Cartecay River River Levels

Last Updated: December 4, 2025

The Cartecay River is a 19-mile-long river located in the southern Appalachian Mountains of northwestern Georgia.


Summary

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the reporting a streamflow rate of cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Cartecay River, with a gauge stage of ft at this location. This river is monitored from 1 different streamgauging stations along the Cartecay River, the highest being situated at an altitude of ft, the .

       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Cartecay River Near Ellijay
USGS 02379500
166 cfs 1.71 ft -23.5
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Cartecay River is a 19.1-mile-long (30.7 km) river that runs through Ellijay, Georgia. It is the site of a class II whitewater run.
The Cartecay and Ellijay rivers meet in Ellijay to form the Coosawattee River. The Cartecay and most of its watershed are located within the southeast corner of Gilmer County, Georgia, but there are small sections of the watershed in Fannin, Pickens, and Dawson counties.

Much of the river runs east to west near or along Georgia State Route 52. The Cartecay River basin covers 86,734 acres (351.0 km2) in total area. The major tributaries are Clear Creek, Licklog Creek, Owltown Creek, Anderson Creek and Tickanetley Creek. The land is mostly undeveloped, but the river does pass through residential developments. The headwaters of the Cartecay River begin in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
The Cartecay River is a recreational river for kayaking, canoeing and tubing.