Rivers and Creeks in North Georgia Mountains
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Rivers, Creeks and Streams in Stephens County, North Georgia Mountains
fishing, rafting, kayaking, canoeing and tubing.


Big Panther Creek

Old Highway 441 to dirt road beside Panther Creek off Yonah Lake Road
Class 3-5    5.3 River Miles
Average Gradient 141 fpm    Maximum Gradient 250 fpm

This one is hard to catch, and does fall quickly. The Chattooga needs to be well over 3 feet entering the put in parking lot. If the level is about 8” below this pipe the level should be considered at a minimum and around 4” inches below is a great run.

Caution:
At high water the upper stretch has a good bit of wood. The gauge for this river is a small white pipe directly upstream of the small bridge

Put in:
The put in is at the parking on Old Highway 441.

Take out: From Toccoa, take Panther Bridge Road , then take Yonah Dam Road until a dirt road heads up the creek, when you see a white sign that says Church, turn on the dirt road. This road will lead you to the take out of this river.

 

Chattooga River

Section 2
Highway 28 Put in to Earl’s Ford
Class 2    7 Miles
Minimum Suggested Level: 1 Feet (bare minimum)    Maximum Suggested Level: 5 Feet
The Gauge for this river is located at Highway 76, miles downstream

The Chattooga River is relatively calm for about 7 miles. Shelf-like rapids and only one Class 3 rapid (Big Shoals) make this portion of the river an excellent area for novice whitewater boaters.

The major put-in point: State Highway 28 where a 30-yard portage is required. Most boaters take out at Earl's Ford and carry their equipment 1/4-mile ( 420 meters) to reach vehicles. Average floating times for Section II are based on the gauge on the west end of the State Highway 28 Bridge

Section 3
Earl’s Ford to Route 76 Bridge

Class 2-4(5)    13 miles
Minimum Suggested Level: 1.2 ft (bare minimum)
Maximum Suggested Level: 3 ft (Experienced paddles can go at higher levels with caution.)

At Earl's Ford, the River again gathers momentum as it plunges over ledges, around boulders, and through steep gorges. This section requires expertise. Scouting of rapids is necessary. Numerous fatalities have occurred along this segment of the River. To enter this 14-mile section at Earl's Ford requires a 1/4-mile walk in.

A good test of boating ability is at Warwoman Rapid (the second rapid), located about 1/4-mile (400 meters) below Earl's Ford. This rapid requires an S-shaped maneuver near the left bank. If you have problems here, turn back, as much more difficult rapids lie ahead.

At the Narrows, vertical rock walls constrict the River to a dangerous 15-foot wide channel which is nearly impossible to portage. Bull Sluice, a Class 5 rapid, is encountered in a blind curve about 400 yards (370 meters) before the U. S. 76 Bridge. Scouting Bull Sluice is mandatory; portaging is recommended for all but expert boaters. Persons familiar with the River can recognize it by the large exposed rock dome on the Georgia side.

Average floating times for Section III are:

U. S. Hwy. 76 Bridge Gauge
Raft 8 hours
Canoe 7 hours
Kayak 6 hours

Earl's Ford Gauge
Raft 8 hours
Canoe 7 hours
Kayak 6 hours

At Earl's Ford, the River again gathers momentum as it plunges over ledges, around boulders, and through steep gorges. This section requires expertise. Scouting of rapids is necessary. Numerous fatalities have occurred along this segment of the River. To enter this 14-mile section at Earl's Ford requires a 1/4-mile walk in.

A good test of boating ability is at Warwoman Rapid (the second rapid), located about 1/4-mile (400 meters) below Earl's Ford. This rapid requires an S-shaped maneuver near the left bank. If you have problems here, turn back, as much more difficult rapids lie ahead.

At the Narrows, vertical rock walls constrict the River to a dangerous 15-foot wide channel which is nearly impossible to portage. Bull Sluice, a Class 5 rapid, is encountered in a blind curve about 400 yards (370 meters) before the U. S. 76 Bridge. Scouting Bull Sluice is mandatory; portaging is recommended for all but expert boaters. Persons familiar with the River can recognize it by the large exposed rock dome on the Georgia side.

Average floating times for Section III are:

U. S. Hwy. 76 Bridge Gauge
Raft 8 hours
Canoe 7 hours
Kayak 6 hours

Earl's Ford Gauge
Raft 8 hours
Canoe 7 hours
Kayak 6 hours


Rapids

Warwoman Rapid    Class 2+
River Mile 0.3

First Island Rapid    Class 2
River Mile 1.2

Rock Garden    Class 2+
River Mile 1.6

Dick Creek Ledge    Class 3+
River Mile 2.5

Sandy Ford Rapid    Class 3
River Mile 3.0

The Narrows    Class 3+
River Mile 3.5

Second Ledge    Class 3
River Mile 4.0

Eye of the Needle    Class 3
River Mile 5.4+

Fall Creek
River Mile 8.0

Rollercoaster    Class 3
River Mile 9.0

Painted Rock    Class 3+
River Mile 9.2

Thrifts Ferry    Class 2+
River Mile 11.0

Bull Sluice    Class 4
River Mile 12.2


Section 4
Route 76 Bridge to Tugaloo Lake Boat Ramp

Class 2-4+ (5)    5.2 miles
Average Gradient 60 fpm    Maximum Gradient 117 fpm
Minimum Suggested Level: 0.9 feet

Maximum Suggested Level: 2.2 feet (Experienced paddles can go at higher levels with caution, especially Five Falls.)

Caution: Crack in the Rock Rapid has many undercut boulders. If something is to happen get rid of your gear and get to the right bank as quickly as possible.

Put in: The put in for this river is where US 76 crosses the river about 8 miles east of Clayton Georgia near Long Creek South Carolina on the Georgia – South Carolina State Line. There is parking on both sides of the river. The Georgia side has enough room for 5 cars and has a $2.00 fee. A short walk to the put in, however you will miss Bull Sluice Rapid. On the South Carolina side you will find a much larger USFS parking lot with no current parking fee. Walk along the paved path about 250 yards to the beach below Bull Sluice or take the trail to the right and put in above Bull Sluice.

Take Out: From the Put in go East (Left) 2.5 miles and turn Right on Orchard Road. Follow Orchard Road until it dead ends on Battle Creek Road. Turn Right, when you come to a sharp right turn in the road, stay on the paved road (you will now be on Damascus Church Road). Bear to the Right onto Bull Sluice Road (you will see a sign for Tugaloo Boat Ramp). The take out will be at the end of this road at the boat ramp.

Rapids

Bull Sluice    Class 4+
River Mile 0.0

Surf Rapid    Class 3
River Mile 0.2

Screaming Left Turn    Class 3
River Mile 0.3

Rock Jumble    Class 3
River Mile 0.9

Woodall Shoals
River Mile 2.0

The Play Spot Above 7 Foot    Class 3+
River Mile 2.2

7 Foot Falls    Class 4
River Mile 2.2

Beaver Skull    Class 2+
River Mile 2.8

Stekoa Creek Rapid    Class 3+
River Mile 3.0

Long Creek Falls Rapid and Playspot    Class 3
River Mile 3.5

Deliverance Rock    Class 3+
River Mile 3.6

Turtle Head Rock    Class 2+
River Mile 3.8

Ravens Chute    Class 3+
River Mile 4.0

Tunnel of Love    Class 2+
River Mile 4.1

The Rapid after Ravens Chute    Class 3
River Mile 4.2

Little Woodall    Class 3+
River Mile 4.5

Camp Creek
River Mile 5.0

Five Falls
(Entrance, Corkscrew, Crack in the Rock, Jawbone, and Sock-em-Dog)

Entrance    Class 4
River Mile 5.1

Corkscrew    Class 4+
River Mile 5.1

Crack in the Rock    Class 4
River Mile 5.1

Jawbone    Class 4+
River Mile 5.1

Sock-em-Dog    Class 4+
River Mile 5.1

Shoulderbone    Class 4
River Mile 5.2

Quaalude    Class 3
River Mile 5.6

Lake Tugaloo
River Mile 6.0

Tallulah River

Section 3
Coleman River Junction to Lake Burton
Upper Tallulah
Class 2-3+    7.8 Miles
Minimum Suggested Level: 350 cfs

Section 4
Highway 441 to Tallulah Falls Lake (Mathis By-Pass)
Middle Tallulah    Class 2-3
It takes a lot of rain to get this one running.
Private property, Private RV Park.

Section 5
Tallulah Gorge to Lake Tugaloo (Tallulah Gorge)
Class 4-5    2.5 Miles
Minimum Suggested Level: 450 cfs    Maximum Suggested Level: 1200 cfs

On Release days flows are typicality 500 cfs on Saturday and 700 cfs on Sunday

Put in: From Atlanta: take I-985 north and head for 365 north and Highway 23 and Highway 441. Tallulah Falls is 12 miles north of Clarkesville on Highway 23-441. Just before the bridge across the river, take a left onto the grass. There is about 600 steps to put in. After Whitewater there is 1.5 miles of flat water. And has a hike back up to the parking lot.

Rapids

Put in    Class 5
River Mile 0.0

Last Step aka The Entrance Rapid    Class 4+
River Mile 0.0

Tanners Launch aka The Boof    Class 4
River Mile 0.0

Oceania    Class 5
River Mile 0.0

Playspot below Oceania    Class 3
River Mile 0.0

Gauntlet aka The Approach to Bridal Veil    Class 4+
River Mile 0.1

Second part of the Gauntlet    Class 4+
River Mile 0.1

Final Approach    Class 3+
River Mile 0.4

Bridal Veil    Class 5
River Mile 0.5

Zoom Floom aka The Grove aka The Channel    Class 3+
River Mile 0.5

Lynch’s Wrench    Class 4
River Mile 0.5

Amphitheater    Class 4
River Mile 0.6

Around the Corner    Class 3+
River Mile 0.6

Tit    Class 3+
River Mile 0.6

Tat    Class 4
River Mile 0.7

Tom’s Brain Buster    Class 4+
River Mile 0.7

The Road to Aintry aka The Big Slide    Class 4
River Mile 0.7

Twisted Sister    Class 3+
River Mile 0.7

Paddle Snake Ledge    Class 4
River Mile 0.8

Powerhouse    Class 3+
River Mile 0.9

Maxwell’s Last Drop    Class 3+
River Mile 1.0

Permits are required to run any section of this river.
Registration forms are currently free and available at the put in of the Chattooga on the South Carolina side of the river.


Warwoman Creek

Earl’s Ford Road to Chattooga River
Class 2-3    7.2 miles
Average Gradient 23 fpm    Maximum Gradient 40 fpm
Minimum Suggested Level 1.8 ft    Maximum Suggested Level 5 ft

The Chattooga should be at least 2.5 to 3.0 feet.

Put In: Go North on US 23. Turn Right onto Warwoman Road right after the US 76 West traffic light. Proceed 8.3 miles to a Left onto Earl’s Ford Road. The Put in is right after the first bridge.

Take out: From Put in turn left on Warwoman for 2.3 miles to a Left on Sandy Ford Road stay to the left this road will run besides Dicks Creek. Parking will be at the end of this road. Beware when the Chattooga is running at high water the parking lot holds water

Rapids

Intro    Class 2
River Mile 0.8

Mattress    Class 2+
River Mile 1.3

Pinball    Class 2+
River Mile 1.8

Warwoman Ford    2.8
River Mile

Finale    Class 2
River Mile 3.1

Earl’s Ford    4.2
River Mile

Dick’s Creek Ledge    Class 3
River Mile 6.7


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