The Obed Wild and Scenic River, located atop Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau, stands as the state's only designated Wild and Scenic River and one of the last free-flowing river systems in the eastern United States. This rainfall-runoff-dominated watershed cuts through 500-foot deep sandstone gorges, creating a spectacular canyon environment that gives visitors the impression of being in deep wilderness. The Obed River system encompasses 45 miles of protected waterway, including the Obed River proper and its major tributaries Clear Creek and Daddys Creek, all flowing through some of the most species-rich temperate ecoregions in North America. During medium flows, the river displays a brilliant turquoise color that provides dramatic contrast to the surrounding geological features as it dances through a labyrinth of boulders and eddies.