Hiawassee River Canoeing Guide
By SUZANNE WELANDER
This is a paddling guide to a trip on the Hiawassee River in the Tennessee River watershed, from Georgia Highways 17/75 to Lake Chatuge. CLASS, I-II; LENGTH, 8.3 miles; TIME, 5 hours; GAUGE, web and visual; LEVEL, 2.5 feet; GRADIENT, 13 feet per mile; SCENERY, C. VIEW MAP
The Hiawassee River flows north into Lake Chatuge near the Town of Hiawassee, Below the Chatuge Dam, it continues into Tennessee, and the spelling of the name changes from Hiawassee to Hiwassee.
The Hiawassee River is a coldwater mountain stream with its headwaters on the northern side of Unicoi Gap in Towns County. Flowing north, the river becomes 
the major feeder stream for Lake Chatuge near the town of Hiawassee. The community jealously guards the river and its fish. “No trespassing” signs are posted prominently at most access points, and strung across the river itself are at least two signs warning against entry. (See Pages, Who owns Georgia’s Rivers) The most easily accessed trip through the gentle valley portion of the river is described below. Downstream of the dam, the river emerges in Tennessee with a new spelling: Hiawassee.
DESCRIPTION: The reaches of the Hiawassee above this section roughly parallel GA 17/75. The stream is occasionally visible from the highway, but it is too small to be considered feasible for boaters. It is not until after Soapstone Creek and Corbin Creek have added their flow that the river becomes suitable for canoeing. If you can manage to secure access from the private landowners, this Class II stretch is runnable only when the water is fairly high.
There are no difficult rapids below the first crossing of GA 17/75, only pretty rippling shoals that are stilled after 4 miles by the swampy backwaters of the lake. Signs of civilization are never far from the river and increase in frequency as the lake is approached. There are few easy options for taking out above Lake Chatuge. The best exit points are at the public boat ramp on the lake, or less than a quarter mile upstream on Hightower Creek at Kelly Road.
SHUTTLE: From the town of Hiawassee, take US 76 east to the public boat ramp located on the south side of the highway at the intersection with GA 288. To reach the put-in, return to US 76 and continue less than a mile east to a right-hand turn onto GA 17/75. GA 17/75 will cross the river twice; the second time is the uppermost potential put-in. Access may also be available at Owl Creek Road.
GAUGE: This section of river is free flowing and dependent on rainfall. The TVA provides real-time cfs levels for the gauge at Presley. The visual gauge is located on Hightower Creek near its confluence with the Hiawassee. Using this gauge, the minimum level is 2.5 feet and the maximum is 6 feet.
USGS Maps: Tray Mountain, Macedonia. County Maps: Towns County.
Links
- Read more about the Tennessee River 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.