running through Erwin, Tennessee in Unicoi County—when lack of adequate summer rain fall will not allow for rafting trips on these naturally flowing rivers during seasonal droughts. See also Dragging Canoe Fort Watauga International Scale of River Difficulty List of rivers of Tennessee Overmountain Men Riverboarding River surfing Sycamore Shoals Watauga, Tennessee Notes and references External links American Whitewater reach description. Watauga River whitewater rafting map. Holston River Rivers of Carter County, Tennessee Rivers of Johnson County, Tennessee Rivers of Avery County, North Carolina Rivers of Watauga County, North Carolina Rivers of North Carolina Rivers of Tennessee Tennessee Valley Authority Tourist attractions in Tennessee Elizabethton, Tennessee