By SUZANNE WELANDER

This 10.7-mile canoeing guide to the Tallulah is divided into two sections of 4.7 and 6 miles respectively. Both section contain class III whitewater. Photo Credits: Atlanta Smith 84 on Flickr.

The Tallulah River is both a small stream of outstanding beauty and a dramatic whitewater run that pushes the limits of navigability. The headwaters are unbelievably clear, attracting avid anglers and occasionally paddlers interested in a technical Class II-III run amid moss-covered boulders. At the other end of the river is the celebrated Tallulah Gorge, home to read-and-run whitewater from Class IV+ to Class V and an exploding wall of water that could only be called The Thing. In between these two extremes are four dams and very little navigable river other than the middle run described below.

This is a 10.7-mile canoeing guide to the Tallulah River divided into two sections, the Coleman River Confluence to Plum Orchard Road (4.7 miles) and Tiger Creek Confluence to Tallulah Falls Lake (6 miles). VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

SECTION 1, COLEMAN RIVER CONFLUENCE TO PLUM ORCHARD ROAD

SUMMARY: Class, II (III+I); Length, 4.7 miles; Time, 4 hours; Gauge, Web and visual; Level, 2.45 feet; Gradient, 23 (45) feet per mile; Scenery, B. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: Exceptional scenery and whitewater make this trip very worthwhile. Huge boulders surrounded by draping hemlocks dominate the scene. The run is a fairly technical Class II with two Class III rapids located in the first mile, interspersed with deep pools. Higher water brings some of the rapids to a Class III+ pitch. Its cold, clear waters make Tallulah River an excellent whitewater run in the winter and spring, or after any heavy rain. Hazards include strainers, deadfalls, undercut rocks, and difficult rapids.

The put-in is half a mile above the junction with Coleman River, just above the Forest Service’s Tallulah River campground. Above this point is a treacherous Class V run (in the upper gorge) and above that, more Class I-II water. The upper gorge run is more dangerous than the downstream gorge, dropping 250 feet in a 1-mile stretch with numerous undercuts, sieves, and logs constricted into the tight channel. Farther up FS 70 is another Forest Service campground at Tate Branch; primitive camping is available on the east side of the road.

This section of river is popular for trout fishing. Do not trespass onto private property, and do your best not to disturb any anglers you encounter on the river. It is recommended that paddlers take-out on river right at Plum Orchard Road above Lake Burton.

SHUTTLE: From Clayton, take US 76 west, turning right onto Persimmon Road before crossing Lake Burton. Turn left onto Plum Orchard Road (which is also called Cat Gap Road) and continue to the river. To get to the put-in, return to Persimmon Road and continue north 2.3 miles to make a left onto FS 70 (Tallulah River Road). The put-in is located at the bridge half a mile above the confluence with the Coleman River.

GAUGE: A telemetry gauge is located at the end of this section, and levels are reported on the USGS Internet site for the Tallulah near Clayton. The gauge is readable from the stream, located on the river-right side below the take-out bridge. For additional information, contact the Forest Service’s Tallulah District at (706) 782-3320.

SECTION 2, TIGER CREEK CONFLUENCE TO TALLULAH FALLS LAKE

SUMMARY: Class, I-II (III); Length, 6 miles; Time, 3.5 hours; Gauge, none; Level, unknown; Gradient, 13 feet per mile; Scenery, C. VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP.

DESCRIPTION: The Tallulah is impounded several times before reaching this section, creating three mountain lakes: Lake Burton, Nacoohe Lake, and Lake Rabun. The reservoirs consume most of the upper river’s flow, making paddling below the Mathis Dam at Lake Rabun possible only when the local rainfall is sufficient to fuel Tiger Creek, which meets up with the Tallulah at the first crossing of Old US 441. Put in here or on Wolf Creek Road over Tiger Creek, half a mile above the confluence.

The first 2.5 miles of this section of the Tallulah are mostly docile. It’s pleasant scenery, though houses and farmland have taken the place of the woods throughout this flatter section. Old US 441 is never far away, and new US 441 crosses the river twice. The 2-mile section after the first crossing contains a couple of small Class II shoals and slides.

One-quarter of the total gradient for this section is concentrated into one Class III rapid that begins immediately above the last crossing of Old US 441. After threading through the boulder slab ledges, the rapid continues as an intermittent Class II for a few hundred yards, ending in a low dam that spills into the lake pool. The road shadows this stretch of river, creating a park-and-play opportunity on the upper reaches of the rapid. The path leading to the river at the small dam above the lake is steep. The takeout is 1.6 miles farther down the lake.

SHUTTLE: Approaching Tallulah Falls from the south, turn left onto Main Street immediately before crossing Tallulah Gorge, then right onto River Street to the landing. Parking is available behind city hall. For upper access points, return to US 441 and turn left, taking the immediate left after the bridge onto Old US 441 to reach the access at the first bridge and Tallulah Falls State Park’s Trail. Continuing on US 441 to the third left onto Old US 441 is the easiest way to reach the upper put-in.

GAUGE: None. Runnable only when significant rain falls in the Tiger Creek watershed.

MAPS: USGS 1:24,000 topographical maps: Hightower Bald, Tiger, Tallulah Falls, Tugaloo Lake; County maps: Rabun, Habersham.

Links:

• View photos of the upper Tallulah River and Tallulah River Gorge.
• Download a PDF file of a Savannah River watershed poster showing the Tallulah River and all other rivers in the Savannah River watershed. Posters of Georgia’s other 13 major watersheds are available at the same link.

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.     

Tags: Savannah Watershed, tallulah

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pm and is filed under Savannah Watershed, Talliulah. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.