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EspañolDOE RIVER
The 'Doe River' is a naturally flowing river in Northeast Tennessee that forms in Carter County, Tennessee near the North Carolina line, just south of Roan Mountain State Park.
The Doe River flows from the northern slopes of Roan Mountain, through Roan Mountain State Park and the center of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, then continues to flow west and is at this point paralleled by U.S. Route 19E. The Doe River then flows to the east of Fork Mountain; while the Little Doe River flows by the Fork Mountain to the west.
Pushing through a mountain gap just north of Hampton, Tennessee, the volume of the Doe River is increased by the waters flowing from McCathern Spring. Below the confluence of both the Doe River and the Little Doe River at Hampton, the Doe River then travels roughly in a northern downstream direction through the Valley Forge community, and is rejoined by U.S. Route 19E outside of Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Just before its mouth into the Watauga River in the Carter County seat of Elizabethton, Tennessee, the Doe River is spaned by a wooden covered bridge that is found within the Elizabethton historical downtown area. Further downstream of the Elizabethton Covered Bridge, you will also find two identical concrete-arch bridges across above the Doe River in Elizabethton --- the first being the Elk Avenue Bridge and the latter being the Broad Street Bridge --- that were completed in 1928. The confluence of the Doe River and the Watauga River is approximately twenty minutes downstream from the Broad Street Bridge.
The Elizabethton Covered Bridge is located in downtown Elizabethton, the county seat of Carter County. Connecting 3rd Street and Hattie Avenue, the covered bridge is adjacent to a significant city park area and spans the Doe River.
As the county seat, Elizabethton grew throughout the 1800s. However, Lynn Mountain hemmed it in to the east and the Watuaga River lay to the north. The Doe River flooded often and limited growth to the south. To span westward, to the site of the current downtown, the city would need a bridge over the Doe River. After extensive debate, in 1882 the Carter County Court approved $3,000 for the bridge and $300 for approaches. The court appointed a committee to select a site for the bridge. However, the committee encountered an unexpected problem - the men could not find a qualified contractor to erect the bridge.
After county officials were unable to find a bridge contractor, a local doctor, E.E. Hunter, accepted the contract and hired experienced people to work on the bridge. Hunter selected Thomas Matson, who had been an engineer for the Narrow Gauge (Tweetsie) Railroad as an engineer and architect. Hunter referred to the bridge as his "$5 bridge" since he made a profit of $5 as contractor.
Although logs from a lumber operation and a barn were thrown against the covered bridge and its supports during a disastrous flood in 1901, this was the only major bridge in the area to survive.
Most of Elizabethton's downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historical and architectural merits. The Elizabethton Historic District contains a variety of properties ranging in age from the late 1700s through the 1930s. However, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge is a focal point and a well-known landmark in Tennessee. In addition to the covered bridge, the downtown historical district also contains the significant 1926 Elk Avenue concrete arch bridge over the Doe River, and an identical downstream concrete bridge also crosses the Doe River at Broad Street.
Structurally, the covered bridge contains one span, a covered wooden Howe Truss (typically constructed of timber diagonals and iron verticals) that is 137 feet long. The total length is 154.3 feet. The covered bridge contains one traffic lane and a single walkway. The curb-to-curb width is 16.4 feet and the out-to-out width is 20.4 feet. The substructure is masonry, stone, and concrete. Each end of the bridge features a projecting truncated gabled roofline.
While allowing for pedestrian and bicycle transit over the Doe River, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge is now closed to motor vehicle traffic.
Most of the Doe River section running between the Valley Forge put-in (LAT 36.310833 LONG -82.193055) and the take-out just before the Elizabethton confluence is classified on the International Scale of River Difficulty as Class/Grade I (one), however there are several brief segments of the Valley Forge-Charity Hill-East Side run that should be approached as Class/Grade II (two). It takes approximately three hours to float down the Doe River on inner tubes from the Valley Forge put-in to the take-out near the confluence of the Doe River into the Watauga River.
All river tubes and kayaks must portage around the weir dam that is located immediately downstream of the covered bridge in downtown Elizabethton.
Unlike the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regulated flow of the Watauga River, the water level of the Doe River often fluctuates with changes in rain fall or drought. Another significant difference between the two Carter County rivers is the found in the variation of water temperatures --- while the year round water temperature of the Watauga River is approximately 52-53 degrees Fahrenheit, the water temperature of the Doe River will vary along with the ambient air temperature. The Doe River is generally very comfortable for kayaking and river tubing during the summer months.
The Doe River valley is infrequently subject to severe flooding. The Doe River drains from a mountainous region that can be subject to seasonal heavy rains (May-early June) and snow melts, and the Doe River stream course is in many parts quite steep, allowing water levels to rise rapidly along the river banks. The last severe recent flooding of the Doe River occurred overnight from January 7 through January 8, 1998, with the sudden storms bringing down seven inches of rain in twelve hours and causing the deaths of seven people (including Kingsport rescue worker Carles "Junior" Godsey after his rescue boat overturned in the Doe River flood waters) in the Hampton area. The 1998 Doe River flood created approximately $20 million in Carter County property damages.[1]
★ International Scale of River Difficulty
★ Rapid
★ Riverboarding
★ River surfing
★ Tubing (recreation)
| Contents |
| River route |
| Elizabethton Covered Bridge |
| Whitewater kayaking and river tubing |
| Influence of weather |
| See Also |
River route
Keystone bridge built in 1889 over the Doe River. Located in the south end of the Doe River Gorge area of Carter County, Tennessee.
Pushing through a mountain gap just north of Hampton, Tennessee, the volume of the Doe River is increased by the waters flowing from McCathern Spring. Below the confluence of both the Doe River and the Little Doe River at Hampton, the Doe River then travels roughly in a northern downstream direction through the Valley Forge community, and is rejoined by U.S. Route 19E outside of Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Just before its mouth into the Watauga River in the Carter County seat of Elizabethton, Tennessee, the Doe River is spaned by a wooden covered bridge that is found within the Elizabethton historical downtown area. Further downstream of the Elizabethton Covered Bridge, you will also find two identical concrete-arch bridges across above the Doe River in Elizabethton --- the first being the Elk Avenue Bridge and the latter being the Broad Street Bridge --- that were completed in 1928. The confluence of the Doe River and the Watauga River is approximately twenty minutes downstream from the Broad Street Bridge.
Elizabethton Covered Bridge
Elizabethton Covered Bridge (built in 1882) spans 134 feet across the Doe River.
Electrically lighted "The City of Power" sign that was erected over the old Elk Avenue Bridge in Elizabethton, Tennessee
(circa 1912-1913).
(circa 1912-1913).
The concrete arch Broad Street Bridge .
As the county seat, Elizabethton grew throughout the 1800s. However, Lynn Mountain hemmed it in to the east and the Watuaga River lay to the north. The Doe River flooded often and limited growth to the south. To span westward, to the site of the current downtown, the city would need a bridge over the Doe River. After extensive debate, in 1882 the Carter County Court approved $3,000 for the bridge and $300 for approaches. The court appointed a committee to select a site for the bridge. However, the committee encountered an unexpected problem - the men could not find a qualified contractor to erect the bridge.
After county officials were unable to find a bridge contractor, a local doctor, E.E. Hunter, accepted the contract and hired experienced people to work on the bridge. Hunter selected Thomas Matson, who had been an engineer for the Narrow Gauge (Tweetsie) Railroad as an engineer and architect. Hunter referred to the bridge as his "$5 bridge" since he made a profit of $5 as contractor.
Although logs from a lumber operation and a barn were thrown against the covered bridge and its supports during a disastrous flood in 1901, this was the only major bridge in the area to survive.
Most of Elizabethton's downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historical and architectural merits. The Elizabethton Historic District contains a variety of properties ranging in age from the late 1700s through the 1930s. However, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge is a focal point and a well-known landmark in Tennessee. In addition to the covered bridge, the downtown historical district also contains the significant 1926 Elk Avenue concrete arch bridge over the Doe River, and an identical downstream concrete bridge also crosses the Doe River at Broad Street.
Structurally, the covered bridge contains one span, a covered wooden Howe Truss (typically constructed of timber diagonals and iron verticals) that is 137 feet long. The total length is 154.3 feet. The covered bridge contains one traffic lane and a single walkway. The curb-to-curb width is 16.4 feet and the out-to-out width is 20.4 feet. The substructure is masonry, stone, and concrete. Each end of the bridge features a projecting truncated gabled roofline.
While allowing for pedestrian and bicycle transit over the Doe River, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge is now closed to motor vehicle traffic.
Whitewater kayaking and river tubing
Most of the Doe River section running between the Valley Forge put-in (LAT 36.310833 LONG -82.193055) and the take-out just before the Elizabethton confluence is classified on the International Scale of River Difficulty as Class/Grade I (one), however there are several brief segments of the Valley Forge-Charity Hill-East Side run that should be approached as Class/Grade II (two). It takes approximately three hours to float down the Doe River on inner tubes from the Valley Forge put-in to the take-out near the confluence of the Doe River into the Watauga River.
All river tubes and kayaks must portage around the weir dam that is located immediately downstream of the covered bridge in downtown Elizabethton.
Influence of weather
Unlike the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regulated flow of the Watauga River, the water level of the Doe River often fluctuates with changes in rain fall or drought. Another significant difference between the two Carter County rivers is the found in the variation of water temperatures --- while the year round water temperature of the Watauga River is approximately 52-53 degrees Fahrenheit, the water temperature of the Doe River will vary along with the ambient air temperature. The Doe River is generally very comfortable for kayaking and river tubing during the summer months.
The Doe River valley is infrequently subject to severe flooding. The Doe River drains from a mountainous region that can be subject to seasonal heavy rains (May-early June) and snow melts, and the Doe River stream course is in many parts quite steep, allowing water levels to rise rapidly along the river banks. The last severe recent flooding of the Doe River occurred overnight from January 7 through January 8, 1998, with the sudden storms bringing down seven inches of rain in twelve hours and causing the deaths of seven people (including Kingsport rescue worker Carles "Junior" Godsey after his rescue boat overturned in the Doe River flood waters) in the Hampton area. The 1998 Doe River flood created approximately $20 million in Carter County property damages.[1]
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F (°C) | 34.0°F (1.1°C) | 37.4°F (3.0°C) | 47.2°F (8.4°C) | 55.2°F (12.9°C) | 63.4°F (17.4°C) | 71.1°F (21.7°C) | 74.4°F (23.6°C) | 73.6°F (23.1°C) | 67.9°F (19.9°C) | 56.7°F (13.7°C) | 47.0°F (8.3°C) | 38.2°F (3.4°C) | 55.5°F (13.1°C) |
| Avg high °F (°C) | 43.7°F (6.5°C) | 48.0°F (8.9°C) | 58.9°F (14.9°C) | 67.4°F (19.7°C) | 75.2°F (24.0°C) | 82.2°F (27.9°C) | 84.6°F (29.2°C) | 84.1°F (28.9°C) | 79.1°F (26.2°C) | 69.1°F (20.6°C) | 58.2°F (14.6°C) | 48.1°F (8.9°C) | 66.6°F (19.2°C) |
| Avg low °F (°C) | 24.3°F (-4.3°C) | 26.8°F (-2.9°C) | 35.4°F (1.9°C) | 43.0°F (6.1°C) | 51.6°F (10.9°C) | 59.9°F (15.5°C) | 64.1°F (17.8°C) | 63.1°F (17.3°C) | 56.6°F (13.7°C) | 44.2°F (6.8°C) | 35.9°F (2.2°C) | 28.2°F (-2.1°C) | 44.4°F (6.9°C) |
| Rain (inches) | 3.2in. | 3.4in. | 3.7in. | 3.3in. | 3.8in. | 3.5in. | 4.3in. | 3.2in. | 3.3in. | 2.6in. | 2.9in. | 3.4in. | 40.7in. |
| Snow (inches) | 5.2in. | 4.2in. | 2.3in. | 0.4in. | <0.05in. | <0.05in. | 0.0in. | 0.0in. | <0.05in. | 0.0in. | 0.9in. | 2.6in. | 15.6in. |
See Also
★ International Scale of River Difficulty
★ Rapid
★ Riverboarding
★ River surfing
★ Tubing (recreation)
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