New to Georgia, Stand Up Paddling is a water sport that originated on the American coast and has flowed upstream to rivers and lakes. Lessons and equipment is are provided by Surf Blue Ridge based in Blue Ridge in the North Georgia mountains.

Catch the new wave in water sports - Stand Up Paddling. This sport provides core strengthening, endurance, balance and oneness with the water and nature. With roots in Hawaii, SUP has expanded into mainstream surfing culture globally.

The sport has flowed inland from the oceans to our beautiful lakes and rivers. No surfing experience is needed. Whether you seek the peaceful enjoyment of nature, power paddling or a downriver rush, SUP is an activity for everyone of all ages!

About Surf Blue Ridge and Chris Tilghman
Inspired by a lifetime of water sports, Chris Tilghman brings the first stand up paddle company to the North Georgia Mountains. Chris has over twenty years experience surfing some of the world’s best waves in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cape Hatteras, California and Hawaii. He spent five years living on Kauai’s North Shore with his wife Rhonda and honed his skills on 15-20 feet high waves.

In 2006, Chris and Rhonda made their home in Ellijay. Wanting to provide a unique experience for enjoying the local waters, Chris is thrilled to introduce Stand Up Paddling with the Hawaiian spirit of aloha and surfing.

Links:

• Read more about Surf Blue Ridge and Stand Up Paddling, including an action-packed video.

By SUZANNE WELANDER

Stairway Heaven, one of numerous Class V rapids on Bear Creek in Cloudland Canyon State Park, engulfs a boater, barely visible in the turbulence, attempting the run. Bear Creek is a run for advanced paddlers only. Be aware of the skill level required before attempting this creek. View the INTERACTIVE MAP and use “Terrain” view to see the rugged mountain landscape.

A relatively recent addition to Georgia’s steep creek portfolio, Bear 
plunges off the slopes of Lookout Mountain for a run through one of 
the gorges at Cloudland Canyon State Park. Amid the steep creek 
hazards of undercut boulders, tightly constricted passages, potentially 
ill-placed migrating wood rocky landings, and precipitous portages 
lies the heart of Bear: a steep, fast, ride down some of the best Class V 
creekwater in the state.

SUMMARY: A paddling guide to 3 miles of Class V paddling on Bear Creek in the northwest Georgia mountains from GA Hwy 189 to Canyon View Road. View the INTERACTIVE MAP. Class: V; Length, 3 miles; Time: 2.5 hours; Level 9 inches; Gradient: 270 (475); Scenery: A+

DESCRIPTION: Access at Bear Creek was for a short period 
denied by the state, fearing carnage and the accompanying cost 
of rescue. Enter American Whitewater, who negotiated passage 
for paddlers through the state park. There have been no recent 
access issues, but be well aware of the skill level required before 
paddling this creek. This is a run for advanced boaters only.

At the put-in, the creek barely appears worthy of its Class V 
rating. Beware - after a warm-up of quick and continuous Class 
II - III water, Bear starts to roar. No less than 14 significant drops 
are packed into the middle of the run as the gradient crescendos 
to a peak of 475 feet per mile. Technically a drop-and-pool 
stream, the water runs quickly from one rapid to the next. Eddies 
are small, making the run conducive to running from one rapid 
to the next without pause, if you know the lines and have confirmed that the channel is clear. The creek can be run more than 
once in a day.

The first significant rapid is Surrealistic Pillow (Class 5.0). Choose the far-right slot at medium levels, avoiding the under- 
cut and log in the main channel. Portaging is the best option 
when the water is low. Surrealistic kicks off a series of technical 
drops separated by Bear’s signature fast water. The largest - Class 
5.2 Stairway to Heaven - falls 45 feet in three stages. The second 
stage drops 15 feet onto a bone-crushing slab of rock; back, rib, 
and head injuries have all occurred here. The daunting portage is 
in the channel on river left.

Should you need it, a trail on river left at Stairway leads up to 
a picnic area in the park. Turn right at the top of the hill and follow the faint path out. To minimize the risk of a misdirected and 
potentially cold walk through the woods, case the park before 
your run to get a sense of where this path ends.

After Stairway, the next significant drop is Big Bang (also 
Class 5.2). The portage here is a jump into the pool on river left, 
or run it with a boof close to the bank on river right. A few more 
technical rapids, including the Class 5.0 Momentary Lapse of 
Reason, are encountered before Daniel Creek enters from the 
left. A half mile hike up Daniels reveals more rapids.

Below the confluence with Daniel, Bear changes names to the 
less-than-poetic Sitton Gulch Creek. Technical rapids continue in quick succession, culminating in Omega, where a nasty river- 
left sieve swallows half the creek’s flow. The sieve isn’t difficult to 
avoid, unless the continuous rapids leading into it lull you into 
letting your guard down.

SHUTTLE: (View INTERACTIVE MAP) From I-59, take Exit 11 in Trenton for GA 136. 
Head east, toward the ridge, following GA 136 as it jogs to the 
right. Before heading up the hill, turn left and take the first right 
into the gravel parking lot; this is the take-out. Visually confirm 
adequate flow here; if it looks good, there’s sufficient water for 
the entire fun. To get to the put-in, continue up the hill on GA 
136. Turn left at the flashing yellow light, cross Daniel Creek, 
and pass the entrance to the park on the left. Turn left onto GA 
189; parking is on the left before crossing the creek.

GAUGE: A gauge is painted on the river-right, downstream side 
of the bridge at the put-in. The absolute minimum is 9 inches; 1 
foot is optimal, and 18 inches a healthy maximum. A USGS 
gauge is located on Lookout Creek at New England, a short distance downstream of the confluence with Sitton Gulch. Recom
mended levels using this gauge are unknown.

MAPS: Durham (USGS); Dade (County)

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia is a compilation of paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and Georgia Coast, published by Menasha Ridge Press since 1982. Originally written by Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey, it has been extensively revised and updated by Suzanne Welander. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling, in general, as well as the authoritative paddling guides. To purchase a copy of A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, a book every paddler of Georgia streams should have in their library (and boat), and to see over 75 other outdoor guides published by Menasha, visit the Menasha Ridge Press website.      

Youngsters who complete 22 miles of canoe trails in six Georgia state parks are enroled n the Georgia State Parks Park Paddlers Club and receive a t-shirt recognizing their accomplishment.

A good way to introduce youngsters to the pleasures of canoeing and kayaking and to create memorable family experiences on Georgia’s rivers, streams and lakes is described in the “Park Paddlers Club” post in the Georgia Rivers, Streams and Lakes blog this week.

Paddlers who complete 22 miles of paddling on six state park canoe trails, including one in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and one on the Georgia coast at Crooked River State Park in St. Marys, are enrolled in the Georgia State Parks Paddlers Club and receive a t-shirt in recognition of their accomplishment.

Links:

• Read more about Georgia State Parks Park Paddlers Club.

By SUZANNE WELANDER

Little River current is moderate to slow, access is good, and the river is suitable for camping. Trips on the Little can be easily combined with floats on the Withlacoochee.

The Little’s tannic acid-stained water bubbles play folly over small limestone ledges and between brilliantly contrasting white sandbars along the way to its juncture with the Withlacoochee River southwest of Valdosta. Remote and enticing, the Little is canopied with Ogeechee lime, water elm, and scattered cypress. The river’s course is substantially less convoluted than that of similar blackwater streams in the Coastal Plains.

SUMMARY: A paddlling guide to 57.5 miles of the Little River of Southern River of Southern Georgia that may be divided in to shorter segments by using put-ins and take-outs on the INTERACTIVE MAP. Class: I; Length: 57.5 miles; Time, 6 days; Gauge, web, visual; Level, unknown; Gradient: less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery: B+

DESCRIPTION: Runnable below the Cool Springs Bridge west of Lenox in Cook County in winter and spring, the Little is 25 to 30 feet in width and is frequently obstructed by deadfalls. Below the Rountree Bridge west of Sparks, the Little enters the backwaters of a beautiful swamp lake at Reed Bingham State Park. A sort of Okefenokee in miniature with a variety of watery flora, this small lake is definitely worthy of exploration.

Downstream of the dam at the lake’s southern end, the Little continues in uninterrupted tranquility except for a short section below the GA 122 bridge where a number of small cabins line the stream. For the remainder of its journey to the Withlacoochee, the Little never exceeds 50 feet wide as it hides bashfully beneath the exotic canopy of the surrounding woodland swamp.

The Little River’s level of difficulty is Class I throughout. Numerous deadfalls are a primary hazard to navigation, along with the portage required at the dam at the state park The current is moderate to slow, access is good, and the river is suitable for camping. Trips on the Little can easily be combined with floats on the Withlacoochee.

SHUTTLE: From Valdosta, take GA 133 west of l-75 to its crossing with the Little River; turn left into the Department of Natural Resources Troupville Boat Ramp across the road from the prison. See the map for the locations of upper access points.

GAUGE: The USGS’s Web site lists data for the river at Adel. The minimum level is unknown. In order to stay out of the trees, stay off the river during high flood stage in the winter. A visual gauge is painted on the bridge at Morven Road, though guidelines using this gauge are unknown.

MAPS: Omega, Ellenton, Berlin East, Cecil, Hahira West, Hahira East, Valdosta (USGS); Colquitt, Cook, Brooks, Lowndes (County)

Links:

• Little River is located in the Suwannee River watershed. Read more about the Suwannee River.
• Download a 4-color poster of the Suwannee River that includes Little River.
• Little River merges with the Withaloochee River. Read Suzanne Welander’s paddling guide to the Withaloochee River.
• The Withalachooee River merges with the Suwannee River. Read Suzanne Welander’s paddling guide to the Suwannee River.

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia is a compilation of paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and Georgia Coast, published by Menasha Ridge Press since 1982. Originally written by Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey, it has been extensively revised and updated by Suzanne Welander. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling, in general, as well as the authoritative paddling guides. To purchase a copy of A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, a book every paddler of Georgia streams should have in their library (and boat), and to see over 75 other outdoor guides published by Menasha, visit the Menasha Ridge Press website.     

By SUZANNE WELANDER

The Chattahoochee River, with its headwaters in the Blue Ridge Mountains 200 feet from the Appalachian Trail, flows 430 miles through Georgia. This paddling guide covers 253 of those miles from Low Gap in Northeast Georgia to Lake Seminole in the southwest corner of the state.

“The lore of the South could not survive without rivers any better than 
the human body could survive without blood,” writes Marc Reisner in 
Cadillac Desert. Every river has its stories, and the Chattahoochee’s could 
fill volumes. It is Georgia’s longest river and the only one spanning all 
three of its geological regions. Sparkling headwaters fall from the 
mountains, are temporarily stilled in Lake Lanier, emerge to lope 
across the Piedmont hills and through Atlanta, and upon reaching 
Columbus, turn south to spill through successive dams throughout the 
Coastal Plain, rarely flowing freely. Millions depend on the river - 
Atlanta and Columbus drink it - yet the river’s waters are polluted 
from human contact, particularly in and downstream of Atlanta. As 
Atlanta modernizes its sewer system and Columbus talks of freeing the 
drowned Coweta Falls, the final chapter has yet to be written.

A paddling guide to the Chattahoochee River in five sections, the last four of which may be divided into shorter segments.
SECTION I: Low Gap Creek to GA Hwy 75 above Robertstown (the Upper Chattahoochee) 4.2 miles.
SECTION II: Robertstown to Lake Lanier (Upper Hooch) 32.3. miles
SECTION III: Buford Dam to Sweetwater Creek (Metro Hooch) 56.2 miles
SECTION IV: Sweetwater Creek to Columbus 59.5 miles
SECTION V: Columbus to Lake Seminole 93.1 miles.
A list of topographical and county maps is included at the end of the guide.

SECTION I: LOW GAP CREEK TO GA HWY 75 ABOVE ROBERTSTOWN

SUMMARY: Class: III-IV; Length: 4.2 miles; Time: 3-to-4 hours; Gauge: none; Level: NA; Gradient: 57 feet per mile, 2 miles at 85 feet per mile; Scenery: A. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: The river is extremely small in this section, but 
the scenery and gradient combine to make a run that borders on 
spectacular - on the rare occasion of the right water level. The 
river drops extremely fast through a rocky and deadfall-ridden 
constricted channel bordered by hemlock, mountain laurel, and 
rhododendron. There are many sections barely wide enough for a 
boat to pass through and occasional blind turns and drops with 
little margin for error. Scout as much of the river as possible from 
the road before putting in, and scout all major drops while on 
the water. This seldom-traveled run is for expert boaters only.
The recommended put-in is where the Chattahoochee River 
Road (FS 52) crosses Low Gap Creek, which is sizeable enough 
to provide passage to the river when it’s running. Either carry 
down the path along the left side of the creek or run the creek 
down to its confluence with the Chattahoochee. Shortly downstream, the access road rejoins the river. There are multiple 
opportunities to access the river or to camp in the remaining 
miles down to the valley. The river is mostly Class II-III below 
Low Gap Creek and is less choked by trees than in the sections 
above. The uppermost access is on FS 44, but putting in here is 
problematic. The wooded upper section often forces boaters to 
return upstream rather than allowing them to continue down
stream. If it is clear, there are four rapids in the first 2 miles of 
this section that approach the limits of navigability. Portage here 
is harrowing, involving slick, steep rocks and rhododendron 
thickets. Another option is to put-in between the highest access 
point and Low Gap Creek by parking near the gated Forest Service road you encounter on FS 52 after crossing Jasus Creek and 
sliding down the ridge to the river (bearing north to the river 
instead of south into the gully). Putting in here adds 1.4 miles of 
Class II-III water to the run.

SHUTTLE: From Helen, the take-out is north of town on GA 75 
before the highway veers away from the river at Spoilcane Creek. 
To get to the put-in, take GA 75 back toward Helen. Before 
town, turn right onto GA 75 (Alt.) and take the immediate right 
onto Chattahoochee River Road on the other side of the river. 
Follow this road until reaching the Forest Service campground at 
Low Gap Creek.

GAUGE: There is no gauge for this section. Flow flushes 
through quickly and the lower river must be near or approaching 
flood stage in order to find sufficient flow at the headwaters. 
Scout the level from the road to determine feasibility.

SECTION II: ROBERTSTOWN TO LAKE LANIER (UPPER HOOCH)

SUMMARY: Class: I-II with some III; Length: 32.3 miles; Time: up to 3 days; Gauge: web; Level: 800 cfs; Gradient: 14 feet per mile; Scenery: A-B. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: Upon reaching the valley floor, the river calms 
into steady Class I riffles and remains that way through 
Alpinized Helen. Other than boisterous summer tubing traffic, 
there are no immediate obstacles except for one low wooden 
bridge near Robertstown that may present problems at higher 
levels. Chattahoochee Street in Helen is the last opportunity 
to take-out before encountering a dam that cannot be portaged 
at Nora Mill in Nacoochee.

Below the mill, the river takes a significant bend and passes 
beneath GA 75 twice. After the second crossing, the river 
flows adjacent to the Nacoochee American Indian Mound. River 
access is possible at this second crossing on the southeast corner 
of the bridge, though traffic on the road is fast and heavy, especially on weekends. The Nacoochee Valley offers a pleasant, pastoral float mostly through open farmland with some wooded 
areas. There are often downed trees, however, that can cause 
problems. The state has recently purchased the Nacoochee 
mound and definitely does not allow public digging for artifacts. 
Please respect these Native American ancestral lands.

From the Sautee Creek junction down to GA 255 lies one 
of the longest undisturbed stretches of the river. The terrain is 
heavily forested, with large white pines and frequent rock out-croppings. Evidence of human intrusion is less obvious than ear
lier, and a pleasant illusion of isolation settles in. This is a good 
section for camping. Rapids are fairly frequent but never go 
beyond a mild Class II category. River access is available at the 
GA 17 bridge over Sautee Creek, and is best on the bridge’s 
southwest corner. It is a short float to the main stream of the 
Chattahoochee; be ready to portage around downed trees, which 
can easily span the creek.

Rapids become more challenging below GA 255. This segment begins with several Class I rapids and smooth pools. Then 
the river enters a long, slow area nicknamed the Dead Sea 
because its stillness offers a marked contrast to the rapids above 
and below. Large trees on either side form a cool green tunnel of 
vegetation that occasionally opens into rolling pastured vistas.

The Dead Sea is the first warning sign that Smith Island rapid is 
near; the next indicator is a large, gently sloping granite face on 
the right. This rapid should be scouted by first timers or by any
one running the river at extreme water levels. Do not scout from 
the Island, which is private. The left side of the island is the best 
route. It is a Class II rapid at almost any water level, and at high 
water it becomes a solid Class III. Enter the rapid from the left 
side of the main stream at the top of the island, then gradually 
work back to the right side (left bank of the island) for the final 
plunging chute. This chute ends in a fairly deep pool next to a 
large rock face. Recover on the island if necessary.

Whitewater buffs will find the 4 miles starting at the GA 115 
bridge the Chattahoochee’s most exciting. Rapids are frequent, lengthy, and challenging enough to keep paddlers occupied. 
The entrance to Buck Shoals, the first rapid of note, is marked by 
an island not far from the put-in. One-quarter mile of fairly continuous Class II water awaits. Buck Shoals has eaten experienced 
decked boaters at extremely high water levels, when waves may 
exceed 4 feet in height. At low-to-average water levels, one encounters a more technical run. The next named rapid is Three Ledges. 
A large granite outcropping on the right indicates the imminence 
of this drop. Many consider this to be the most fun or challenging 
series of rapids of this section. The traditional route is to run just to 
the left of the flat protruding rock at the first ledge, moving to the 
center for the second and third ledges. The hole at the base of this 
rapid is a great place to play. The next long pool, with granite outcroppings on the right, denotes the approach to Horseshoe Rapid 
(Class II+). A long, low ledge of rocks forces the river to hook 
around them, thus giving Horseshoe its name. Enter on the left, 
and be ready to cut hard back to the right. Just below Horseshoe 
the Soque River enters, followed shortly by a small creek falls; the 
Duncan Bridge Road take-out is ahead.

The 9-mile section below Duncan Bridge Road offers a few 
Class I-II rapids similar in character to those above the bridge; 
and the scenery remains quite good. This section encompasses 
the entry of Mossy Creek on river right - a potential steep creek 
run into the Chattahoochee. The state owns a parcel of land at 
the mouth of the creek. Some good play spots are found in the 
last mile above Mud Creek at high levels. Paddling up Mud 
Creek to the bridge is the best takeout before the current stops 
in the backwaters of Lake Lanier. Once in the backwaters, forward progress is hard work.

SHUTTLE: The take-out for the GA 115 to Duncan Bridge run 
is reached by going north on 1-985, which turns into GA 365, turning left onto GA 384, Duncan Bridge Road, and following 
it to the far side of the river before turning right into the outfitters parking lot. There is a small fee for parking here: paddlers 
typically use the shuttle service to GA 115 since the deluxe put-in at the bridge is on land owned by the outfitter. There is no 
public parking there. The GA 255 access is on the river-left, 
or Habersham County, side of the river only. Do not disturb 
the property owner on the river-right side. Parking here and 
upstream at the Sautee Creek put-in is tight; shuttle service is 
available to these points.

GAUGE: There is a gauge in the river 100-200 yards upstream 
of the GA 115 Bridge. It is affixed to an old bridge piling located 
upstream of a small shoal on river left. Using this gauge, the recommended levels for this section are a scrapey minimum of 0.8 
and a maximum of 6.0. The river has been run at levels higher 
than 6 feet by expert boaters. Levels are also easily acquired on
line from the USGS Web site by referencing the gauge near Cornelia. The gauge is located at Duncan Bridge Road, below the 
confluence with the Soque River; readings may not correlate 
with flows originating from the upper sections of the Chattahoochee. Keeping this in mind, the minimum for this section is 
800-900 cfs. The local outfitter can provide information on levels over the phone.

SECTION III: BUFORD DAM TO SWEETWATER CREEK (METRO HOOCH)

SUMMARY: Class: I-II; Length: 56.2 miles; Time: up to 6 days; Gauge: web; Level: 900 cfs; Gradient: less 3 feet per mile, with some 11 feet per mile rapids; Scenery: B-D. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: The Chattahoochee through the Piedmont 
from Buford Dam to Franklin (industrial Atlanta excepted), is 
pleasant paddling. Modest bluffs and some exposed rock combine with a young forest dominated by pignut hickory, river 
birch, tulip poplar, sassafras, water oak, black walnut, box elder, 
and loblolly pine that approaches and retreats from the river’s 
edge. Undergrowth consists of honeysuckle, various asters, 
Christmas fern, trumpet creeper, and river cane. Throughout 
metropolitan Atlanta, the Chattahoochee National Recreation 
Area protects a patchwork of nearly 10,000 acres of metropolitan 
riverside land.

Starting at the public park below Buford Dam, the river 
flows between clay banks of 6-10 feet as it winds through the 
Piedmont en route to Atlanta. Tree-lined and pleasant, the river 
averages 120 feet in width and flows with a moderate current. 
Water is clear with a greenish cast in this stretch during most of the year. Small ripples and occasional tiny shoals keep the paddling interesting.

Two miles below GA 141 at Medlock Bridge Road are 
the backwaters of Morgan Falls Dam. Though the water is slack 
for the next 16 miles, from this point to the dam, passage 
through this wealthy suburban residential area is nonetheless 
interesting because some of Atlanta’s finest residential architecture is nestled among the hills and bluffs that border the river. 
Downstream of the Morgan Falls Dam the parade of homes continues for about 4 more miles.

The short and popular whitewater section known as the 
”Metro Hooch” begins at the Powers Island put-in above 1-285. Half a mile below the 1-285 crossing, two stairstep shoals of 
low Class II difficulty keep paddlers awake. With the exception 
of the apartment complexes found by the floodplain at the 
beginning of this run, the scenery offers a refreshing and surprising respite from the nearby asphalt and engines. Rocky bluffs 
and dense forest rise from the river, creating a natural oasis that 
recalls the river’s native roots. Shoals arrive at equal intervals throughout the run. The last bend introduces first the sounds, 
then the sights of the city as the 1-75 bridge comes into view. The 
common take-out for this section at the Paces Mill Recreation 
Area arrives quickly after passing beneath the bridge.

Continuing downstream, small shoals persist until 1.5 miles 
below Paces Ferry Road, where there are two partial dams. Both 
can be run without danger. A clear downstream V marks the 
route through the first, while the second should be run on the far 
right. Just upstream of Nancy Creek’s entry on the left is a park 
and play spot known as the Wave. Access this spot via Atlanta 
Road, paddling upstream from the Nancy Creek confluence.

Water quality worsens as the river progresses through Atlanta. Below the Wave, the Chattahoochee is bordered by sewage treatment facilities and a congested industrial corridor complete with 
factories, junkyards, and freight yards. Of all sections, this is the 
most abused, and it smells of it.

SHUTTLE: The Metro Hooch segment is nestled between a web 
of roads and interstates that offer easy access no matter which 
direction you come from. The take-out is at the West 
Palisades/Paces Mill Recreation Area located on US 41 south of I-285 on the north side of the river. To get to the put-in from there, 
take US 41 north and turn right at Cumberland Boulevard. Cross 
over 1-75 and turn right onto Akers Mill Road. Turn left at the 
first opportunity to cross under 1-285, and then take an immediate 
right onto the access road on the other side. The entrance to the Cochran Shoals/Powers Island Recreation Area is on the left after 
crossing the river. Put-in at the small channel between the island 
and the shore, or at the larger main channel.

GAUGE: Flows on this section are controlled by releases from 
Buford Dam. Using the USGS gauge for the Chattahoochee at 
Atlanta, 1,500 cfs makes the rapids in the Metro Hooch section 
interesting; from 2500-5000 cfs, they are partially to completely 
washed out. The minimum is 850 cfs. Higher flows carry more 
pollution: be sure you have the skills necessary to avoid a swim or roll.

SECTION IV: SWEETWATER CREEK TO COLUMBUS

SUMMARY: Class: I with some III; Length: 59.5 miles; Time: up to 6 days; Gauge: web; Level: unknown; Gradient: less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery: B-. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: Downstream of Atlanta, agricultural tableland 
and forest alternately cradle the stream. The river’s course tends 
toward long, straight sections followed by broad, looping bends. 
Shoals are intermittent and usually consist of small ledges that 
are straightforward and rarely exceed Class 1+ in difficulty. An 
exception is Bush Head Shoals, a legitimate Class II section 
about 3 miles upstream of Franklin in Heard County. The best 
route here is to the right around the large island at the top of the 
shoals, moving to the middle of the stream at the downstream 
base of the island to run the lower shoals. Daniel Shoals, farther 
downstream, is borderline Class II and should present no difficulty. Below Daniel Shoals are the city of Franklin and West 
Point Lake.

Released at West Point Dam, the Chattahoochee moves from 
one impoundment to another all the way to Columbus, where 
four dams within a 3-mile section of river provide a disappointing finale for this dam and power plant infested section of the 
Chattahoochee. Slack water, dull scenery, and an abundance of 
portages combine to make a paddle trip suitable only for bad 
dreams. Between Franklin and Columbus (where the river passes 
from dam to dam) the riverbanks diminish in height marking the 
river’s transition from the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain.

In downtown Columbus below the 13th Street Bridge, a 
Class II-III shoal downstream of the Eagle and Phenix Dam 
forms a park-and-play spot. When there is water flowing over 
the dam, sizable surfing waves, holes, and wave trains are to be 
found. The dam has been purchased by a private party with 
intention of breaching it (in addition to the next dam 
upstream), liberating Coweta Falls from where it sits beneath 
the pool. Photo: The Eagle and Phenix Dam on the Chattahoochee in downtown Columbus. The dam was built in 1868 to power then now defunct Eagle and Phenix textile mill. The dam is located just south of the 13th Street Bridge which connects Columbus to Phinix City, Alabama. The dam produces a 45-acre portion of the river reservoir that extends approximately 1 mile upstream. The dam is now owned by the City of Columbus, and environmental studies are underway to breach the dam, along with City Mills Dam to create an urban whitewater paddling zone along the river.

SHUTTLE: To reach the highest access point for this section at 
Sweetwater Creek, take Exit 44 from 1-20 west of Atlanta, turn
ing south onto GA 6. Continue to a right-hand turn onto 
Riverside Parkway; access is ahead at the bridge over the creek. 
Lower access points are most easily reached from GA 166, GA 
5, or US 27.

GAUGE: The section above West Point Lake is runnable if 
Buford Dam is releasing water. The online USGS gauge for the 
Columbus park-and-play spot is at US 280; levels, controlled by 
Bartlett’s Ferry Dam, vary throughout most days. Minimum and 
maximum levels on this gauge are unknown; check feasibility 
visually if you live in the area. The LaGrange Fisheries Office at 
(706) 845-4180 can provide additional information on floating 
or fishing this section.

SECTION V: COLUMBUS TO LAKE SEMINOLE

SUMMARY: Class: I; Length: 93.1 miles; Time: up to 2 weeks; Gauge: web; Level: NA; Gradient: less than 1 foot per mile; Scenery: C. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: Flowing south from Columbus in Muscogee 
County, the Chattahoochee River is impounded frequently as it 
winds through a farming plateau sprinkled with industry. Its 
banks average 4-8 feet high and are tree-lined. Towboats and 
other industrial traffic move up and down the 300-foot-wide 
stream. From Columbus the Chattahoochee moves down to the 
Walter F. George Reservoir and from there to Lake Seminole, 
where it meets the Flint to form the Apalachicola River. The level 
of difficulty from Columbus to Lake Seminole is Class I; power 
boat traffic is the primary hazard to navigation.

SHUTTLE: See map. GA 39 parallels the east side of the upper 
portion of the river in this section; most access points are easily 
reached from it. Below Blakely, use GA 62, GA 370, US 84, and 
GA 9 I in addition to GA 39.

GAUGE: Runnable all year. For more information, call the 
Albany Fisheries Office at (229) 430-4256.

MAPS: Jacks Gap, Cowrock, Helen, Leaf, Clarkesville, Lula, 
Buford Dam, Suwannee, Duluth, Norcross, Chamblee, Roswell, 
Mountain Park, Sandy Springs, Northwest Atlanta, Mableton, 
Ben Hill, Campbellton, Palmetto, Rico, Newnan North, 
Whitesburg, Lowell, Franklin, Hill Crest, Columbus, Fort 
Mitchell, Fort Benning, Union, Omaha, Twin Springs, George- 
town, Eufaula North, Eufaula South, Ft. Gaines Northeast, Ft. 
Gaines Northwest, Ft. Gaines, Columbia Northeast, Columbia, 
Gordon, Saffold, Bascom, Steam Mill, Fairchild, Sneads 
(USGS); White, Habersham, Hall, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Fulton, 
Cobb, Douglas, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Stewart, Clay, Early, Seminole (County)

Links:

• Read more about the Chattahoochee River.
• Download a 4-color poster of the Chattahoochee River watershed, including all of its tributaries.
• View a map showing all the dams on the Chattahoochee.
• Fred Brown, co-author of The Riverkeeper’s Guide to the Chattahoochee writes about his experience on the Chattahoochee and provides a self-guided driving tour for discovering the Chattahoochee. Read Fred’s essay.
• Joe Cook, co-author of River Song: A Journey Down the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers, writes about his favorite section of the Chattahoochee. Read Joe’s essay.

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia is a compilation of paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and Georgia Coast, published by Menasha Ridge Press since 1982. Originally written by Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey, it has been extensively revised and updated by Suzanne Welander. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling, in general, as well as the authoritative paddling guides. To purchase a copy of A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, a book every paddler of Georgia streams should have in their library (and boat), and to see over 75 other outdoor guides published by Menasha, visit the Menasha Ridge Press website.    

Georgia > Coastal Region > McIntosh County > Darien

By SUZANNE WELANDER

Paddlers on Cathead Creek, a tributary of the Altamaha River in McIntosh County on the Georgia coast, pass swamps of bald cypress and the remains of irrigation canals where rice was cultivated on huge coastal plantations in pre-Civil War Georgia. SouthEast Adventures photo.

Cathead Creek is a tributary of the Altamaha River above Darien. It 
drains part of Buffalo Swamp, a rare tidal forest containing bald 
cypress, sweet blackgum, and water tupelo. Cathead Creek flows for 8 
miles through an undeveloped section of McIntosh County that was 
once cultivated with rice for over a hundred years. Today, paddlers can 
explore the irrigation canals of the abandoned rice fields, which are 
overgrown with freshwater vegetation and abundant with wildlife. 
The fields and swamps are inundated twice a day by the tides, which 
average about 7 feet. View an INTERACTIVE MAP.

SUMMARY: Class: tidal; Length: 8.9 miles; Time: 3-4 hours; Gauge: National Weather Service website; Level: tidal; Gradient: NA; Scenery: B+

DESCRIPTION: The upper reaches of this tidal creek can be 
accessed from a culvert landing on Cox Road north of Darien, 
just past the GA 251 junction. Although it appears to be a fresh water stream, the creek’s flow changes with the ingress and departure of the tide. The easiest trip involves putting in at high tide 
and paddling downstream to the boat ramp in Darien.

The creek starts out narrow and intimate as it passes beneath 
overhanging trees. The only departure from the solitude is the 
anachronistic crossing of 1-95 encountered two hours into the 
trip. In the lower sections, the creek becomes very broad with 
vast salt marshes and exposed sandbars at low tide. One notable 
surviving feature of the area’s history is the grid of canals that 
formed the borders of rice paddies, a reminder of the rice plantations built by enslaved labor. Today, these irrigation canals and 
impoundments provide sanctuary for migrating birds and water
fowl.

Just before Cathead Creek empties into the Altamaha River, it 
runs along the high banks of Darien’s west side bordered with 
private homes and docks. The take-out is at the boat ramp in 
Darien at the foot of Scriven Street. There is limited access and 
very few places to get out along the banks of the creek before 
reaching the private docks near Darien. Runnable year-round, 
the only hazards are deadfall, tricky tides, and getting lost in the 
swamps or irrigation canals.

SHUTTLE: The take-out is at the boat ramp in Darien. From 
there to the put-in, take US 17 north, turn left onto GA 251, 
and continue straight onto Cox Street when GA 251 turns to the north. The put-in is ahead on the right where the road crosses 
the culvert. Shuttle service is available from the local outfitter.

GAUGE: Get information on tidal flows before leaving via 
phone from local outfitters or through the National Weather 
Service’s Web site. Moving with the tide makes the trip easy; 
against it can be arduous.

MAPS: Ridgeville (USGS); McIntosh (County)

 By SUZANNE WELANDER

The 
Withlacoochee winds through a thickly 
wooded swamp corridor. 

A list of Georgia’s truly beautiful scenic rivers includes the Withlacoochee. Originating in Tift and Berrien counties, its dark waters flow south along the Cook County line into Lowndes County, where 
it is joined by its largest tributary, (ironically) the Little River. Intimate, shaded in its northern reaches) mysterious in its beauty - the 
Withlacoochee is one of the few Coastal Plain streams in which limestone ledges form small shoals. A second distinctive feature of the river 
is the occasional white sandbar on the insides of bends, which are perfect for swimming or camping.

SUMMARY: A paddling guide to the Withaloochee River from GA 37 to GA 31. The trip may be broken up into shorter trips by using the access points shown on the interactive map. Class I (I+); Length: 68.8 miles; Time: up to 1 week; Gauge: web; Level: unknown; Gradient: less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery: B+ to C. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: Runnable from GA 37 to the confluence with 
the Little River during the winter and spring, and below the confluence of the Little from late November to early August, the Withaloochee is bordered by cultivated table land and 
commercial pine forests. The water is a clear, burgundy-red color, 
which contrasts strikingly with the white sand banks and often 
appears glossy black where the channel is deep. Formation of bypass islands and oxbow lakes is common.

Both the Withlacoochee and the Little jump their low, sandy, 
clay banks to inundate their narrow floodplains for long periods 
of time, giving rise to bottom forests of swamp black gum and cypress. Cypress and gum grow in the stream as well as on the 
banks, where they are joined by Ogeechee lime, water elm, water 
oak, laurel oak, and sweet bay. Scrub vegetation is thick with palmetto, swamp cyrilla, and possum haw, among other varieties. 
Birds, reptiles, and other animals flourish along the Withlacoochee and are readily observable in all their diversity by the silent paddler.

At the GA 37 crossing (A), the river averages a slim 30 feet in 
width; it expands to 40 feet as it dips into Lowndes County and 
broadens to 55 to 70 feet below the mouth of the Little, 
where the river’s course straightens. Shoals occur primarily in Lowndes and Brooks counties, rarely surpassing Class 1+ in difficulty. One small rapid, complete with surfing wave, is found upstream of the Clyattsville-Nankin Road bridge. Another awaits where the river first crosses the border into Florida. The 
limestone shoal that forms the foundation of this rapid is jagged; avoid contact with it by running this on the left. Signs of habitation are sparse, although swimmers are frequently encountered at 
bridge crossings and anglers are likely to turn up anywhere. The 
current is moderate, and other than the small shoals mentioned, 
deadfalls create the only hazard to navigation.

Continuing south in a broad loop, the Withlacoochee passes 
quietly into Florida where it empties into the Suwannee. 
Although only the Georgia portion of the Withlacoochee is described, the Florida section is equally beautiful and fully worthy of exploration.

SHUTTLE: From 1-75, take Exit 11 south of Valdosta. Turn 
south on GA 31 and continue to the river at the Florida border. Turn right onto the dirt road before the bridge to reach the boat 
ramp. Access points above Valdosta are easily reached via GA 125 
north. Below Valdosta, see the map for the best routes.

GAUGE: The USGS Web site lists data for the telemetry gauge 
at Quitman and farther upstream at Bemiss. Minimum levels 
using this gauge are unknown. Maximum is flood stage. Local 
outfitters can provide assessments of runnability over the phone.

MAPS: New Lois, Hahira East, Valdosta, Lousley, Nankin, Clyattville (USGS); Berrien, Lowndes, Brooks (County)

Links:

• The Withaloochee is in the Suwannee River watershed. Read Suzanne Welander’s Suwannee River paddling guide.
• Read more about the Suwannee River.
• Download a 4-color poster of the Suwannee River showing its Withaloochee tributary.

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia is a compilation of paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and Georgia Coast, published by Menasha Ridge Press since 1982. Originally written by Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey, it has been extensively revised and updated by Suzanne Welander. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling, in general, as well as the authoritative paddling guides. To purchase a copy of A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, a book every paddler of Georgia streams should have in their library (and boat), and to see over 75 other outdoor guides published by Menasha, visit the Menasha Ridge Press website.    

 By SUZANNE WELANDER

The Tallapoosa River is one of Georgia’s 14 major watersheds. It begins about 40 miles west of Atlanta near the Haralson / Paulding county line and flows southwesterly through hilly terrain for about 45 miles in Georgia before entering Alabama.

Fortunately for those seeking wooded solitude, few paddlers frequent 
the shy Tallapoosa. Despite the periodic bridge crossings, the river 
offers seclusion and serene beauty. Rolling hills stretch in all directions, 
but dense streamside flora and high banks usually block the view. The 
current is moderate; infrequent small shoals and rocky bluffs add 
spice. The most enjoyable sections are located due west of Atlanta on 
the Alabama border in Haralson County.

ROCKMARK TOAD TO LINER ROAD,

SUMMARY: Class, I (II); Length, 35.5 miles; Time, up to 4.5 days; Gauge, visual; Level, 5 feet; Gradient, 4 feet per mile; Scenery, C. The trip may be divided in shorter segments using bridge crossings as put-in and take-out points. See the INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: The Tallapoosa River originates in Carroll 
County, cuts across a corner of Paulding County, and traverses the 
breadth of Haralson County to enter Alabama just west of the 
town of Tallapoosa. The winter rains and infrequent summer del
uges give the Tallapoosa sufficient volume for boating as high as 
Paulding County, although the river’s width in this area is barely 
sufficient to turn a typical canoe. In addition to the shallow ledges 
and twisty boulder shoals, the primary navigation risks are dead-falls and strainers, intensified in the upper reaches, and the water 
intake rubble dam located upstream of the GA 100 bridge.

Most seasons of the year boaters will be forced to launch well 
into Haralson County. Launching lower in the river’s course 
ensures a more adequate flow and rewards you with the return 
of a deeper wilderness downstream of the town of Tallapoosa. 
Bluffs become more prevalent, shoals are visually pleasing, 
minor and infrequent.

Some bridge access points are steep and can be choked with 
vegetation along the banks, but fortunately the most difficult can 
easily be avoided. The best access points are noted on the map. 
Deadfall pinned to bridge abutments can be extreme and channels completely blocked, even at the lowest access points. Be 
careful to avoid contact as you paddle by or portage around these 
nests of logs.

Trips can be extended over the Alabama state border - the 
next verified downstream access is 18 miles downstream at the 
AL 49 bridge, although exploration may yield better take-out 
options. The beauty, seclusion, and speed of the river intensifies 
as the Alabama border is approached and crossed. Rocky bluffs 
rise above the stream, one holding a shallow cave.

SHUTTLE: To the lowest take-out located in Georgia, go west 
on US 78 out of the town of Tallapoosa. After crossing the river, 
take the first left onto Liner Road, following it to the left as it 
swings around the railroad tracks. Continue to the bridge; the 
best access is on the far right-hand side.

GAUGE: There’s a staff gauge affixed to the river-left side of the 
GA 100 bridge north of Tallapoosa. Minimum level is 5 feet, 
maximum 18 feet.

MAPS: Draketown, Rockmart South, Buchanan, Tallapoosa 
North, Tallapoosa South (USGS); Paulding, Haralson (County)

Links:

• Read more about the Tallapoosa, including learning about locations where you can view and enjoy the river from the banks without a boat.
• Download a 4-color poster of the Tallapoosa River.
• Read more about other Georgia rivers in the River Category.

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia is a compilation of paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and Georgia Coast, published by Menasha Ridge Press since 1982. Originally written by Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey, it has been extensively revised and updated by Suzanne Welander. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling, in general, as well as the authoritative paddling guides. To purchase a copy of A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, a book every paddler of Georgia streams should have in their library (and boat), and to see over 75 other outdoor guides published by Menasha, visit the Menasha Ridge Press website.   

 By SUZANNE WELANDER

Overflow Creek. In the 4-mile section between Overflow Creek Access at Three Forks and the take-out, this run drops 380 feet. The run is for experts only and calls for the exercise of all safety precautions.

Overflow Creek is a high-water run for skilled and intrepid boaters. Located in Rabun County, Overflow Creek joins Holcomb Creek and Big Creek at the headwaters of the West Fork of the Chattooga River, and a requisite stint on the latter precedes the takeout. Not for the faint of heart, the entire 5-mile run is highly technical. The stream is small but very powerful when the water is high. If Section IV of the Chattooga bores you, try Overflow.

FS 86B TO FS 86 (OVERFLOW CREEK ROAD)

SUMMARY: Class, IV-V (V+); Length, 5 miles; Time, 4 hours; Gauge, visual; Level, 0.9 feet; Gradient, 158 feet per mile; Scenery, A+. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: You might want to add a parachute to your safety gear for this one. In the 4-mile section between the Overflow Creek access at Three Forks Road (FS 86B) and the takeout where Overflow Creek Road (FS 86) crosses the West Fork of the Chattooga River, this run drops 380 feet. Rapids of Class V+ difficulty dot the route. Scouting is advisable, but is complicated by dense streamside foliage and nearly vertical banks. This run is for experts only and demands taking all safety precautions.

Overflow starts out as a small stream but soon begins a rapid descent. There are numerous blind drops; once the paddler in front of you passes over the lip, you do not see him again until you enter the drop yourself. Debris and undercuts are the primary hazards, but vertical pins have occurred on Overflow Creek. There are unnamed drops on this run that would be considered significant rapids on another river.

When you decide to run Overflow Creek for the first time, it is in your best interest to accompany someone who knows the run thoroughly and can give you good instructions en route. There are must-catch eddies, some right before or after a drop, that are difficult to pinpoint from scouting alone.

Some of the initial drops are Bushwhacker, Peewee and Roundabout. You may think these are the run’s major rapids at first, but they are not. The first of the big drops is Blind Falls. Scout on the far right; and when you run it, try to stay as far right as you can. Don’t let the nose of your boat turn left before hitting bottom, otherwise you will end up in the hole or against the slightly undercut left wall. Gravity, the next rapid, waits not far downstream, so you don’t want to swim out of Blind Falls. Eddy out on the right as soon as possible and scout Gravity on the right.

Gravity is Class 5.0 because of the pothole at the base of the drop on river right; it almost took the life of an experienced boater. You must decide whether to portage on the right or to move left at the top of the drop to land on river left and run down the left side. The rapid funnels at the bottom, so if you run it, make sure that when coming down the left side, you are not prematurely kicked right. Try to boof the bottom.

Scout and run Singley’s Falls on the left. The total drop is close to 37 feet, and at lower water levels, it is possible to get your boat completely out of the water onto dry rock on the left. If you boof out of Gravity, you will stay on the left side of the drop; otherwise, you will be funneled into the center. You are already better prepared than past first timers; years ago, guides commonly told unsuspecting paddlers to run the next drop with no warning of its height.

The next drop, Twilight, requires a boof off a mid-stream rock to avoid being smashed against the left wall. After Overflow’s confluence with Big and Holcomb creeks at Three Forks, the first rapid on West Fork of the Chattooga is Igore. Watch for undercuts and rock sieves in Igore, and be certain to catch the solitary eddy on river left just after the drop. The eddy must be caught to scout or portage the Great Marginal Monster, the next rapid. Paddling with someone who knows the river and exactly where this eddy is located could be a lifesaver. It is tempting to ignore the eddy and try and take a peak at what lies around the corner. However, missing the eddy normally means you will run the next rapid ready or not, as the current is often too strong to back up.

The entrance to Great Marginal Monster is a little tricky and is normally run on the right, as the hydraulic on the left is stronger than it looks. It can force unfortunate paddlers to swim out of a hole in one of the last places you want to be caught in the water. At normal levels, there is a boat-length flat after the entrance drop and before a boulder in the center diverts the current on both sides into a couple of huge, twin undercuts. A majority of the water in the river goes through these undercuts, and boats have washed through them with up-turned ends. When running this drop, some paddlers boof the rock in the center, while some just continue on the river-left angle with which they finished the river-right entrance drop.

Passing these undercuts without being extruded through them doesn’t signal an end to the fun; another big hole can form where the water shooting out of the undercuts converges. Even if you walk this one, putting in right below the hole is still fun. Given the twist at the bottom, you don’t want to bury your boat too deeply. Marginal Monster, Gravity and Pinball are the “Bit Three” on this run, in order of increasing difficulty.

Run Pencil Sharpener on far river right to avoid the potential undercut on river left. Pinball, Class 5.1, is a big, long rapid in which it may be difficult to remain upright. Because you don’t want to flip over, it’s best not to allow your boat to head straight into the bottom of this drop either.

The last real rapid on this run is Swiss Cheese. This is a blind rapid; even if you have someone leading you down, don’t depend on being able to follow his moves visually. Oftentimes, once the person ahead drops over the horizon line, you won’t catch sight of him again until it is time to eddy out. It’s best to receive verbal instructions on this beautiful rapid.

Longer boats increase the danger level on Overflow. Rapids full of strainers and with no eddies are found above Class V drops. A creek boat, in contrast, allows for nimble maneuvering and more breathing space in the narrow, steep corridors.

In addition to the parachute, bring a flashlight. Unexpected water surges push the creek beyond runnability and have forced seasoned Class V paddlers to hike out.

SHUTTLE: From Clayton, head east on Warwoman Road. Turn left onto Overflow Creek Road (FS 86) immediately after crossing the West Fork of the Chattooga. Turn right at FS 86B. The put-in is at the end of this road. You will pass several potential takeouts along the way, the Forest Service campground on the left being the best option.

GAUGE: There is a gauge in the river upstream of the Overflow Creek Road bridge across the West Fork of the Chattooga. Based on paddler postings on American Whitewater’s Website, 0.9 feet is a recommended minimum; exercise caution at levels above 2 feet. Chattooga levels at US 76 can also be used. When the Chattooga is 2.5 feet and on the way up, it may be worth the drive. Knowing whether the creek is on the way up or down is crucial to gauging the feasibility of a run.

MAPS: USGS 1:24,000 topographical maps: Satolah; County maps: Rabun.

Links:

• Overflow Creek is in the Savannah River watershed. Read more about the Savannah River and its watershed.
• Read one canoeist’s “discovery” of Overflow Creek in the mid-1970s.
• Download a 4-color poster of the Savannah River watershed including Overflow Creek.
• Read about other Georgia Rivers.

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia is a compilation of paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and Georgia Coast, published by Menasha Ridge Press since 1982. Originally written by Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey, it has been extensively revised and updated by Suzanne Welander. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling, in general, as well as the authoritative paddling guides. To purchase a copy of A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, a book every paddler of Georgia streams should have in their library (and boat), and to see over 75 other outdoor guides published by Menasha, visit the Menasha Ridge Press website.     

This paddling guide to the Savannah River begins at Thurmond Dam and extends for 210 miles to Savannah. The route can be divided into shorter separate trips by using the directions below and referring to the accompanying interactive map.

One of Georgia’s longest and largest rivers, the Savannah originates in Hart County in northeastern Georgia. Flowing southeast, the Savannah travels approximately 300 miles and drains an area of 10,600 square miles before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Savannah. The journey of the Savannah from source to mouth is a study of contrasts. It originates clear, cool, and free flowing in the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, its mountain tributaries are dammed and impounded many times before even reaching the Savannah. The Savannah itself comes into being not as a surging, vibrant stream, but as a still mass of backwater in the Hartwell Reservoir, into which the Savannah’s parent tributaries, the Tugaloo and the Seneca, empty.

A Savannah River Paddling Guide from Thurmond Dam to Savannah VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

SUMMARY: Class, I; Length, 210.1 miles; Time, up to 4 weeks; Gauge, Web; Level, N/A; Gradient, 3 feet per mile, > 1 below Augusta; Scenery, B - C-. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: Released below Hartwell Dam, the Savannah is never again clear or free flowing. As it traverses the Piedmont, it flows reddish to light brown and transports a massive suspension of sediment and silt. Its flow is regulated by a series of impoundments, so there is less than 30 miles of free-flowing river between the Hartwell Dam and Augusta. Below Thurmond Dam, the Savannah averages 350 feet in width and runs through deep, well-defined, sandy, clay banks for approximately 6 miles before entering the backwaters of Stevens Creek Dam. Since Thurmond Dam is responsible for ensuring adequate water for navigation on the lower Savannah, releases are more uniform and predictable than at Hartwell. Runnable levels are therefore assured all year.

Three miles below the GA 28 bridge is the Stevens Creek Dam, followed shortly downstream by a navigation dam with locks. Both of these must either be portaged or locked through. Immediately following the navigation lock and dam, the Savannah broadens, and shoals appear again and run intermittently until the river narrows and winds to the left before passing the city of Augusta. It is at this point that the Savannah emerges from its wooded corridor into a heavily populated and industrialized area. Flowing first past the levees of downtown Augusta and then through the heavy industry and junkyards on Augusta’s southeast river bank, the Savannah leaves the Piedmont behind and begins to change character as it plods irrevocably towards the Atlantic Ocean. River access in the Augusta area is rare at bridge crossings and is better sought at private and public boat ramps.

For paddlers, the Savannah has its good points and bad. On the negative side, the water is usually not aesthetically pleasing. On the positive, there is plenty of that funny-looking water, since upstream dams and hydroelectric plants must release sufficient water daily to support navigation in the Coastal Plain. Further, except in the environs of large cities and at two or three isolated industrial sites, the river corridor is surprisingly isolated and pristine and is rich in flora and fauna. Islands in the Piedmont and meandering bypasses (islands formed when a meander loop is cut off) in the Coastal Plain provide opportunities for canoe-camping.

Below Augusta, as the Savannah sweeps across the Coastal Plain towards the sea, the river is left more or less to its own devices. The river’s character changes markedly as it bids farewell to the rolling hills of the Piedmont and enters the agricultural flats and bottomlands of the Coastal Plain. Here, the river deepens and constricts to an average 250 to 300 feet, and flows beneath well-defined, sandy clay banks of 2 to 6 feet in height. Where the Savannah was shallow and turbulent upstream, it is now deep and calm. Islands are smaller and much less common, and the straight sections give way to broad meanders and horseshoe loops, complete with lowland swamp and oxbow lakes.

While a forest corridor continues to cradle the river, it frequently yields to lowland swamp on the far side of the river’s natural levee. Nevertheless, the streamside forest remains diverse and beautiful. Dominant along the Savannah in the Coastal Plain are bald cypress, tupelo, overcup oak, water hickory, green ash, and swamp black gum, with understory vegetation consisting of swamp privet, swamp dogwood, and swamp palm. Frequently encountered inhabitants of the Savannah along the Coastal Plain include the marsh rabbit, muskrat, several species of bat, mink, opossum, raccoon, gray squirrel, bobcat, long-tailed weasel, red fox, striped skunk, white-tailed deer, beaver, and river otter. Reptiles and amphibians are numerous and include several species of rattlesnake as well as the southern copperhead and the eastern cottonmouth. The many species of birds are too numerous to list.

Paddling is enjoyable and the setting pristine and remote, with the exception of several isolated riverside power plants and industries, including the nuclear power plant located across the river from Burke County. Hazards to navigation are limited to powerboat traffic (which is far from overwhelming) and to a dam 8 miles south of Augusta that must be portaged. The level of difficulty is Class I throughout. Access is good in Richmond and Burke counties but somewhat limited in Screven and Effingham counties.

After passing beneath I-95, the Savannah enters the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Formerly the site of many plantations, the rice pools have been allowed to revert to grassy marsh and now serve as the wintering grounds for waterfowl. Here begins a series of alternate cuts, canals, and river passages that branch off the main Savannah channel and parallel it to the east, return to the main channel at the southern end of the wildlife refuge, and immediately fork again around Hutchinson Island. Beyond doubt, several days of pleasant paddling can be had while exploring the wildlife refuge.

Moving south beyond the refuge, your choice is to paddle through Savannah city and port or to bypass the harbor on the less-trafficked Back River. While the Savannah waterfront is not without historical, industrial, and cultural interest, it is nevertheless somewhat dangerous due to the busy maritime traffic. Our advice is to view Savannah harbor from the deck of a sightseeing boat.

SHUTTLE: The lowest access is near Port Wentworth at the county park where GA 25 crosses the river. Upriver access points are shown on the map.

GAUGE: There are online gauges on the USGS Website. The Savannah is runnable year-round. For more information on the upper river, contact the Metter Fisheries Office at (912) 685-2145. For the lower river, the Richmond Hill Fisheries Office can be reached at (912) 727-2112.

MAPS: USGS 1:24,000 topographical maps: Clarks Hill, Evans, Martinez, North Augusta, Augusta East, Mechanic Hill, Jackson, Shell Bluff Landing, Girard Northwest, Girard, Millett, Allendale, Hilltonia, Peoples, Shirley, Hardeeville Northwest, Ringon, Port Wentworth, Lime House, Garden City, Savannah, Fort Pulaski, Savannah Beach North; County maps: Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Screven, Chatham.

Links:

• Read more about the Savannah River watershed
• Download a 4-color poster of the Savannah River watershed
• Read paddling guides to other rivers and creeks in the Savannah watershed
  • Brier Creek Paddling Guide
  • Broad River Paddling Guide
  • Chattooga River Paddling Guide
  • Ebenezer Creek Paddling Guide
  • Hudson River Paddling Guide
  • Middle Fork Broad River Paddling Guide
  • North Fork Broad River Paddling Guide
  • South Fork Broad River Paddling Guide
  • Tallulah River Paddling Guide
  • West Fork of the Chattooga River Paddling Guide

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia is a compilation of paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and Georgia Coast, published by Menasha Ridge Press since 1982. Originally written by Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey, it has been extensively revised and updated by Suzanne Welander. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling, in general, as well as the authoritative paddling guides. To purchase a copy of A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, a book every paddler of Georgia streams should have in their library (and boat), and to see over 75 other outdoor guides published by Menasha, visit the Menasha Ridge Press website.