By SUZANNE WELANDER

This 10.7-mile canoeing guide to the Tallulah is divided into two sections of 4.7 and 6 miles respectively. Both section contain class III whitewater. Photo Credits: Atlanta Smith 84 on Flickr.

The Tallulah River is both a small stream of outstanding beauty and a dramatic whitewater run that pushes the limits of navigability. The headwaters are unbelievably clear, attracting avid anglers and occasionally paddlers interested in a technical Class II-III run amid moss-covered boulders. At the other end of the river is the celebrated Tallulah Gorge, home to read-and-run whitewater from Class IV+ to Class V and an exploding wall of water that could only be called The Thing. In between these two extremes are four dams and very little navigable river other than the middle run described below.

This is a 10.7-mile canoeing guide to the Tallulah River divided into two sections, the Coleman River Confluence to Plum Orchard Road (4.7 miles) and Tiger Creek Confluence to Tallulah Falls Lake (6 miles). VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

SECTION 1, COLEMAN RIVER CONFLUENCE TO PLUM ORCHARD ROAD

SUMMARY: Class, II (III+I); Length, 4.7 miles; Time, 4 hours; Gauge, Web and visual; Level, 2.45 feet; Gradient, 23 (45) feet per mile; Scenery, B. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: Exceptional scenery and whitewater make this trip very worthwhile. Huge boulders surrounded by draping hemlocks dominate the scene. The run is a fairly technical Class II with two Class III rapids located in the first mile, interspersed with deep pools. Higher water brings some of the rapids to a Class III+ pitch. Its cold, clear waters make Tallulah River an excellent whitewater run in the winter and spring, or after any heavy rain. Hazards include strainers, deadfalls, undercut rocks, and difficult rapids.

The put-in is half a mile above the junction with Coleman River, just above the Forest Service’s Tallulah River campground. Above this point is a treacherous Class V run (in the upper gorge) and above that, more Class I-II water. The upper gorge run is more dangerous than the downstream gorge, dropping 250 feet in a 1-mile stretch with numerous undercuts, sieves, and logs constricted into the tight channel. Farther up FS 70 is another Forest Service campground at Tate Branch; primitive camping is available on the east side of the road.

This section of river is popular for trout fishing. Do not trespass onto private property, and do your best not to disturb any anglers you encounter on the river. It is recommended that paddlers take-out on river right at Plum Orchard Road above Lake Burton.

SHUTTLE: From Clayton, take US 76 west, turning right onto Persimmon Road before crossing Lake Burton. Turn left onto Plum Orchard Road (which is also called Cat Gap Road) and continue to the river. To get to the put-in, return to Persimmon Road and continue north 2.3 miles to make a left onto FS 70 (Tallulah River Road). The put-in is located at the bridge half a mile above the confluence with the Coleman River.

GAUGE: A telemetry gauge is located at the end of this section, and levels are reported on the USGS Internet site for the Tallulah near Clayton. The gauge is readable from the stream, located on the river-right side below the take-out bridge. For additional information, contact the Forest Service’s Tallulah District at (706) 782-3320.

SECTION 2, TIGER CREEK CONFLUENCE TO TALLULAH FALLS LAKE

SUMMARY: Class, I-II (III); Length, 6 miles; Time, 3.5 hours; Gauge, none; Level, unknown; Gradient, 13 feet per mile; Scenery, C. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: The Tallulah is impounded several times before reaching this section, creating three mountain lakes: Lake Burton, Nacoohe Lake, and Lake Rabun. The reservoirs consume most of the upper river’s flow, making paddling below the Mathis Dam at Lake Rabun possible only when the local rainfall is sufficient to fuel Tiger Creek, which meets up with the Tallulah at the first crossing of Old US 441. Put in here or on Wolf Creek Road over Tiger Creek, half a mile above the confluence.

The first 2.5 miles of this section of the Tallulah are mostly docile. It’s pleasant scenery, though houses and farmland have taken the place of the woods throughout this flatter section. Old US 441 is never far away, and new US 441 crosses the river twice. The 2-mile section after the first crossing contains a couple of small Class II shoals and slides.

One-quarter of the total gradient for this section is concentrated into one Class III rapid that begins immediately above the last crossing of Old US 441. After threading through the boulder slab ledges, the rapid continues as an intermittent Class II for a few hundred yards, ending in a low dam that spills into the lake pool. The road shadows this stretch of river, creating a park-and-play opportunity on the upper reaches of the rapid. The path leading to the river at the small dam above the lake is steep. The takeout is 1.6 miles farther down the lake.

SHUTTLE: Approaching Tallulah Falls from the south, turn left onto Main Street immediately before crossing Tallulah Gorge, then right onto River Street to the landing. Parking is available behind city hall. For upper access points, return to US 441 and turn left, taking the immediate left after the bridge onto Old US 441 to reach the access at the first bridge and Tallulah Falls State Park’s Trail. Continuing on US 441 to the third left onto Old US 441 is the easiest way to reach the upper put-in.

GAUGE: None. Runnable only when significant rain falls in the Tiger Creek watershed.

MAPS: USGS 1:24,000 topographical maps: Hightower Bald, Tiger, Tallulah Falls, Tugaloo Lake; County maps: Rabun, Habersham.

Links:

• View photos of the upper Tallulah River and Tallulah River Gorge.
• Download a PDF file of a Savannah River watershed poster showing the Tallulah River and all other rivers in the Savannah River watershed. Posters of Georgia’s other 13 major watersheds are available at the same link.

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.     

After its origins in the mountains of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia in the form of whitewater streams, such as the Tallulah and Chattooga rivers, the Savannah River begins near Hartwell, Georgia, where the Seneca and Tugaloo rivers merge. From that point, it flows 300 miles in a southeasterly direction past the port of Savannah (pictured above) and into the Atlanta Ocean.

Over the past several months, Roger Thomas, one of Georgia’s most experienced canoeist, and Michael Moody, the long-time owner of the Broad River Outpost and other outdoor recreational enterprises on the Georgia coast, and I have talked about creating an interactive map for the Savannah River watershed that would include canoeing trails, environmental and historical sites, vantage points in the watershed from which to view its rivers and streams, and just about anything else that comes to mind as long as it is directly connected to the streams, rivers and lakes in the Savannah River watershed. This edition of the website represents the first step of that process. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

To get us started, Roger has supplied photos and GPS coordinates for a half-dozen locations along the Broad River in the Savannah watershed, and I have created an interactive Google map that displays the photos he sent and a small amount of text. Some of the descriptive text comes from paddling guides by Reece Turrentine, who wrote for Brown’s Guide Magazine in the 70s and 80s and who is still regarded by many (Roger and I among them) as the top writer ever to convey the pleasures and satisfactions of canoeing Georgia’s rivers.

Roger is no slouch himself when it comes to canoeing Georgia streams, the Broad in particular. He estimates he has paddled the Broad River between 250 and 300 times (!), the Chattahoochee and Nantahala about 75 times each, and the Chattooga Section III 10 times, along with trips on numerous other Georgia rivers and streams. He is professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Georgia where he retired in September 2002 after 35 years of full-time teaching, research and administration and where he continues to teach one graduate class in the History of Psychology each spring semester.

Michael Moody is probably the person most familiar with the Broad River and its tributaries, which he has been paddling for at least 30 years, and he has owned and operated the Broad River Outpost for about 25 years. He has paddled most of the major rivers of the Southeast, including some BIG WATER. He lives in a restored 1820 house near Witcher Shoals on the South Fork Broad River. View Michael’s photos and descriptions of locations on the South Fork Broad River in the Georgia Gallery.

You can find a great deal of other information about the Savannah River watershed here on the Brown’s Guides site, including:

• A guide to canoeing the Broad River by Suzanne Welander, including an interactive map
• A guide to canoeing the South Fork Broad River by Suzanne Welander, including an interactive map
• A guide to canoeing Brier Creek by Suzanne Welander, including an interactive map
• A guide to canoeing the Hudson River by Suzanne Welander, including an interactive map
• A guide to canoeing the Chattooga River by Suzanne Welander, including an interactive map
• A guide to canoeing the Chattooga River by Claude Terry, including an interactive map
• A guide to canoeing the Chattooga River West Fork by Suzanne Welander, including an interactive map
• A story by Doug Woodward about the making of the movie “Deliverance” on the Chattooga River, including an interactive map.
• A profile of the Savannah River, including places to view and experience the streams, rivers and lakes in the watershed from Black Rock Mountain State Park (Georgia’s highest state park) in the mountainous northeast corner of the state to Tybee Island on the Atlantic Coast.
• A poster of the Savannah River watershed showing all of its tributaries, along with environmental and historical information, that may be printed in small format on a desktop printer or downloaded to a commercial printer like Kinko’s and reproduced in full 24″ x 36″ format.

MIchael, Roger and I invite you to view this initial effort to combine all of this and more on one all-encompassing Savannah watershed map and give us your comments and ideas. In addition, we hope you will join in the enterprise by sending along your photos, experiences (and GPS coordinates) of experiences in the Savannah River watershed.

Fred Brown, Editor

By SUZANNE WELANDER

The North Fork Broad River has its headwaters in Stephens County near Toccoa. The section described here provides a mild journey through a mostly wooded environment near the end of the river. Although not covered here, the river can also be navigated in the hilly areas of southern Stephens County; the consistently mild gradient produces few rapids or shoals. After entering Franklin County, passage becomes difficult, as a great deal of the river’s course becomes slow flowing and marshy. Deadfall portages are frequent from the crossing of GA 145 north of Carnesville downstream to Jackson Bridge Road. To avoid an unpleasant experience, it is inadvisable to attempt this section above Jackson Bridge unless there has been above-average but not torrential rainfall

JACKSON BRIDGE TO US 29 ON THE NORTH FORK BROAD RIVER

TRIP SUMMARY: Class, 1-II; Length, 9.9 miles; Time, 5 hours; Gauge, none; Level, unknown; Gradient, 9 feet per mile; Scenery C. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: Most paddlers prefer to begin at Jackson Bridge Road, or for a shorter trip, 3.4 miles farther downstream at GA 51. Here, the progress is aided by an increase in flow volume and a gradient of over 13 feet per mile. The streamside environment provides miles of secluded paddling and potential wildlife encounters. After GA 145 crosses the stream (near the intersection with GA 51), the North Fork is subsumed by the Middle Fork. GA 145 is the easiest take-out point: the US 29 access point 3.5 miles farther downstream involves a steep carry-out on the river-right side.

SHUTTLE: From Danielsville, take US 29 north to the bridge over the Middle Fork Broad River. Access is available via the dirt road on the right just before the start of the bridge guardrail. To get to the put-in, continue on US 29 toward Franklin Springs and turn left onto GA 145. Follow GA 145 as it turns to the northwest after crossing the North Fork; turn right onto Jackson Bridge Road and follow the road to the bridge and the river.

GAUGE: There is no gauge on the river. The local outfitter may be able to provide advice over the phone.

MAPS: USGS 1:24,000 topographical maps: Carnesville, Danielsville North; County maps, Franklin

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 Middle Fork Broad River is born in the Chattahoochee National Forest east of Cornelia. Though adventurous boaters have plied the rapids nearer the headwaters, the river is not usually considered paddleable until found in its tamed form outside the town of Franklin springs. The section described below included mild Class I-II rapids near the beginning of the run. Farther downstream, the river subsumes the flow of the North Fork before joining the Hudson River to form the Broad River. The proximate terrain throughout this area is rolling forested hills, but occasional intrusions of farmland make human activity easily.

ATKINSON BRIDGE TO GA 281 ON THE MIDDLE FORK BROAD RIVER

SUMMARY: Class, I (II); Length, 14.5 miles; Time, 7 hours; Gauge, none; Level, unknown; Gradient, 5 feet per mile; Scenery B-. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: Immediately above this section, the Middle Fork’s gradient is less than 2 feet per mile. In periods of favorable rainfall, canoeing may be possible, although frequent portaging around deadfalls should be expected. Bridge crossings are common, usually less than 2 miles apart, so access is good if the river becomes passable.

Atkinson Bridge, the put-in for this section, marks the beginning of the hospitable section of the middle Fork. The gradient increases and the most notable Class I-II shoals of the lower river are encountered before the North Fork Broad joins the river from the left 4.4 miles from the put-in. Below this point, the Middle Fork offers a largely relaxing experience. The moderate gradient creates a current that is quite powerful at times, and there are very few rapids. The river passes near many towns but goes through none of them; so much of the scenery remains unspoiled woodland or minimally developed agricultural land. Wildlife is abundant, particularly birds, small mammals, and turtles. When the Hudson joins in from the right below US 29, you are now on the Broad River.

After Atkinson Bridge, access is available at GA 51 (near the intersection with GA 145), US 29 (the very steep path to the river makes this a better put-in than takeout), and GA 281 on the Broad River. Bond Bridge Road, which crosses the Middle Fork after the confluence with the north Fork, does not provide good access.

SHUTTLE: The take-out is at the Broad River’s intersection with GA 281, northeast of Danielsville. The easiest access is available at the outfitter’s site; make appropriate arrangements for the convenience. From the take-out to the highest put-in, take GA 281 back toward Danielsville and turn right onto Old Wildcat Bridge Road, then right again onto US 29. Turn left onto GA 145 outside Franklin Springs. Stay on GA 145 as it crosses the North Fork Broad River and veers to the north. Turn left onto Atkinson Bridge Road and proceed to the river.

GAUGE: There is no gauge on the river. Visually scout the flow from the put-in, or call the local outfitter.

MAPS: USGS 1:24,000 topographical maps: Carnesville, Danielsville North; County maps: Franklin, Madison

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

This covered bridge at Watson Mill State Park in Comer in Madison County is the take-out for Section 1 and the put-in for Section 2 of this 21.6 (total miles) canoe trip on the South Fork Broad River. The bridge, built in 1885 by Washington King, son of freed slave and famous Georgia covered bridge builder Horace King, is 229 feet long, the longest covered bridge in the state.

The South Fork Broad River is a short but sweet Broad River tributary. Rising in northwestern Madison County, it flows southeastward through predominantly agricultural land before entering the Broad River east of Athens. The most noteworthy rapids are found in the lower section. An extensive shoal that can reach up to Class III intensity is located below the dam at Watson Mill State Park.

This is a 21.6-mile canoe trip from GA 22 to GA 77 at the confluence with Broad River. Section 2 may be divided into two separate trips of 5.5 and 11.2 miles in length. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

SECTION 1 GA 22 TO WATSON MILL STATE PARK GA

SUMMARY: Class I; Length, 5.3 miles; Time, 3.5 hours; Gauge, none; Level, unknown; Gradient, 3 feet per mile; Scenery, B- VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: At most water levels, the uppermost access for boating is at GA 22, just south of the city of Comer. The South Fork takes a lazy winding course with no measurable rapids down to Watson Mill State Park. The park is home to one of the few remaining covered bridges in Georgia. At 229 feet, the vintage 1885 bridge is the longest covered bridge in the state. Immediately downstream of the covered bridge is a small dam that must be portaged as you are continuing downstream. Take-out above the dam regardless. Picnicking and camping facilities are available at the park.

SHUTTLE: To the take-out from Athens, take GA 72 northeast toward Elberton. Follow the signs for Watson Mill State Park after passing through the town of Comer. To the put-in, return to GA 72 and turn left. At Comer, turn left on GA 22 and proceed to the bridge.

GAUGE: None.

SECTION 2, WATSON MILL STATE PARK TO GA 77 AT THE BROAD RIVER

SUMMARY: Class, I-III; Length, 16.3 miles; Time, 1-2 days; Gauge, none; Level, unknown; Gradient, 8 feet per mile; Scenery, B- VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: At Watson Mill State Park, the put-in for this section, there is a small dam with rapids below that may be run if water conditions are favorable. These rapids may reach Class III difficulty in high water. Put-in below the dam, or below the rapids. Beyond the park, the river continues its sinuous meandering to its junction with the main Broad River. A mid-section access point at Carlton-Lexington Road divides this section in two - 5.1 miles above and 11.2 miles below this point.

The only other shoals of appreciable difficulty appears below the bridge at Carlton-Lexington Road. A 3-foot dam at Andrew’s Mill creates a slack backwater just downstream of the bridge. The dam should be portaged and the rapids below it scouted. The rapids are usually a solid Class II difficulty; at high water, they reach Class III difficulty. One final series of shoals is approcimately 2 miles farther downstream, just above the Broad River junction. The next access point is 8 miles down the Broad at GA 77.

SHUTTLE: From Athens, take US 78 east. Just past Lexington, turn left onto GA 77 and proceed to the bridge over the Broad River. To reach the put-in, continue northeast on GA 77. Turn left onto Jones Ferry Road and take it to GA 72. Turn left here. After passing through Carlton, watch for signs for Watson Mill State Park, the put-in for this section.

GAUGE: None

MAPS: USGS Maps: Danielsville South, Carlton, Elberton West; County Maps: Madison, Oglethorpe.

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

Ogeechee Canoochee Riverkeeper members in the clear waters of the Ogeechee River during a July 25, 2009 trip organized by OCR Program Director Dianna Wedincamp. First-time paddler Anna Thibeau blogged about flipping her boat on her first canoeing adventure, “Seriously, I had not expected to get wet above the knees. I had even styled my hair and put make up on carefully before we left home. The drenching was wonderful!” View a Gallery of photos taken during the trip and read Anna’s complete trip report.

The Ogeechee is Georgia’s only major riverway that stretches from the Atlantic to the Piedmont unimpeded by dams, forming a rare native environment for indigenous wildlife and a spawning grounds for sturgeon and mullet. After a brief, rarely runnable Class II section formed as the river falls off the piedmont, the Ogeechee runs wild through broad expanses of lowland swamp and past occasional bluffs carved out of the clay banks before reaching the alluvium marshes of the Atlantic Ocean. Its remote nature holds development at bay – a trip on the Ogeechee opens up a private wonderland virtually inaccessible except by boat.

This is a paddling guide to the Ogeechee River in three sections: Louisville to Millen, a distance of about 52.6 miles; Millen to GA 24, a distance of about 49.5 miles; and GA 24 to US 17, a distance of about 64.3 miles. The trip may be broken up into smaller sections using the map and shuttle directions below. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

SECTION I LOUISVILLE TO MILLEN

SUMMARY: Class, I; Length, 52.6 miles; Time, up to 1.5 weeks; Gage, USGS website; Level, unknown; Gradient, less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery B. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: Intimate, serene, and beautiful, in good years the Ogeechee becomes runnable below the impassable Chaulker Swamp at the US 1 bridge crossing south of Louisville. Here, the river is from 35 to 50 feet in width and almost completely shaded by sycamore, willow, sweet gum, and cypress laden with moss. The current is slow, in keeping with the tranquil, lazy atmosphere.

For the most part, the Ogeechee runs in the center of a heavily forested lowland swamp as it moves southward through Jefferson, Burke, and Emanuel counties. The course of the river is meandering and convoluted, with numerous horseshoe bends, oxbow lakes, and small meandering islands. Beyond the lowland swamp, the terrain rises gradually to a plateau about 20 feet above the swamp floor. When not marred by logging activity, the setting is primitive in the extreme, with a swamp of woodland corridor ranging for a mile or so to either side of the river.

The same factors that make this section of the Ogeechee enticing constitute the major impediment to paddling it. In high-water years like 2003, trees and accompanying vegetation are dislodged and washed into the stream, clogging the narrow stream bed with prolific deadfalls that force frequent hurdling, and portaging, and, at a minimum, intricate maneuvering. Passage more reliably clear of obstruction begins in the next section.

SHUTTLE: The lowest take-out for this section is immediately south of Millen on US 25; access is at the northwest corner of the bridge. Upper access points are close to GA 17. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

GAUGE: Data for the gauge located at Midville is available on the USGS website. The minimum level for using this gauge is unknown; maximum is flood stage. Local outfitters can provide assessments over the phone.

SECTION II MILLEN TO GA 24

SUMMARY: Class, I; Length, 49.5 miles; Time, up to 6 days; Gage, USGS website; Level, 3 feet; Gradient, less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery B+. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: The river’s channel below Millen becomes wider and relatively free of the deadfall that can plague the upper sections, although complete stream-wide blockages are still possible. The current moderates from sluggish to surprisingly swift as the river meanders around frequent bends. This, and the trees growing in the stream, keep the paddling lively and sharpen you navigational skills. Scenery is excellent, flora and fauna are abundantly varied, and except following heavy rains, the tannin stained water is bright and clear.

The surrounding swamp expands and contracts as the Ogeechee flows past tall (65 feet) sand-and-clay bluffs that give the stream a special identity. These bluffs and many others more modest in size approach and recede from the river intermittently, leaving vast primeval gardens of backwater sloughs and thickly forested watery lowland in their wake. Continuing almost all the way to the tidewater section below the railroad crossing west of Meldrim (in the lowest section), the bluffs offer the best canoe camping sites on the Ogeechee.

When the cycles of rain and deadfall align to create favorable conditions (more rain, less deadfall), approaches to the river can be made via the Buckhead Creek’s crossing of GA 17 west of Millen. The creek is largely fed by Magnolia Springs, which surfaces at Magnolia Springs State Park north of Millen.

SHUTTLE: The lowest take-out on this section is located east of Statesboro on GA 24 (N). Higher access points are easily reached from GA 17, north of the river. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

GAUGE: Levels at Rocky Ford are provided on the USGS website and over the phone by calling local outfitters. A good level is around 3-to-3.5 feet; the maximum is flood stage. The Waycross DNR Fisheries Office at 912-285-6094 can provide more information, including a map of commonly used public access points.

SECTION III GA 24 TO US 17

SUMMARY: Class, I; Length, 64.3 miles; Time, up to 1 week; Gage, USGS website; Level, unknown; Gradient, less than 1 foot per mile; Scenery B. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

DESCRIPTION: In this section, the river widens to 110 feet and the channel becomes better defined. Moving into Bryan and southern Effingham counties, small islands suitable for canoe camping become more prevalent. Just downstream from GA 204, the Ogeechee separates into multiple channels 40-to-55-feet in width, which are all runnable. These rejoin and split a second time before coming together to stay.

As the Ogeechee approaches and runs along the eastern boundary of Fort Stuart in Bryan County, the woodland swamp corridor widens to several miles and presents countless opportunities for side explorations into the adjacent sloughs and swamps, especially at high water. Paddlers anticipating off-river explorations should carry a GPS or compass and topographical maps and know how to use them to avoid getting lost.

Just upstream of the Ogeechee’s main tributary, the Canoochee River, the Ogeechee enters the tidewater zone. From this area downstream the banks and confining low-ridge plateaus bordering the swamp corridor begin to recede and flatten into a vast grassy marsh resembling a giant rice paddy. This topography persists below the last access point all the way to Ogeechee Sound, where the Ogeechee joins the Little Ogeechee and the Vernon River at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Powerboat traffic is not uncommon below the mouth of the Canoochee as the river’s width averages 190 to 230 feet.

While the tidal marsh is unique in its flora, its diverse fish and bird fauna, and its labyrinthine creeks that carve graceful swaths through the marsh grasses, the marsh is extremely inaccessible. Paddle trips must begin upriver, proceed down into the marshes, and then return to the point of embarkation or to an access point up one of the other streams emptying into the sound. Careful attention must be given to the tides when planning such trips; and paddlers should be completely self-sufficient in their equipment and preparations, since dry land is often nonexistent.

SHUTTLE: The final take-out is reached from I-95 south of Savannah. Take Exit 90 and go east on GA 144. Turn left onto US 17, which takes you to the boat ramp at the access point. GA 119, US 80 and GA 204 provide access to upper debarkation points of this section. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP

GAUGE: Levels near Eden are provided on the USGS website. Local outfitters can provide river information. The Richmond Hill DNR fisheries office at 912-727-2112 can supply a map of the commonly used access points and annual forecasts of fish harvests by species.

MAPS: USGS Maps: Louisville South, Old Town, Colemans Lake, Midville, Birdsville, Millen, Four Points, Rocky Ford, Hopeulikit, Dover, Rock Ford 15′, Oliver 15′, Brooklet 15′, Egypt 15′, Eden, Meldrim Southwest, Mildrim Southeast, Richmond Hill, Burroughs, Isle of Hope, Raccoon Key. County Maps: Jefferson, Burke, Emanuel, Jenkins, Screven, Bulloch, Effingham, Bryan, Chatham.

Links

• The Ogeechee is one of Georgia’s major 14 watersheds. Read more about the Ogeechee watershed.
• Download a poster of the Ogeechee River showing historical and environmental information about the river, including all of its tributaries.
• Read a paddling guide to the Canoochee River, the Ogeechee’s main tributary.
• Learn more about the Ogeechee - Canoochee Riverkeeper.

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.   

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