Broad River Canoeing Guide
By SUZANNE WELANDER
Multiple access points along the Broad River allow for paddling trips of different lengths. This is a guide to almost 45 miles of river from Georgia Highway 281 to Thurmond Lake.
The Broad River is, along with the Chattooga, one of the major northern tributaries in the Savannah River watershed. With 50 miles of navigable river from its inception to Thurmond Lake, the Broad 
offers nearly year-round opportunities for canoeing and camping except in periods of extreme drought. The 6 miles of river in the upper section contain most of the river’s rapids. In the lower section, the Broad becomes a pastoral stream eminently suited for beginning canoeists and those desiring a relaxed canoeing-camping experience. Locals consider the Broad to start at the confluence of its two largest tributaries: the Middle Fork and Hudson Rivers. For those interested in floating the entire length of the Broad River, US 29 provides access to both of these rivers upstream of the confluence VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP. For paddling guides to more rivers and streams in the Savannah River Watershed, see the links below.
This is a paddling guide to the Broad River in two sections: GA 281 to GA 172, a distance of about 5.7 miles; and GA 172 to Thurmond Lake, a distance of about 38.7 miles. The trip may be broken up into smaller sections using the map and shuttle directions below. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.
SECTION I GA 281 to GA 172
SUMMARY: Class, II (III); Length, 5.7 miles; Time, 3 hours; Gauge, USGS website and visual; Level, 2.5; Gradient, 8 (17); Scenery, B VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP
DESCRIPTION: It is in this popular section that the Broad River is at its most exciting. The river widens considerably but maintains the wilderness quality found upstream. Frequent shoals offer 5.7 miles of Class I and II rapids at normal water levels. Take out at the GA 172 Bridge on the left side, or call in advance to arrange use of the outfitter-owned take-out 0.5 mile below the bridge on the right.
At high water levels, the Broad is for expert boaters only. With its large watershed, the water gets big, particularly in the winter and early spring. Rapids increase in difficulty to Class III, with at least one Class IV. At levels over 5 or 6 feet, the waterfall on the river’s right, down stream of the major pipeline crossing, turns into a keeper hydraulic that works in tandem with a ledge downstream of it to create a serious threat (akin to the hole at Woodall Shoals on the Chattooga River), particularly for anyone caught out of a boat. With the wide characteristic of the river, a bomb-proof roll or strong self-rescue skills are necessary at higher water levels to avoid permanent loss of boat.
SHUTTLE: From Danielsville, go north on US 29 to a right-hand turn onto GA 281; follow GA 281 to another right turn onto Transco Road. Follow this road less than a mile to a left turn onto David’s Home Church Road. After 3.7 miles, turn left onto GA 172. The take-out path is on the far side of the bridge. An alternate take-out is available, with permission, at the outfitter’s property 0.5 mile farther downstream. To get there, turn right onto the dirt road just before the bridge. To return to the put-in, backtrack to GA 281 and turn right. The put-in is ahead on the right at the outfitter’s, before the bridge.
GAUGE: Data is available on the USGS website for the Broad near Carlton. This is miles downstream of this section. Using this gauge, the absolute minimum is 2.5 feet, though a more enjoyable and lass scrape-prone minimum is 3.5 feet. The ideal level for this section is 4 to 4.5 feet. Water starts getting pushy above 6 feet. Waves start to increase in size as water rises above this level; the river has been played by expert boaters at levels as high as the teens and twenties. There is a visual gauge at the GA 281 Bridge that gives readings approximately 3 feet lower than the website-available USGS gauge downstream.
SECTION 2 GA 172 to Thurmond Lake
SUMMARY: Class I (II); Length, 38.7 miles; Time, up to 4 days; Gauge, USGS website and visual; Level 1.5; gradient, less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery, B. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP
DESCRIPTION: The gradient slows and the river adopts a pastoral character below GA 172. Multiple access points along the remaining 38.4 miles of river allow for trips of varying lengths. The river is ideally suited for relaxing, multiply-day trips since it passes through miles of undeveloped woodlands and farmland. The Broad feels remote because it has managed to avoid industrial development.
The only noteworthy rapid on this section is Anthony Shoals, just above Thurmond Lake (formerly Clarks Hill Lake). Anthony Shoals is a very long series of rapids of Class II difficulty. Here the river is quite wide, so even though the gradient is steeper, the river is shallow and its force is diluted. At low water levels, the only feasible route is through the channel cut through the ledges to accommodate the barges that formerly traveled upstream. The shoals have three sections, the last of which is a channel with standing waves that end at the lake. At higher water levels, the rapids at the shoals wash out. It is possible to take out on river right above Anthony Shoals using county roads for access.
At the shoals, many grassy islets and the rocky streambed combine with the rushing water to make a picturesque setting. This is the only place on the Broad River that supports the rare shoal lilies that live on the fall line rivers of the Southeast. The area also includes remains from previous settlements, including Native American mounds and the ruins of old mills and factories of the 1700s.
Camping and secure parking is available at the last take-out for the river at Broad River Campground, maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. The campground is located on the right side of the lake, one mile below Anthony Shoals.
SHUTTLE: From Elberton, take GA 72 east; turn right onto GA 79 and proceed to the lake. Access is at the Broad River Campground. The highest put-in for this section is reached by returning to Elberton via GA 79 and GA 72. In Elberton, take GA 17 northwest to a left turn onto GA 172 at the town of Bowman. Proceed to the bridge over the river. Put-in at the bridge, or secure permission to use the put-in owned by the outfitter 0.5 mile downstream on river right. Most of the mid-run access points are at the junction with state highways. There is a public boat ramp at GA 17, making it the easiest place mid-run to get down to the river. Other access points are available at GA 72 west of Elberton and at GA 77 south of Elberton. There is one additional access point above Anthony Shoals that can be reached from CR 193 in Wilkes County.
GAUGE: Using the USGS website reading for the Broad above Carlton, the minimum level is 1.5 feet and the maximum is 12 feet.
MAPS: USGS maps: Carnesville, Danielsville North, Carlton, Elberton West, Jacksons Crossroads, Broad, Chennault. County: Franklin, Elbert, Madison, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, Lincoln.
Links
- The Broad River is in the Savannah River watershed. Read paddling guides to other rivers in the Savannah River Watershed:
- Read more about the Savannah River watershed.
- Download a river poster of the Savannah River watershed showing the Broad River and other tributaries in the watershed.
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.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I have never met Suzanne Welander who is on my list of most admired persons for her work with Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey to update the latter two’s classic works on canoeing in Georgia (viz., A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to Georgia, 2003, Menasha Ridge Press). However, I must disagree with her above when she wrote, “Using this gauge (referring to the USGS Broad River, Carlton, GA gauge and to the section between the GA 281 and GA 172 bridges), the absolute minimum is 2.5 feet.” I have run it as low as 1.2 feet on that gauge and never had to get out of my canoe, although admittedly using my paddle I did have to push or “rock the canoe” off a few rocks upon which I had run aground. For a brief account of the 1.2 foot level trip with accompanying photos (some of which compare rapids at the 1.2 foot level with another trip “guesstimated” as about 4 feet), please see the following link from my website.
http://webpages.charter.net/rogthomas/Charter/BroadRiver07302008.htm
Embedded within that trip report is a link to a PDF of Reece Turrentine’s account of a Broad River trip from the July/August 1977 issue of the Brown’s Guide to Georgia magazine. It is the most informative and detailed account of that section of the Broad River that I have ever read.
I do agree that 2.5 and higher make for a less taxing paddling trip, but one misses many interesting sites and scenes that the higher levels cover or obscure. That is the lowest I have ever paddled that section of the Broad River (among an estimated” 250-300 times - I must hold the world record!) and I have paddled her three times when she was flooding (all three times with strong parties of highly capable paddlers). She is beautiful, interesting, and sometimes exciting at many levels between 1.2 and flooding, but 1.2 may be the lowest level I’ll try. On the other hand, finding a way to get down in low water without exiting the boat provides its own challenges and enjoyment, so I may try her at less than 1.2 if she ever gets that low again!
September 28th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Excellent story of just one float. I am not a paddler but do make an effort to record riverine cultural resources (fish traps , mills and landings). The fishtrap shown with your article “Broad River, July 30, 2008″ brought these resources to the public’s attention. I would like to ask the the paddling public be aware of their existence and the need for their protection. I have recorded over 150 fishtraps in Georgia’s streams.
PLEASE leave them as you found them and, if anything, help take care of them.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I am guessing Bill Frazier linked from Brown’s Guide to my website to see that July 30, 2008 report with the fish trap photo. I knew my website was linkable from BG earlier, but I can no longer locate the link. Anyway, some may be interested in a different fish trap on a different section of the Broad river in a report with photos that I posted on my website about a trip on a different section of the Broad River on August 4, 2008.
http://webpages.charter.net/rogthomas/Charter/
Brown’s Guide users can see some of the photos in smaller versions and their locations by clicking on Savannah River Watershed and within its text the “VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.”
I am no expert regarding fish traps, but I do believe there may be others on those two sections of the Broad River that I will try to photograph when water levels are lower. I am curious about your interest in fish traps and whether you have anything you can share privately or on-line about the 150 you have located. I share with you the seriousness of the need to protect them.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
As I re-read Bill Frazier\’s comment, I realized his greatest concern was protecting fish traps, etc. That prompted me to add RED text to my reports cautioning against distrubing natural landmarks such as fish traps. For one thing, most, even when in the river, are on private property and, of course, we should all want to protect our heritage for future generations to experience.
http://webpages.charter.net/rogthomas/Charter/BroadRiver07302008.htm