Kayaking, Canoeing & Tubing
The Etowah and the Chestatee Rivers near Dahlonega provide enjoyable and challenging canoeing and kayaking with predominately Class I and II rapids.
Before planning trips on these rivers, you should consult persons knowledgeable about the water levels.
Canoe and Kayak Trips in the Dahlonega Area
The 40 mile area around Dahlonega offers a significant selection of premier mountain whitewater and flatwater for canoeists and kayakers. This guide is provided for visitors and local residents to highlight 27 canoe and kayak trips in the Dahlonega area. While there are brief descriptions of the river sections, this guide does not contain detailed description of the river sections, although it does contain cursory information on significant rapids and hazards. For detailed information, see the resources section at the end of this guide. The two most significant resources are the Georgia Canoe Association and the book Canoeing and Kayaking in Georgia. This guide provides detailed driving directions and parking information from the Dahlonega square. Visitors and locals who enjoy paddling, whether flatwater or whitewater, but are unfamiliar with what is available, can easily find all opportunities within 40 miles by using this guide.
Key:
A)–Location on Map, Hightower Bridge–Name of access point, (USFS)–Access point ownership, 5.5 miles–section length, Class II-Whitewater Class rating, (IV)-denotes advanced rapid that can be easily portaged. Highway right of way and USFS parking is uncontrolled and often remote. Be sure to lock vehicle and take valuables.
ROW (Highway Right of Way); Public Access Launch Site (PALS); Lumpkin County Park (LCP)
USFS (US Forest Service); State of Georgia (GA); Privately Owned Launch Site (POLS)
Be aware that river law in Georgia is different from most other states. Land ownership, instead of ending at the highwater mark, extends to the middle of the river or creek channel. The surface of the water is public, but the bottom is not. Therefore, to be out of your boat constitutes trespassing. If the land on both sides of the river is owned by one owner, it is permissible to put a fence or other obstruction across the river. Many landowners also do not welcome fishermen in “their” waters. It is illegal to fish in waters with the same landowner on both sides. For these reasons, the relationship between boaters and landowners is sometimes tenuous. Boaters have been arrested and fined for violations of these laws. Please help to preserve good boater/owner relationships and use courtesy and common sense when using these waterways. If it is necessary to portage a blowdown or other obstruction, do so quickly and quietly. Do not loiter on shore or take breaks on privately owned land. Use rocks in the river when possible to scout rapids or take breaks. When traversing public lands such as those managed by the US Forest Service or the Georgia DNR, feel free to use the land as well as the river. Do not change clothes on private property or in sight of privately owned land. Do not block driveways or roads when parking. The boating community has for the most part built good relationships with most river property owners, and all boaters should help maintain this relationship.
Keep these tenets in mind and enjoy the water!
Other streams and rivers in the area that are not included in this guide:
Due to lack of easy public access, these waterways are not listed in this guide. If interested in the possibility of paddling any of these, contact the Georgia Canoe Association or other local experienced paddlers. Check the information section below for additional resources.
- Tesnatee Creek
- Upper Chestatee River above Highway 52
- Upper Yahoola Creek above Yahoola Creek Park
- Upper Chattahoochee River above the confluence with Sautee Creek
- Soque River
- Mossy Creek
- Lower Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam
- Upper Toccoa River above Deep Hole Canoe Launch
- Lower Toccoa River below Sandy Bottom
Resources:
- American Whitewater
- Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia, Menasha Ridge Press, 2004
- Georgia Canoeing Association
- Appalachian Outfitters, call: (706) 864–7117
- Chestatee River Adventures, call: (770) 540-9950
- Georgia River Network
- Etowah River Water Trail interactive map
- Wildwood Outfitters, call: (706) 865-4451
- Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
- Chattahoochee National Forest, call: (770) 297–3000
- USFS Toccoa River Canoe Trail site
- Fannin County Chamber of Commerce
- Cartecay River Experience, call: (706) 531-4746
- Ellijay River Outfitters, call: (706) 889-8697
- USFS Blue Ridge District office: 2042 Highway 515 West, Blairsville, GA 30512, Phone: (706) 745–6928
- Lumpkin County Sheriff’s office: (706) 864–0412
- Gilmer County Sheriff’s office: (706) 635-5775
- Fannin County Sheriff’s office: (706) 632-2044
- Dawson County Sheriff’s office: (706) 344-3535
- White County Sheriff’s office: (706) 865-5177
- Hall County Sheriff’s office: (770) 531-6900
- Forsyth County Sheriff’s office: (678) 513-5982
- Medical Facilities:
- Chestatee Regional Hospital, 227 Mountain Dr, Dahlonega, GA
- Union General Hospital, 35 Hospital Road, Blairsville, GA 30512
- Fannin Regional Hospital, 2855 Old Highway 5, North Blue Ridge, GA
- Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Northeast Georgia Medical Center - Gainesville, GA
- Northside Hospital–Forsyth, 1200 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming, GA
This information compiled and prepared by Tom Lamb for the Yahoola Trails Conservancy and the Dahlonega Trail Fest for use by the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber & Visitors Bureau
Last Revised November 2013