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…)