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: 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. (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…)

The Upper South River from Moreland Road to Bouldercrest Road, a distance of approximately 3.4 miles. View Map

By Suzanne Welander

The author manuvers in swift water on Atlanta’s Upper South River. She reports seeing more wildlife, deer incuded, along the banks of this metro Atlanta stream than on most of her other river trips on more remote areas of Georgia.

Mothers Day 2008 wind-whipped us into a tailspin. Yes, we had just experienced a more substantial rainfall than any in recent memory, but with the 30+mph winds out of the west, our plans for a day paddling appeared dead until we remembered the due east heading of the nearby South River. The closest whitewater run to our house, the South also serves as the conduit for much of Atlanta’s (hopefully) treated sewage.  How bad could it be? With a tailwind at our backs, we loaded the boats and drove five miles to find out. (more…)

By Suzanne Welander

From Carters Lake Dam to Georgia Highway 136, about 8.5 miles. Map.

The Coosawattee is the host river for this year’s “Paddle Georgia,” June 20-26. The trip described here covers some of the same Coosawattee River mileage that will be covered in the Paddle Georgia 7-day, 92-mile experience.

All the whitewater bang in this section of river is limited to one small ledge at the put-in below the dam. If you’re not up for the splishy-splashy fun, this rapid is easily missed by starting your trip in the large eddy below the ledge. From here on out, the Coosawattee is a peaceful float, occasionally punctured by the increasing number of dead trees littering the streambed. Maneuvering is occasionally required to dodge the limbs. Being downstream of the dam has its advantages:  this section of river is continually fed, even in drought periods.

On June 20-26, 2009, the Coosawattee hosts Paddle Georgia, a fundraiser for the nonprofit Georgia River Network.  Participants registered for this multi-day float put-in upstream in Ellijay, continue through Carters Lake, and 74 miles downstream to Rome.

The Coosawattee River is the lost gem of North Georgia’s whitewater streams. Said to have rivaled the Chattooga River, the most dramatic portions of the Coosawattee now lie stilled beneath the surface of Carters Lake. A sense of what the Coosawattee was and what it has become is masterfully conveyed by James Dickey’s poem “On the Coosawattee.” It has been suggested that Dickey’s experiences on the river before it was dammed were a major influence on his novel Deliverance. The Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers meet in Ellijay to form the Coosawattee; 9.3 miles of pleasing Class I and II rapids remain of the upper section. Below the dam, the Coosawattee snakes along a sedate course across Gordon County before it merges with the Conasauga River to become the Oostanaula River.

DESCRIPTION: Below the Carters Lake re-regulation reservoir, the Coosawattee becomes a higher volume valley river that meanders through more populated areas. Farmland, industrial plants, and some woodland make up the stream-side environment. The Coosawattee merges with the Conasauga near Resaca and is, thereafter, called the Oostanaula River.

SHUTTLE: To get to the take-out for this section, take exit #320 off of I-75 for Georgia Highway 136 and head east, making sure that you follow 136 as it jogs to the left, then turns to the right and crosses the railroad tracks. Continue on 136 to the river. To reach the put-in, continue east on 136, pass US411, and turn left onto Old US411. After crossing the river (see the dam upstream on your right), turn right into the recreation area. Watch for the dirt road on the right that leads back to the put-in underneath the bridge.

GAUGE: Flows are dependent on dam releases from the re-regulation reservoir and can be found on the USGS Web site for the Coosawattee at Carters or Pine Chapel, Georgia, or by calling the Army Corps of Engineers at (706) 334-2248. The Corps adheres to a required minimum flow of 240 cubic feet per second (cfs). While the levels don’t change rapidly, a call to check the release schedule in advance of your trip is recommended.

This canoeing guide was adapted from A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, by Suzanne Welander, Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and the Georgia Coast, as well as a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling in general. Order this and canoeing and kayaking guides for other states from Menasha Ridge Press.

By Suzanne Welander

From GA Hwy 128 to GA Hwy 127, a distance of approximately 29.3 miles. View map

The Flint River. In terms of wilderness beauty and spectacular vistas of varied terrain, the Flint is rivaled by no other large river in Georgia.

Looking for an unusual choice for a canoe-camping trip? Try the Flint River north of Lake Blackshear. It’s easily accessible, and as of late 2007, utterly devoid of any sight of human habitation. Sounds are another matter: since the surrounding land above the 4-12 foot river banks is relatively flat, motorized traffic sounds can and do permeate an otherwise primitive experience. That did little to deflate spirits on our three-day trip. The river’s narrow streambed is surprisingly intimate, especially given its girth in upstream sections. With ample sandy beaches for camping and leisurely breaks, this section of the Flint River delighted. (more…)

By Suzanne Welander

From Chicken Coop Gap to Alaculsy Valley, a distance of approximately 5.4 miles. View map

The Conasauga leaps to life high on the pristine slopes of the Cohutta Wilderness. Adventuresome paddlers with the rain gods smiling upon them can catch the adrenaline rush through the upper section, a steep descent through an isolated forest wilderness.

One of the most pristine whitewater runs in Georgia, this section of the Conasauga River is for experienced whitewater paddlers only. High in the headwaters within the Cohutta Wilderness, access is extremely remote and not for the unskilled or faint of heart. Since running it requires a two-inch or more rainfall in the headwaters, opportunities to paddle this section are rare. In the five years between my two runs, my recollection of the river’s steep pitch were almost completely obliterated by romantic memories of the pine sap perfume that permeated the river corridor after a hurricane-fueled deluge scored the vegetation on the banks. Five years later, the sparkling clear water was unchanged, and so was the surprisingly accelerating gradient! The January sun couldn’t penetrate the deep canyon that accompanied the steepest two miles. (more…)

By Suzanne Welander

From Juliette to Pope’s Ferry, a distance of approximately 9.8 miles.    View map

The Ocmulgee River. Flowing southeast below Lloyd Shoals Dam through the Piedmont, the Ocmulgee winds through steep-to-rolling hills and narrow valleys flanked by a lush wooded corridor. Shoals resume at half-mile intervals below the dam and continue all the way to the take-out.

Drought-constrained paddlers need not stay dry-docked; this section of the Ocmulgee River north of Macon is dam-fed on a somewhat predictable schedule, and offers beautiful forest scenery only occasionally interrupted by streamside development. An easy two-hour drive from Atlanta, the 9.8 mile section from Juliette to Pope’s Ferry is less fragrant than the water immediately below Lloyd Shoals dam and Lake Jackson and ends before the large Arkwright Power Plant. Forest views dominate the river corridor on this easy day trip for paddlers with Class I-II skills.

The Ocmulgee is born at the confluence of the Alcovy and South Rivers in the backwaters of Jackson Lake in Butts and Jasper Counties. Flowing southeast below Lloyd Shoals Dam through the Piedmont, the Ocmulgee winds through steep-to-rolling hills and narrow valleys flanked by a lush, wooded corridor of pine, sweet gum, hickory, willow, red maple, white oak, black oak, and beech. Rock outcroppings occasionally grace the riverside as the stream runs within well-defined red clay banks 6–14 feet high, sharply inclined between 60 and 90 degrees. Scrub vegetation is thick with diverse flora, including ferns, vines, and shrubs.

At Juliette, you must make a quarter-mile portage on the left around the Birch Dam. Shoals resume at half-mile intervals below the dam, seldom exceeding easy Class II, and continue all the way to Arkwright. The large Arkwright Power Plant signals the end of the Ocmulgee’s whitewater and the departure of the river from the Piedmont.

GAUGE: The river is generally runnable from Lake Jackson to Macon all year, subject to regular but capricious releases at Lloyd Shoals Dam. Flow volume is reported on the USGS Web site for the river at Jackson. The minimum is 400 cfs; 800 cfs is more enjoyable. The maximum is flood stage. Water released from the dam is cold, increasing the risk of hypothermia in cooler weather.

SHUTTLE: To the put-in at Juliette, take the exit #186 from I-75 and head east on Juliette Road. After crossing Birch Dam and the river, turn right onto Round Oak Juliette Road, then take another right onto Old River Road, and a final hard right turn at the sign for river access. A dirt road takes you to a parking area. To the take-out, return to Juliette Road, cross back over the river and turn left onto Highway 87. Travel approximately nine miles; turn left onto Pope’s Ferry Road, veer right at the fork and follow the road over the railroad tracks and down to the boat ramp area. View map.

This canoeing guide was adapted from A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia by Suzanne Welander, Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and the Georgia Coast as well as a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling in general. Order this and canoeing and kayaking guides for other states from Menasha Ridge Press.

By Suzanne Welander

From Griffin FerryRoad to GA Hwy 152 (a distance of approximately 7.1 miles) and from GA Hwy 152 to GA Hwy 292 ( a distance of approximately 6.8 miles) View map

Clear dark waters run sparkling along the Ohopee’s contrasting bottom and banks of sun-drenched white sand. This is the westernmost and northernmost “blackwater” river in Georgia, an environment often encountered on Coastal Plain streams.

What a fluke! In the deepest recesses of the 2008 winter drought, the Ohoopee River crested its banks and flooded the surrounding wetlands for two weeks running — while surrounding watersheds went lacking for rain. The resulting high water flows hid the white sand beaches this blackwater river is known for, instead making it possible to paddle around streamside second residences and sneak through inundated forest shortcuts that opened up on the inside curve of the river’s oxbows. We paddled these uppermost sections of the river for two consecutive weeks, using an unflappable taxi service out of Reidsville to complete the shuttle.

Burgundy-red waters run clear and sparkling over the contrasting bottom and banks of sun-drenched white sand on the Ohoopee. A tributary of the Altamaha River, it is the western and northernmost river sporting this Coastal Plain combination. A shading canopy of moss-draped cypress and hardwoods combines with the Ohoopee’s natural tranquility and remote, pristine setting to set it apart as a showplace of nature and one of the most exotic and beautiful streams in southern Georgia.

DESCRIPTION: Wildlife is varied and plentiful throughout the wide bottomland swamp corridor that cradles the Ohoopee along its serpentine course. Small islands, meandering by-passes, and oxbows are not uncommon, particularly in the reaches below Pendelton
Creek. The current is moderate throughout, and the level of difficulty is Class I, with sharp bends and trees growing in the stream keeping it interesting. Runnable except during dry periods downstream of the US 1 bridge in Emanuel County, the stream’s width ranges from 30 to 45 feet, widens to between 50 and 65 feet at GA 292 west of Collins, and culminates at 80 feet as it approaches the Altamaha. Hazards consist primarily of occasional deadfalls and a dam that must be portaged above the GA 56 bridge outside Reidsville (G). Numerous white sandbars and beaches lend themselves to swimming, picnicking, and canoe-camping. The banks, also of white sand, are 2–4 feet high and slope at approximately 30–45 degrees. The surrounding terrain is mixed lowland swamp forests of bald cypress, willow, pond cypress, swamp black gum, Ogeechee lime, ash, red maple, water oak, and sweet bay, rising gradually to a low upland plateau.

GAUGE: Using USGS Web site data for the gauge at Reidsville, the minimum is 190 cfs, and the maximum up to high flood stage. The Metter Game and Fish office, at (912) 685-2145, can provide more information.

SHUTTLE: From I-16, exit #90 for US1 between Macon and Savannah, and head south. Stay on GA Hwy 86 as US1 forks to the right. Turn left onto Griffin Ferry Road and proceed to the first put-in. To drive to other access points, return to GA Hwy 86 and turn left, then turn left at either GA Hwy 152 or GA Hwy 292. View map.

This canoeing guide was adapted from A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Georgia, by Suzanne Welander, Bob Sehlinger and Don Otey. Organized efficiently by watersheds, the book contains paddling guides to over 80 Georgia streams and rivers, plus the Okefenokee Swamp and the Georgia Coast, as well as a wealth of interesting and useful information about Georgia physiography and paddling in general. Order this and canoeing and kayaking guides from other states from Menasha Ridge Press.