By CLAUDE TERRY

Claude Terry and his son Michael canoeing the Chattooga River in 1972. Terry was one of the first people to explore the Chattooga as a recreational canoeing and kayaking experience. He served as a technical advisor and double in the movie “Deliverance” and was a founder of Southeastern Expeditions, the original Chattooga outfitter.

Editors Note: The story below by Claude Terry was written for Brown’s Guides in 1972 after his experience as a consultant and double on the movie “Deliverance,” and before the Chattooga was named a Wild and Scenic River. Read it in conjunction with the essay by Doug Woodward about his, Claude’s and Payson Kennedy’s experiences filming the movie “Deliverance” and Suzanne Welander’s guide to canoeing the Chattooga here in the Streams, Rivers and Lakes blog. Though the canoeing action Claude describes is as fresh as the Chattooga headwaters, the story is over 30 years old, so when following specific directions to put-ins and take-outs, use Suzanne Welander’s guide. Be sure and see the interactive Chattooga River map that includes the locations of most of the rapids described in both Claude’s and Suzanne’s guides. Read together, Claude’s 1972 story, Doug Woodward’s essay about his and Claude’s experience filming “Deliverance,” and Suzanne Welander’s guide provide a detailed guide to the Chattooga and some personal insights by indivuduals who have had unique relationships with this special Georgia river. VIEW THE INTERACTIVE MAP showing the locations of the rapids in Claude’s guide and photographs for most of them.

The canoe bucks, twitches, and lurches up and over above a series of heart-stopping cascades, down which the spilled canoeists bounce and scrub, to lie exhausted in the eddy at the bottom, accessing their losses in skin and equipment. A scene from “Deliverance?” It could be, for the hit movie was filmed on Georgia’s wild, scenic Chattooga River. More likely, the spill is one of many that day for novice canoeists who have come to test their skill against this acknowledged king of the Southeast’s whitewater rivers. The ranks of canoeists and rafters on the river have been swelled by those eager to see and run rapids made known by the movie.

Of all of the sources of recreation available, running water probably offers the most exciting variety of experiences. Fishermen, sinners, tubers, rafters, canoeists and kayakers find pleasure in streams. These streams range form backwater, pastoral streams in the Deep South to clear mountain creeks and turbulent, cascading torrents like the Chattooga.

Here’s how to try your luck on this stream, soon to be protected forever by the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

SECTION III FROM  EARLS FORD TO HWY 76

The Chattooga is entrapped in the mountains about 120 miles northeast of Atlanta and forms Georgia’s eastern boundary with South Carolina. To reach the river, drive east from Clayton on US 76 for approximately eight miles. The section of the Chattooga, which we will describe here, ends at the crossing of US 76 and the Chattooga. This is shown on the accompanying map. Most parties of rafters or canoeists drop one car here to shuttle drivers back to the top for other vehicles after the trip. (It is not a bad idea to walk upstream on the SC side at this point for about a quarter mile, to see Bull Sluice, so you will recognize this dangerous fall when coming down the river.)

After dropping a car, continue on highway 76 into South Carolina for about two miles. This brings you to the first paved road turning left, which leads to the put-in. After turning left, travel approximately seven miles to the first four-way stop. Turn left again and follow this road to Earl’s Ford. As the name implies, there is no bridge over the river at Earl’s Ford, and in fact there is only a jeep trail on the other side. The road into the Ford is paved at first, but changes to gravel about three miles from the river. Parking may be a problem on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months, gut there is parking down a track turning left a hundred yards before the ford. You will generally have fewer difficulties getting on and particularly off the river if you arrive by nine-thirty to ten o’clock.

Check the water level at the Earl’s Ford gauge that is about 200 yards downstream on the S.C. Side of the river. A reading of 0.7 or below is low for rafts, and will be draggy for canoes and kayaks as well. From 0.7 to 1.3 to 2.0 feet is okay for rafts and kayakists who can do the Eskimo roll reliably, but heavy for open canoes. If the river is above 2.0 feet at Earl’s Ford gauge, approach it only with a strong party of experienced people, and then with all possible safety precautions.

Assuming a safe water level, put your boat raft in here for one of the most memorable adventures in the Southeast.

From Earls Ford you will paddle only 500 yards or so before you encounter a simple, single ledge and soon thereafter a complex ledge best entered on the left (SC side) and requiring a good left turn farther down. There are only a few multiple drops here, but they provide enough action to keep you busy.

About one and a quarter miles later, you will encounter the Rock Gardens,  great blades of rock whose bedding plane is angled to the river’s surface, creating a memorable maze, with some rapids thrown in. Several scenes in “Deliverance” were shot here.

Another half mile of mild water brings you to Dick’s Creek, which cascades in from Georgia down Five Finger Falls. Here, the ledge in the river should be scouted! Don’t just wash over this one, particularly in high water. The best portage is at right center. Open canoes and kayaks can run the rapid by entering the current over the ledge with the bow angled right and dropping into the first slot.

Below Dick’s Creek, there are two good sets of multiple rapids before Sandy Ford. Run right of the island in each case. If you have an emergency or find the river more than you can handle, the Sandy Ford road on the GA side is usually negotiable by rough country vehicles.

Below the ford, the river bends right through mild rapids, then left into a calm pool. This is the warning for the Narrows, where more canoes swamp than any other place on the river. If you have water, bail it out before entering the Narrows. The Narrows consist of a constricted canyon wit three sharp drops in rapid succession, followed by two more drops with weird cross currents and very narrow passages. Go solo if possible, backwater, and be prepared to bail out open boats in any eddy you can get into. Looking back from the bottom of the Narrows is one of my favorite views in the world, with a mossy, spring-studded cliff overhanging the river.

At the bend in the river below the Narrows is a rapid commonly called Second Ledge. (Dick’s Creek Ledge is the first). Again, scout or portage from right center. The best canoe or kayak run is at the left side, down a slide across the face of the waterfall. Daring and fun if you make it!

Below Second Ledge, there is a torturous, shallow mile and one-half down to Eye of the Needle. This is a chute, entered on the extreme left side of the river, dropping and twisting to the right. It can be recognized from above by the beautiful waterfall on the creek on the left, just above the drop. There are probably more turn-overs in Eye than any other rapid, due to the large rock which juts from the left bank at the bottom of the chute. The current turns away just before the rock, but many people lean away so far that they overturn.

Following the Eye, there are about four miles of easy rapids down to Fall Creek Falls. This stream falls over several five-foot drops directly into the river and is a good marker for the two rapids, which follow. This is Roller Coaster, a series of large waves that can readily swamp an incautious open canoe, but it’s the best ride on the river.

Keyhole is a large ledge just below Roller Coaster. Be sure to bail before going on down. There are two drops in the keyhole, and the collected waters then flush against a house-sized boulder at the bottom. The best entry to Keyhole is in the right center moving right, since an overturn here does not necessarily bring you against the boulder.

Below Keyhole, three miles of moderate rapids bring you to a view of a large gray boulder on the right, with a nice rapid bending around left out of sight. Don’t go down this rapid blindly! This is Bull Sluice, which you should check very carefully before putting your body into its cauldron. Rafts can run Bulls Sluice, but helmets and life vests should be worn. The Forest Service says rafters have been killed in Bull Sluice from hitting their heads. Kayaks also can run the Sluice, and an occasional solo open canoe makes it down. The only successful tandem run of the Sluice I have seen was (then) Governor Carter and yours truly. (Luck). Don’t try to run the Sluice tandem unless you place no value on your boat and legs. A swamping is almost sure to occur in the first drop, and if you stay in the canoe, you will be thrown suddenly forward when the canoe encounters the submerged rock halfway down the second drop. If you are out of the canoe, your sitting area will contact the rock, with unhappy results. After these dire warnings, if you insist on attempting the Sluice, come over the first diagonal drop headed directly toward the right side. The roller at the bottom of this first drop is a “keeper” at some levels and may hold you in for some time. A real bad scene.

Below Bull Sluice, a quarter-mile of mild rapids brings you to a sand beach upstream of the bridge, which is the take-out for the trip.

SECTION IV, HWY 76 BRIDGE TO TUGALOO LAKE

Nostalgia is a funny thing. Writing this I realize this fact most strongly. There are at least two types of nostalgia, which I feel just now. The longing and reminiscence for childhood days and friends and the desire to renew acquaintances is one type of nostalgia. I also feel, looking at winter pines and watching rain douse the landscape, a nostalgia for past springs and a longing anticipation for springs to come. When these longings take the form of mental pictures, I realize they are largely vistas of one stretch of river, the lower Chattooga.

We first began to run the lower Chattooga in the summer of 1968. At that time, we knew of only one or two people who had dried that fast-dropping river in open canoes. On topographical maps, the gorges appeared deep and inaccessible. We had heard names such as “Sock-’Em Dog, “Shoulder Bone, “Jawbone,” and   ‘Woodall Shoals” applied to the rapids. Our first trips left us    convinced that many of these rapids could not be run.

These early trips led us to label other rapids, and some of the names have stuck. We talk of “Corkscrew,” “Jumble,”  “Raven Rock,” “Seven-Foot Falls,” and “Surfing Rapid.” So much of the movie “Deliverance” was filmed at one house sized boulder that Doug Woodward and I began calling it “Deliverance Rock” and that name also stuck. What I’m getting at is my mind conjures up scenic vistas from the loser Chattooga at the drop of a hat, smell of a white pine, or sound of rain rivuleting off my roof. The river has not changed in four years, but the number and capabilities of users certainly has. Any warm summer weekend will see several rafting parties on the river, and several groups of canoeists and kayakers playing in the rapids.

Kayaks have proven ideal for this river. When I got my first kayak in 1969, it was the first in the Georgia Canoeing Association. When I attempted Sock ‘Em Dog” in that kayak it was, so far as we knew, the first successful run on that rapid. Once before, Claude Grizzard and I had attempted the rapid in a 16-foot Old Town Canoe, but that is another story and another cracked canoe! Now, there are hundreds of kayaks in this area. As to the capabilities of paddlers, kids  (including my 11-year-old son Michael) now occasionally run Sock ‘Em Dog and most other rapids backwards for variety.

Though it may sound as though we have lost respect for the river’s difficulties, that’s not the case. We still travel in strong parties and are careful about the water level at which we attempt the trip. We and other paddlers have simply extended our capabilities, and the younger paddlers seem to start in at our level. I’m not sure what this means for the future of boating, but the next Olympic team may be quite young.

Before deciding to run the Chattooga yourself, get with a group of other paddlers or rafters who have experience on this river. If you don’t know such paddlers, join the Georgia Canoeing Association and go on one of our several annual trips on this great stream. If you are a rafter, at least follow the white water code, and read this article before running the river.

Let me give you some idea of the beauty and hazards of this trip. Starting from US 76 Bridge, you are quickly involved in action. At “normal” water levels) from 1.5 to 2 ft. on the gauge 100 yards below the bridge (on the S.C. side) you will want to stay left down to the first curve, where “Surfing Rapid” is entered from the right.

Several easy ledges follow, and then the main current flows to the far right, behind several boulders. This is the entrance to Screaming Left Turn, which was the location (shot from several different angles) for several scenes from “Deliverance.” The careless canoeist finds himself driven straight at a rock, with a cross-current left move needed, but difficult. Below the left turn is a pool, where recovery of gear, bruised bodies and egos is possible.

The next rapid follows immediately and is best run on the right. Several chutes follow through a small gorge ending in a slanting left side run into a short pool. This pool and the large sandbar on the Georgia side are good indicators for a large single drop about 200 yards downstream. This rapid called Jumble fits its name by being an apparent pile of rock with no clear passages. You should scout Jumble from the bank your first time down.

Below Jumble, there is about one-third-of-a-mile of shallow, mile rapids, then a widening and deepening of the stream. This is called Suttons Hole. It is used by local residents as a swimming place and is a good place to camp overnight.

The river curves left here, and about 300 yards downstream, a large granite ledge extends from the left and forces the boater to the right. This is Woodall Shoals,  which is dangerous, particularly in higher water  (over 1.7 feet on the gauge) and tends to keep rafts, often ripping out the bottoms. The problem here is a wide, nearly perfectly shaped hydraulic or “souse” hole at the bottom of the first drop. This drop can be sounded or portaged by landing on the ledge at the left side. Let me emphasize – I have seen several rafts kept in this hole for 5 minutes to a half hour. If you insist on trying the drop, stay far left, in the strong tongue dropping into the “notch” in the rapid, and paddle like hell at the bottom. The hydraulic will pull boats (and people) back into the hole from 10 to 15 feet downstream. Don’t play with this first hole in high water. The shoal after the initial drop is twisting, exciting and a good natural slalom course.

The beauty of Woodall shoals has attracted visitors, and a forest service road comes to the pool at the bottom of the rapid. If you have had trouble to here, get out. It is going to get better (or worse, depending on your view).

Below Woodall Shoals, the banks begin to form a gorge, and the water gets heavy. A series of three drops down the boulder-studded gorges brings you to the top of Seven-Foot Falls, which is mighty impressive if seen unexpectedly from the brink. Let the first drop in this gorge warn you to stop and scout this fall. There is a cheat route on the right behind the boulder, which is pretty hairy itself, but which looks much better once you’ve seen one boat go over the fall. It is wise to have someone below with a rope before running either Woodall Shoals or this fall, as either can readily flip boat or raft, and lead to a long, seat-bruising ride.

Several good rapids follow in the next quarter mile, then the river opens up, and a large, fast-dropping creek flows in from the right. This is Stekoa Creek, and the rapid just below is one-third mile of beautiful moderate slalom-type twisting and turning. No single large drops, just constant excitement. At 2 feet on the gauge, this is great water.

At the bottom of Steloa Creek Rapids is a pool, and to your left is a truly beautiful waterfall, Long Creek Falls. This falls was in “Deliverance” and also on the cover of the Atlanta Journal Magazine last summer. Below Long Creek, the river cascades over several drops, with the last cascade in the series piling against a whale-sized boulder, which served as the location for some of the post-wreck scenes in “Deliverance.” The wise paddler will stay left away from this monster rock, moving left in the rapid above the rock.

Just below “Deliverance Rock,” you can catch your first view of a cliff, which I believe to be the most beautiful on, any Georgia river. This is Raven Rock, a 200-foot granite precipice, with beautiful mosses and ferns festooning its surfaces.

Just above the cliff is Raven Rock Rapid, which is entered from the extreme left side. This apparently formidable rapid, which one guide book says cannot be run, is actually a simple open canoe run if approached from the left. The boat or raft is squirted out to the right with tremendous speed, making this one of the best rides on the river.

Below Raven Rock there is about a mile of fairly constant, but not spectacular, water. Eventually, you come to a low bank on the right with signs of use where a 4-wheel vehicle road comes near the river. The small creek below this camping site is called, naturally enough, Camp Creek. The mountaineer with the arrow hole in his chest was “buried” up this creek during the making of “Deliverance.”

The creek and the small rounded mountain beside it are good indications that about 500 yards downstream are the Five Falls Rapids. The pool just above Five Falls is a good place to land to scout the next quarter-mile or to start the portage (difficult) or to say a prayer (easy at this point). The first rapid, inanely named “First Fall” by us but labeled “Devil’s Chute” by the Forest Service (who should know), is entered on the left and is best run by moving right as you descend the first two drops. A small pool at the right bank offers a place to bail and look around the large boulder at the best chute down the 4-to-5-foot drop. Doug Woodward and I ran this rapid for one of the exciting scenes in the film “Deliverance.”

If you swamp or dump in First Fall, get to shore because about 100 feet downstream is Corkscrew, and you don’t want to swim this one. Murray Evans once swam this rapid and sat out some good canoeing months with broken ribs. Corkscrew may be the toughest single rapid on the Chattooga. It is best run by entering at left center, moving left and quickly correcting for the tremendous right, left, right surges which give the rapid its name. There is a decent recovery pool below Corkscrew but again get out quickly if swamped.

Crack in the Rock (really three cracks) follows in short order and should be scouted very carefully. We formerly ran the center crack, which is so narrow a canoe must go through tilted (the drop of 5 feet is in the cracked boulder), until broken paddles, broken noses and badly scrubbed elbows convinced us to use the more open right side crack, which is, however, treacherous. Trees often wedge in this crack, and a broached boat could be disastrous here. Below Crack there is a good pool, so bail out water or stop and scout from here.

The next two rapids are almost continuous, so that the actual difficulty of Jawbone is magnified, since you know that a turnover may well leave you swimming in Sock ‘Em Dog. Jawbone is entered from the right and is best run by catching the eddy pool against the left bank after crossing, then cutting back into the currents, which overlap each other to build up a distressing “ridge” down the center of a long chute with 6-to-8 feet of drop.

This chute “runs out” against the left bank, with good waves and currents constantly forcing you into the wall. The current then turns abruptly right behind a large boulder and leads over the right side into Sock’em Dog. There is an eddy on the left, which is a good place for some people to stop to portage, or potential suicides like myself to catch a breath before entering Sock’em Dog.

Sock’em Dog starts innocently with a quickening current moving right behind obscuring boulders. Two quick twists later, you are suddenly looking off an apparent cliff with the current moving you left. Resist the current and stay far right, trying for a “hump” in the center of the ledge, and you may experience a half second of free fall before disappearing, boat and all, into the froth at the bottom. This is worth, to some of us, all the tension of the approach.

The second pool at the bottom of Sock’em Dog is quite long, and any gear lost above usually can be picked up here.

The last excitement rapid left is Shoulder Bone, which is around the curve at the end of the pool. Run this one slowly in the left center, and you’ll have no trouble. The last rapid to the lake are good but anticlimactic after the razor’s edge upstream. Below Shoulder Bone Branch, the lake begins, and a slow 2-mile paddle brings you to the take out on the South Carolina side.

CLAUDE TERRY’S CHATTOOGA RIVER SAFETY RULES

On the Chattooga, I have seen canoeists lose their boats. I have seen rafts punctured and lost or dragged to the side; the rafters walked out after dark. I have seen kayaks broken in half. I have heard of drownings on the river. In essentially all cases, the canoeists and kayakers were breaking safety rules, and the rafters walked out due to being in a single raft. So please, for your own sake, read this set of rules now and re-read them before launching any trip on the Chattooga.

• Rule: Don’t boat alone or take a single boat with two people. Three canoes or kayaks or two rafts are a minimum for the Chattooga.
• Rule: Allow for heavy water. Canoe with one person or, at the most, two persons per canoe. You will take on less water in the waves, and maneuvering is greatly simplified. When rafting, put two people in a four-man raft, three or four people in a six-man raft. The wear on the raft will be reduced, hang-ups will be cut down, and spills will be less frequent.
• Rule: Kayaks should have flotation bats in good condition. Canoes will survive better with added flotation in the form of Styrofoam or inflated inner tubes.
• Rule: Expert whitewater boaters increasingly urge that life jackets and helmets be worn by open canoeists and rafters when running big rapids. These items are already standard equipment with decked boaters who have more difficulty getting out of their craft while upside down. I personally dislike sun tans distinguished by a “horse collar’ of white but after having helmets damaged and sustaining a “saber scar” on my nose while upside down, I believe totally in protective headgear and flotation vests.
• Rule: All boaters should be good swimmers and not psychologically hung up about water.
• Rule: Allow enough time. The section of the Chattooga described in the accompanying story is a four to six hour run in a canoe or kayak. If a raft, it will take longer. Don’t try to finish a raft run after dark. Sleeping on the river is a bad scene, but going over a dangerous falls in the dark is worse.
• Rule: Check water levels before getting on the river.
• Rule: Honor and personal esteem still matter more than legalities to many local residents. Don’t make the mistake of incurring their displeasure by trying to correct their beliefs or apparent foibles.

By SUZANNE WELANDER

Kayakers on this blackwater stream pass ancient cypress trees, some believed to be over 1,000 years old. Ebenezer Creek has a rich recorded history that incudes the American Revolution and the Civil War.

A black water tributary of the lower Savannah River, Ebenezer Creek boasts a rich history cast within a distinctly rare natural environment. This 13-mile run passes through ancient dwarf cypress and tupelo forests drowned in small shallow lakes that shelter a wide variety of bird and animal species. The sanctuary that the creek has historically provided is now reciprocated by the state of Georgia: it is one of only four waterways designed as a Georgia Scenic River and is a National Natural Landmark.

TRIP SUMMARY: This is a canoeing guide to 13.5-mile paddle on Ebenezer Creek in the Savannah River watershed.  Class, smooth; Length, 13.5 miles; Time, 7 hours; Level, unknown; Gradient, less than 2 foot per mile; Scenery, A-, B+. VIEW MAP

DESCRIPTION: When the water is high, trips can begin at the uppermost access just outside Springfield at Run’s Creek. From there, less than a mile of paddling will bring you to Ebenezer Landing, potentially the site of the first settlement by the German Salzburgers in 1733. In Georgia, the Salzburgers found freedom to live according to their religious beliefs. Settling at the creek at the direction of Governor Oglethorpe, the Salzburgers befriended the Creek Indians of the area, but found that the swamp environment didn’t agree with them. After two years of disease and struggle, they migrated down the creek to found New Ebenezer on higher ground at the confluence. The community thrived until the Revolutionary War, when it was mostly destroyed. The church, however, survived, and is the oldest public building standing in Georgia. Some visitors still see, in the bricks of the church, the fingerprints of the women and children who helpled build it.

Nearly100 years later, the creek was the site of a less-well-known documented tragic incident during the Civil War when hundreds (or thousands) of freed slaves became caught between opposing armies. Seeking protection from Union General Jefferson C. Davis, the refugees trailed his army to the creek; the army took the flooded creek as an opportunity to strand the refugees on the opposite shore. Panic rose as the Confederate Calvary closed in from the other direction, and countless refugees drowned or were killed as they tried to flee.

Today, the paddle down the creek is a profoundly peaceful one. Periodic high water flows of the Savannah River (modulated now, due to the influence of upstream dams) force water to flood in the creek, creating shallow lakes. The resulting ecosystem has been referred to as one of the best examples of backwater swamp in the state. The elongated lakes provide habitat for an unusual forest of virgin dwarfed bald cypress, located 0.5 mile above Long Bridge Road. Huge foundations support the comparatively small trunks of these trees, some estimated to be in excess of 1,000 years old. The swamp’s low nutrient levels, partly responsible for this dwarfing, have facilitated the invasion of non-native plant species that threaten the natural diversity of the creek’s native flora. One of the most scenic portions of the creek lies near its mouth, where a forest of swamp tupelos tower above the reflective blackwater. Their regular pattern and lack of intervening vegetation inspire comparisons to a temple or cathedral.

A wide variety of animals thrive within the creek’s shelter, including elusive alligators. Birds flock to the area, making bird watching a major attraction for paddlers. The creek’s waters provide spawning grounds for spotted bass.

The creek passes intermittently along flooded swamps and between banks. When the water is high, the creek flows out of its banks to thread through the swampland forest. You can too, but take care not to get lost, particularly below Long Bridge Road. Even in high water the current is imperceptibly slow. Dry landings are rare in the 3 miles below the Tommy Long boat ramp and at other spots when the water is up. The creek’s path is obvious when the water is low; exposed strainers are present, but don’t present a problem.

SHUTTLE: From Savannah go north on I-95, Exit 109 for GA 21 north, to a right-hand turn at GA 275. The boat ramp is at the end of the road. To get to the usual put-in, take GA 275 west to a right turn onto Long Bridge Road and continue to the creek. A bike trail can be used for a canoe-bicycle loop. Historical sites, including the church and a museum, are located at the confluence in New Ebenezer.

GAUGE: Consult the USG website for Ebenezer at Springfield. The creek is runable all year. Higher levels make side exploration of the swamps and sloughs possible.

MAPS: USGS maps: Hardeeville Northwest (GA/SC), Rincon (GA/SC), Springfield South

LINKS:

• Read more about the Savannah River.
• Download a River Poster of the Savannah River showing environmental and historical information 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. 

The Little Satilla produces an isolated wilderness paddling experience a result of passing through miles of undeveloped state-owned land.

Thick, luxurious swamp forest of swamp black gum, sweet bay, pine, and cypress confine this brownish-red stream as it winds an intricate southeastwardly path to the main Satilla. Unlike its larger namesake, which displays massive white-sand bars at low water, the Little Satilla charms by displaying the same scenery on a more intimate scale – making it ideal for paddle craft and little else. Over 10 miles of river pass through state-owned lands, resulting in an isolated wilderness paddling experience. Small bluffs grace the streamside from time to time and provide good high-water camping areas. Unlike the main Satilla, sandbars are comparatively rare.

SUMMARY: This is a canoeing guide to a 37-mile trip on the Little Satilla River in the Satilla Watershed that can be divided into shorter trips by using alternate put-in and take-out points. Class, smooth; Length, 37 miles; Time, 3 days; Level, N/A; Gradient, less than 1 foot per mile; Scenery, B+. VIEW SATILLA WATERSHED MAP

DESCRIPTION: Runnable downstream form the US 84 bridge, except in the typically dry season from later summer into fall, the Little Satilla averages 45 to 75 feet in width with a slow to moderate current. Its banks are 2-7 feet high and are composed of an off-white sandy clay. Throughout its runnable length the stream is shaded and the banks buffered with a thick undergrowth. Wildlife, especially birds, abounds and is easily observed by the quiet paddler. Generally remote and pristine, the river corridor is nevertheless occasionally penetrated by agricultural development.

There are no rapids on the Little Satilla, with occasional deadfalls being the only hazard to navigation. Areas of special interest include the Little Satilla Wildlife Management Area, which spans both sides of 10.3 miles of the stream between the US 84 and GA 32 bridge crossings. Check hunting season schedules online at www.gadnr.org if you plan on camping here; an off-season float will afford more peace, privacy and safety.

Access is good and trips on the Little Satilla can be extended beyond its mouth onto the Satilla River. Just plan on making that a multiple-day camping trip since the next closest public access after passing US 301 on the Little Satilla requires 15.6 miles of paddling (7.3 to the Satilla, and another 8.3 miles to the Warner Landing boat ramp.)

SHUTTLE: From Nahunta, take US 301 north to the river for the last take-out on the Little Satilla. To reach the next upstream access point at Humpback Road, use Trudie Road south of the river. The next two highest access points are reached by taking 301 north to GA 32 west; there is access as the highway crosses the river (southeast corner), and a DNR boat ramp upstream of GA 32 is reached by turning right onto Zirkle Road after crossing the river. The highest access is on US 84/GA 38, which is most easily reached by continuing west on GA 32 into Patterson and turning right. Access is on the right side of the road after crossing the river.

GAUGE: There is no gauge. For additional information, call the Waycross Fisheries Office at 912-285-6094.

MAPS: USGS Maps: Screven, Patterson Southeast. County Maps: Pierce, Appling, Wayne, Brantley

Links

• Canoe the Satilla River in the same watershed.
• Canoe the Alabaha River in the same watershed.
• Read more about the Satilla watershed.
• Download a poster of the entire Satilla watershed showing the Little Satilla, as well as historical and environmental information about the entire 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. 

The Alabaha River, a stream in the Satilla watershed, passes through a wooded swamp corridor draped with Spanish moss and bordered by palmetto stands.

Black water reflects a mesmerizing mirror of the gum cypress-dominated floodplain of the Alabaha. Flowing with slow to moderate current, this diminutive stream passes through a wooded swamp corridor draped with Spanish moss and bordered by palmetto stands occasionally penetrated by pine forests and agricultural development. Banks of 2-8 feet in height hold the river underneath a thick canopy of trees as it slides through Bacon and Pierce counties before emptying into the Satilla River east of Waycross.

TRIP SUMMARY: This is a canoeing guide to a 16.1 mile trip on the Alabaha river in the Satilla Watershed that can be divided into shorter trips by using alternative put-in and take-out points, or extended by adding segments on the Satilla River shown on the accompanying map and in another post on Satilla River Canoeing. Class, smooth and tidal; Length, 16.1 miles; Time, 1-2 days; Level, N/A; Gradient, less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery, B+. VIEW SATILLA WATERSHED MAP

DESCRIPTION: Runnable below the GA 15 Bridge except in the late summer and fall, the Alabaha is similar to the Satilla in flora, wildlife and topography but is far smaller and less convoluted in its course. Its small size lends an air of privacy and increases the probability of deadfall encounters, the only hazard to navigation. Access is good, and extended trips onto the Satilla are possible after reaching the mouth of the Alabaha.

SHUTTLE: The last take-out for the Alabaha is located downstream of the confluence on the Satilla. To get there from Blackshear, go east on US 84/GA38. Take the first right immediately after crossing the Alabaha; follow this road to Old River Road and turn right. Continue straight onto the dirt road when the pavement takes a 90-degree turn to the right (turning into Voight Bridge Road). Continue straight for 5.2 miles until reaching Circle Drive on the right. Follow Circle Drive to Turkey Ridge Road (CR 312) and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) boat ramp. Intermediate access is available at Voight Bridge Road, the boat ramp just downstream at US 84 (southeast corner of the bridge), and at the southeast corner of the GA 15 bridge.

GAUGE: There is none. Call the Waycross Fisheries Office at 912-285-6094 for more information.

MAPS: USGS Maps: Blackshear East. County Maps: Pierce County.

Links

• Canoe the Satilla River in the same watershed.
• Canoe the Little Satilla River in the same watershed.
• Read more about the Satilla watershed
• Download a poster of the Satilla watershed showing the Alahaba River as well as historical and environmental information about the entire 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.

White sandbars on the Satilla are scenic campsites. Cypress swamps (in the photo below), provide a contrasting river environment for paddlers.

The Satilla River, one of Georgia’s 14 major watersheds, has the distinction of being the largest blackwater river situated entirely within Georgia. With a dignified and tranquil pace, it oozes along beneath a wooded canopy, bypassing Waycross and the Okefenokee Swamp before looping south to meet the Atlantic at St. Andrews Sound. Undergrowth is thick and luxurious with swamp cyrilla and azalea setting the reflective river aflame with color in the early spring. Glistening white sandbars occupy the insides of turns and provide resting spots for the traveler, while birds, reptiles, and other animals hurry about their business in the swamp. Although many adjacent acres have been reclaimed for commercial pine planting, the river, cradled neatly by a wet bottomland forest corridor, remains pristine in appearance if not in fact. Since the area is favored by sportsmen, boat ramps are common and fishing camps are frequently encountered along the Satilla’s course.

This canoeing guide is divided into three separate sections: Section 1: 55.6 miles; Section 2:   101.8 miles; and Section 3: 25.5 miles, each of which may be further divided into shorter trips.

Section 1: US 441 to US 84/ GA 38
Class tidal and smooth water; length, 55.6 miles; time, up to 1.5 weeks; level 5.0 feet; gradient less than 2 feet per mile; scenery A- SEE MAP

DESCRIPTION: The Satilla is runnable below US 441 during the winter and spring. In Atkinson County where this section begins, the Satilla flows in a straighter course than in Ware County and below where the characteristic white sandbars begin to materialize. An umbrella of pine, swamp black gum, water oak, laurel oak, sweet bay, and majestic cypress shade the stream as it winds past white sand banks up to 8 feet high, sandy bluffs, and commercial pine forest plateaus that tower over the stream from time to time. A rather barren strip of cultivated tableland parallels the Satilla for about a mile below the GA 158 Bridge in Ware County before the stream again slips back into the wooded corridor.

Deadfalls blockages above Waycross pose the primary hazards to navigation in this section, impeding downstream progress and acting as a barrier for larger boats. A canoe is the ideal watercraft to portage around any obstructions. Though water levels fluctuate somewhat unpredictably, especially above Waycross, flash flooding is not considered a problem. Campsites, however, should be chosen on bluffs rather than sandbars in the winter and spring.

SHUTTLE:  To reach the lowest take-out for this section from Waycross, take US 82 west. Turn right onto US 1/23 and continue to the bridge over the river. Access is on the southwest corner of the bridge over the main channel. Most of the upper access points are most easily reached from US 82 south of the river.

GAUGE: Data for the gauge located near Waycross is available on the USGS website. Less than 5 feet can make progress difficult. Sandbars are covered above 8 feet, and above 9-10 feet, the current becomes swift. The maximum is up to high flood stage. Call the Waycross Fisheries Office at 912-285-6094 for more information.

Section 2: US 84 / GA 38 to GA 252
Class, tidal and smooth water; length, 101.8 miles; time, up to 2 weeks; level 5.0 feet; gradient, less than 1 foot per mile; scenery A- SEE MAP

DESCRIPTION: The Satilla is runnable below Waycross most of the year, although it is still possible to encounter downed trees that completely block the stream as low as the US 301 Bridge. The river starts this section by broadening to between 55 and 80 feet as it wriggles out from under its tree canopy to some extent. Throughout the circumambient terrain of Waycross, open farm fields intrude on the privacy of the river and assert themselves once again along the Pierce-Brantley county line below the GA 121 Bridge, where the white sandbars become rare until the confluence with the Little Satilla 37 miles downstream.

Below the mouth of the Little Satilla, sandbars once again become prevalent, as do horseshoe loops, bypass islands, and oxbow lakes, particularly where the river flows near Nahunta. The Satilla continues to broaden, reaching a width of 110-130 feet before passing into Camden County. Flowing along the Charlton-Camden county line, the wilderness hides any sign of civilization as immense woodland swamps settle in and the river widens further to 180-210 feet. Tall sandy bluffs offer high ground camping above the GA 252 Bridge, and the ruins of Burnt Fort, a pre-Revolutionary era bastion, make an interesting side-trip.

The next verified public access below US 82 is 29 miles downstream, eliminating everything but the possibility of multiple-day canoe-camping trips.

SHUTTLE: The last take-out for this section is northeast of Folkston on GA 252. See the map for the locations of up-river access points.

GAUGE: Data for the gauge located near Waycross is available on the USGS website.

Section 3: GA 252 to Woodbine
Class, tidal; length, 25.5 miles; time, up to 3 days; level, N/A; gradient, less than 1 foot per mile; scenery A- SEE MAP

DESCRIPTION: Depending on the water level coming downstream, tidal effects begin to influence the river as high as the 3-R Fish Camp, 10 miles above the GA 252 Bridge. Grassy marsh prairies alternate with bottom forest along the river channel, particularly below the mouth of Armstrong Creek. Below the US 17 Bridge at Woodbine to the St. Andrew Sound, access is almost non-existent and tidal currents are tricky. Some sandy bluffs persist in this area, but wet marshes, intricate networks of tidal creeks, and saltwater estuaries are the order of the day. The tidal currents near St. Andrew Sound, along with some powerboat traffic in the lower reaches, pose the primary hazards to navigation in this section.

SHUTTLE: The lowest take-out in this section is at the boat ramp on the southeast corner of US 17 Bridge in Woodbine. See the map for the locations of up-river access points.

GAUGE: The gauge at Atkinson as reported on the USGS website is more appropriate to this section, though levels will be heavily influenced by the tides. Be familiar with tidal patterns and how to manage them, particularly near the end of this section.

USGS Maps: Douglas South, Pearson, Axson, Talmo, Dixie Union, Blackshear West, Waycross East, Hoboken West, Blackshear East, Patterson Southeast, Hortense, Nahunta, Boulogne, Woodbine. County Maps: Camden, Charlton, Coffee, Atkinson, Ware.

Links:

• The Satilla River is one of Georgia 14 major watersheds. Read more about the Satilla River, including the best places from which a non-boater can view the river.
• Download a Georgia River Poster of the Satilla River.
• Want to explore the Satilla River but would prefer to have a guide? Contact SouthEast Adventures for a Satilla canoe trip.

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 Canoochee River’s moderate currents of the upper and middle sections of the river are moderated by the ebb and flow of the tide near its confluence with the Ogeechee.

CANOEING THE CANOOCHEE RIVER from US Hwy 280 to US Hwy 17. Location: Ogeechee Watershed in the Southeast Georgia Travel Region; Class: Tidal or smooth water; Length, 57.1 miles; Time: up to 6.5 days with shorter trips possible; Level, 2.5 feet; Gradient, less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery: B+ VIEW MAP

Pristine, secluded, and rich in wildlife and vegetation, the Canoochee River is a delightful smooth-water stream. Its long stretches of undeveloped land and frequent white-sand beaches make it ideally suited to camping trips. Originating in Emanuel County northwest of Savannah, the river winds its way to the Atlantic, merging with the Ogeechee near I-95.

DESCRIPTION: Characterized by its sparkling burgundy-colored water and white banks and sandbars, the Canoochee runs nearly year-round above US 280, though it is not as remote as the section described below. There is good access to the upper section via a state-run boat ramp at GA 169.

Downstream of the US 280 Bridge, the river banks are 3-to-7 feet in height, average 45 degrees in slope, and are lined with black gum, sweet gum, swamp palm, cypress, willow, and swamp white oak. Adjacent floodplains range from unusually wide to virtually non-existent when pine forest penetrates almost to the river’s edge. Stream width varies from 40 (more…)

Cooper Creek, in the Tennessee River Watershed, is a good introduction to “creeking.” Suitable for intermediate or advanced paddlers, it is only runnable during rainy season or after a heavy rain. Photo by Mountainfreak.net.

CANOEING COOPER CREEK from Forest Service Road 33A to Mulkey Campground CLASS: I-III (IV in high water);LENGTH: 5.2 miles; TIME: 4 hours; GAUGE: None; LEVEL: N/A; GRADIENT: 60 feet per mile; SCENERY: A.

Cooper Creek, in the Tennessee River Watershed, is a delightful introduction to “creeking” and is suitable for intermediate or advanced paddlers. The creek runs through pristine wilderness and is one of the most primitive small streams in the state. It’s small and tight, and consequently, hosts a fair number of deadfalls. Scouting and portaging are possible at most major rapids. The creek is a major tributary of the Toccoa River. Cooper will only be runnable during rainy season or after a major rain. If the small island at the put-in is under water, it is runnable. If it looks too honkin’ high, it probably is.

DESCRIPTION: Cooper Creek starts with Class I and II rapids and almost never has a flat section without something of interest. A mile or so from the put-in, a huge rock in the center of the stream and an obvious horizon line presage the first interesting rapid, Corner Picket (Class III-). Scout the 5-foot drop from the large granite rock in the center of the stream. It can be run on either side, but the right side has a good surfing hole. Cooper Falls (Class III) follows almost immediately. This drop is a 16-foot slide, which can’t be scouted, but shouldn’t be any trouble.

After the slide the river gains in gradient and Class II rapids increase in frequency. After another mile or so the creek takes a sharp right turn. In about an eighth of a mile, the last big drop occurs. This rapid is known as “Grunch” (an 8-foot waterfall) and should be scouted from the right bank. Run it on the left side, but be careful, as Grunch has smashed the deck plate of more than one canoe. Below Grunch, Cooper picks up even more in gradient and is almost continuous Class II for several miles. What looks like a low head dam is approached under the FS 236 Bridge; don’t worry, it’s a simple Class II drop. Soon after the last drop and a few more Class I ripples, the takeout comes into view, and you should be able to see your car.

SHUTTLE: From Dahlonega, take GA 60 north. Stay on GA 60 to Suches; after passing into Suches, turn right onto GA 180 east. Continue on this road until you reach Lake Winfred Scott Recreation Area. Immediately past the recreation area, turn left onto Cooper Creek Road, FS 33. Turn left when FS 33A branches off to the right. The unpaved road will become paved again and travel past some houses and farms, but don’t get worried. Turn right onto FS 236 and continue on this road until you come to a stop sign at the FS 4 junction. Turn left on FS 4 and proceed to the Mulkey Creek Campground on the left, the take-out for this run. To reach the put-in, return to FS 33A. The put-in is at the bridge over the creek.

GAUGE: There is no gauge. Cooper will only be runnable during rainy season or after a major rain. If the island at the put-in is under water, it is runnable. If it looks too high, it probably is.

Links:

• Read more about the Tennessee River Watershed.

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: Hiwassee

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. (more…)

By SUZANNE WELANDER

This is a paddling guide to a trip on the Suwannee River, including a portion of the Okefenokee Swamp, in extreme Southwest Georgia, with a total distance of 45.5 miles. The trip may be divided into shorter sections by selecting alternate put-in and take-out points. See map.

Deep in the Okefenokee Swamp, the Suwannee is born at the confluence of the East and Middle Forks of the Suwannee at the northern end of Billys Lake.

Thanks to Stephen Foster, there are few streams in American folklore and culture better known than the Suwannee. The mere mention of its name stirs fanciful visions of stately moss-draped cypress and sultry Southern days. No more beautiful than several dozen other southern Georgia rivers, the Suwannee is, nevertheless, a living legend in the most literal sense, and therefore something special. The river originates deep in the bowels of the Okefenokee Swamp and winds its way southeast, escaping into Florida and its terminus at the Gulf of Mexico.

DESCRIPTION: Only a small portion of the Suwannee flows within the state of its birth, a fact made much of by Florida tourism promoters. This section, however, is unique among all stretches of the river by virtue of the almost mystical aura conferred by the Okefenokee Swamp.

Deep in the middle of the swamp, the Suwannee is born at the confluence of the East and Middle Forks of the Suwannee at the northern end of Billys Lake. Access is available at the nearby Stephen Foster (who else?) State Park. You will quickly find, however, that paddling within Okefenokee is heavily regulated (see the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge profile). If you proceed downstream and out of the swamp, you will have to cross the sill, a man-made levee constructed to stabilize the depth of water in the swamp. The portage is short and easy, but alas, a permit is required. If this sounds like the heavy hand of bureaucracy, remember that this regulation and several dozen more like it (like carrying all human waste out of the swamp), have preserved the pristine integrity of one of America’s irreplaceable natural wonders.

Once across the sill, the Suwannee settles into shallow, white, sandy clay banks and flows southward through a watery floodplain forested with pond cypress, swamp black gum, sweet bay, swamp cyrilla, slash pine, magnolia and palmetto. Since animals and birds do not need permits to cross the sill, the incredibly diverse fauna found in the Okefenokee can also be found along the upper Suwannee.

The water color is dark red, stained by tannic acid from decaying vegetation, and the current is slow. Below the sill to the GA 94 bridge crossing at Fargo, the river flows through several large midstream stands of cypress and gum, which at higher water require some heads-up navigation and present a nice opportunity to get lost in the surrounding inundated lowlands. While the flow of the main current is usually easy to follow, there are times when map, compass, and a little swamp luck are helpful. Access between the state park and Fargo is almost nonexistent, except at a private campground off of GA 177 where camping and launching are available for a small fee. The state has purchased 350 acres of land on the river at Fargo; in the future there may be more access available.

Below Fargo the Suwannee remains isolated in pristine, exotic wilderness and flows languidly along a shady, twisting course of moss-draped cypress. The first access point below Fargo is CR 6, just over the state line. If you continue, you will notice that the banks are higher and more well-defined, and that numerous feeder streams enter the Suwannee. Farther downstream, Florida’s largest rapid, Big Shoals, and the Stephen Foster (who else?) Memorial await you.

The Suwannee’s current is slow to moderate. Dangers to navigation are confined to the standard deadfalls in the stream’s adolescent reaches and locals drinking at the GA 94 bridge. Since campsites are rare below access point B, paddlers should launch with sufficient daylight remaining to make Fargo before dark.

SHUTTLE (See map): Out of Fargo, take US 441 south into Florida. Turn right onto CR 6 and follow it to the river. Return to US 441 north for put-in access at its crossing in Fargo or continue north on GA 177 to the fish camp, where camping and launching are available for a fee, or to the highest access point deep in the swamp at Stephen Foster State Park.

GAUGE: Levels for gauges at and above Fargo are available on the USGS Web site:

Suwannee River above Fargo, GA

Suwannee River at US 441, at Fargo

Runnability levels are unknown. More information can be provided by calling the local outfitters or by calling the Waycross Fisheries Office at (912) 285-6094.

PAPER MAPS: (USGS maps) Billys Island, The Pocket, Strange Island, Fargo, Needmore, Fargo Southwest. (County maps) Charlton, Ware, Clinch, Echols

More Links

• Read more about the Suwannee River, one of Georgia’s 14 major watersheds.
• Read more about Stephen Foster State Park in the Okefenokee.
• Are the lyrics to “Way Down Upon the Swanee River” racist? Decide for yourself.
• Read more about the tragic life of Stephen Foster, who never laid eyes on the river he made world famous.

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

Family Fun on the Toccoa. The Toccoa’s many assets  incude beautiful scenery, wooded seclusion and mild rapids. See more photos of the Toccoa at the end of this guide.

The Toccoa is a purely delightful mountain stream. Its upper reaches harbor a primitive woodland paddling experience with mostly mild rapids. Unregulated by dams, the river’s flow becomes the major feeder for Blue Ridge Lake. Below the dam, the river widens as it weaves through settled lands on its way to McCaysville and into Tennessee, where it is thereafter known as the Ocoee River.

From Deep Hole Campground to Blue Ridge Lake, a distance of about 17.5 miles. Allow 1-2 days. Class I-II with some III.        See MAP

DESCRIPTON: While it is navigable by canoe or kayak above the junction with Cooper Creek in Fannin County, the highest usual put-in is the U.S. Forest Service campground at Deep Hole on GA 60. The first 3-mile segment traverses some farmland, some woodland, and intersects with a couple of roads before veering into the fragrant realm of the undisturbed forest. Putting in downstream of the campground where GA 60 passes near the river brings the forest’s entrance 1.8 miles closer. (more…)