Coruh River
Also known as: Coruh, Choruh, Chorokhi
Kackar Mountains; Georgian churches (Tekkale/Dortkilise, Barhal); deep gorges; new Yusufeli town relocated above reservoir
Is there water?
Whether there is a river here on your dates, and what kind of water it is.
Snowmelt peak May-Jun; among world's fastest rivers; now regulated by Yusufeli/Deriner dams. Confirm.
Late Apr to early Jul (pre-dam). Confirm. - reduced/altered post-dam
Mid-May to early Jun (peak snowmelt)
Cold snowmelt; wetsuit/drysuit
Big snowmelt volume; cold high water
Grade & who can come
A river changes grade with its level. These grades describe a normal flow - in flood the same run is harder, and often a different run entirely. Check the gauge before you commit.
III-IV-V (Yusufeli Gorge V). Confirm.
Rafting (paddle/oar), expedition kayak
Rafts for Grade III-IV sections; strong paddlers only in gorges; kayak support
Advanced commercial/expedition; not for novices in gorge sections
The run
Yusufeli Gorge Grade V rapids - now largely submerged by Yusufeli Dam reservoir. Confirm. Ispir Gorge continuous IV-V may persist above reservoir. Confirm.
Big holes, fast continuous water; reservoir flatwater now interrupts lower gorge. Confirm.
Ispir-Camlikaya (Ispir Gorge); Camlikaya-Tekkale; Tekkale-Yusufeli (Yusufeli Gorge, Grade V)
Historically famous international destination; now diminished due to dam. Confirm.
Access & shuttle
Commercial operator; no historic special permit; check post-dam access. Confirm.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Roadside D950; access altered by dam construction and new road/town. Confirm.
Road shuttle Ispir-Yusufeli-Artvin; fly Erzurum/Trabzon then drive
Riverbank wild camps; pensions (e.g. Cemils Pension, Tekkale). Confirm.
Operator gear; partial mobile coverage in valley
Yusufeli; Artvin; Erzurum
Hazards & exits
DAM-AFFECTED - Yusufeli Dam (275 m arch, commercial op 2022, reservoir filling from Apr 2023, submerged old Yusufeli town); classic Yusufeli Gorge largely flooded; Deriner Dam downstream; current whitewater status must be Confirmed.
Road parallels much of run; reasonable road evacuation
Professional raft guides; international operators historically ran trips
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand river run report. Coordinates are approximate.