Georgia Natural Wonder #77 - Upper Chattahoochee River - White County – (Part 1). 685

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #77 - Upper Chattahoochee River - White County – (Part 1)

The Chattahoochee River, like most of the rivers so far in this state, has its headwaters in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The spring is located at Chattahoochee Gap on the Appalachian Trail. The river flows through Atlanta and becomes the Apalachicola River at the Florida state line, entering the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachicola Bay. We already floated this river in our Georgia Natural Wonders down by Columbus GNW #59 (Part 1). We come up stream to its headwaters in the North Georgia Mountains. Now there will probably be a future GNW post finding the source of the Chattahoochee. Most of the pictures today are from my adventures on this section of the Chattahoochee above Helen and mostly below Helen.



There is a long Forest Service Road that leads up the Chattahoochee past Cool River Tubing just north of Helen. My son and I floated this section the year Hurricane Katrina came through North Georgia.



The river was up amazingly high and we had the tube of our life.



Lots of drops and rapids that would be too rocky and need to be portaged at regular levels.



Behind the scenes, getting mom to that rock. This was a different time when water flow was at a normal level.



The problem when the water is up, is deadfalls of trees across the river. You don’t want to get wedged in the tree when the water is raging.

Another flood level shot.

Way above Helen on the Hooch. Wife puts a whammy on.



Above Helen, the Hooch is pretty damn scenic.



All of us have tubed the Hooch in Helen.


My sister - wife – and one other floating Helen.

I am not ready to do a tangent on Helen yet. We will set aside a week soon to explore the Georgia Natural Wonders of Low Gap Falls – Horse Trough Falls – Annie Ruby Falls – and Helen.


There is only one real rapid on the Helen float.

But today’s Georgia Natural Wonder explores the Chattahoochee River most of us pass by on the way to Helen and back. Man you are missing out on a real whitewater adventure.


My son trying desperately to turn around

The Chattahoochee in the upper section is very scenic and a pleasant deep emerald color, typical of cold mountain waters. It offers a variety of up to Class III rapids. Note that high water on this river increases the class rating and difficulty of rapids on this river. We will cover the six sections comprising the Upper Chattahoochee River Blue Trail. The Blue Trail offers camping at Buck Shoals State Park, Mossy Creek State Park, and the new Don Carter State Park. It is possible to arrange shuttle services from Wildwood Outfitters for all Chattahoochee sections covered in this guide.

N. Sautee Creek Bridge, (ROW), 6 miles, Class I

Below Nora’s Mill just below Helen is where you can start to put in. You must portage around Nora’s Mill if you are trying to float from Helen.



The Nacoochee Valley is here with the Indian Mound and the Atom Heart Mother cows.

Atom Heart Mother

Near the end of the valley is where Sautee Creek comes in in Lynch Mountain Road. It is 100 yards to the river on the creek. From the Sautee Creek down to Georgia Highway 255 is one of the longest undisturbed stretches of the river. The terrain is heavily wooded with frequent rock outcroppings. Rapids are fairly frequent but none goes beyond class two, unless Hurricane Katrina is coming through.



O. Highway 255 Bridge, (ROW), 6 miles, Class II

Access at the Ga 255 Bridge is on the White County side of the river upstream of the bridge. Use the public highway right of way.



This section begins with several class I rapids and smooth pools. The the river enters a long slow area nicknamed the dead sea because its stillness offers a marked contrast to the rapids above and below.



Large trees on both sides offer a green tunnel at times. The Dead Sea is partially formed by the natural damming effect of Smith Island. This is where the real rapids begin. I floated this whole stretch and it was boring until you get here.



The is a large , gently sloping granite face on the right bank. You should scout from the right bank as the left bank is private property. You can go down both sides of the island but the main stream is to the right. Enter the rapid on the left side next to the island.



Gradually work back right for the final plunge.



My pop floated this with us and lost his glasses on the main plunge.



This chute ends in a fairly deep pool next to a large rock face.



Recover on the island if necessary. Spend an hour here tubing and retubing the drop. It is a class three when the water is good but most of the time it is a rocky class II.


Another part of this float.

Stay to the right of center for the best course below the island down to the Georgia Highway 115 Bridge.



There were some other good shoals on this stretch but I would just recommend the main deal starting at the next put in, Hwy 115.



P. Highway 115 Bridge, (GA), 5 miles, Class III

Now I am going to let American Whitewater describe the main section everybody uses from Hwy. 115 down to Duncan Bridge.

Parking Info: The put-in and take-out is Georgia State Park land, and requires either a daily pass ($5) or an annual pass. Wildwood Outfitters has an outpost at the take-out and will shuttle you and your boat to the put-in for $7. The outpost is usually closed during the winter, late October to early March.



Directions:

From Atlanta, go north on I-85 16 miles to I-985. Continue 42 miles up I-985. Then take a left at Duncan Bridge Road, GA 384 at the light. The take-out is about 4 miles down Duncan Bridge Rd. To get to the put-in, continue west on Duncan Bridge Rd, take a right on GA 254, and another right on GA 115. The put-in will be the first stream you come to. Parking is very limited at the put-in.


Buck Shoals My images of son, Alex.

RIVER DESCRIPTION

This section of the Upper Hooch is a classic beginner canoeing and kayaking stream. Its relatively short, has an easy shuttle, decent scenery and fun rapids. It can be run at just about all levels from ridiculously scrapy to screaming high flood stage, depending on the boaters skills of course. At low flows its a class two stream. Around 3-4 feet on the Leaf Gage its easy Class III. Above that its class 3/4 with some huge holes.



Rapid Descriptions

Buck Island Shoals (Class II+, Mile 1.0)

Multiple routes on both sides of the island. Big holes develop on the right side of the island at high water. At lower flows most people run the narrow channel on the left of the island.



These shoals go on for a quarter mile continuous.



The gradient is constant and fairly steep.



Canoe Eating Rock (Class II+, Mile 1.2)



Rock on river right above the Lunch Beach.



Good surf wave with a huge eddy on the bottom right.


Lunch Beach Wave

There is another granite outcropping on the right and you are ready for the three ledges. Many consider this the most fun and challenging part of this run.



Catch your breath among the rocky walls.


Approach with caution.

First Ledge (Class II+, Mile 1.5)

At flows above 2500 cfs or over about 4 feet a dangerous low head dam type hole forms on the right side of this rapid.


Right here son.

This one is easy to see coming due to the long pool above it and the large rock outcrop on river right.


My mouse pad photo.

Run left or right at most water levels.


First Ledge

Second Ledge (Class II+, Mile 1.6)

Generally run on river left.


Second Ledge


Arrgh what have you got me into daaaaad!

Third Ledge (Class II+, Mile 1.8)

Fun, shallow side surfing hole.




Third Ledge

Washboard (Class II+, Mile 1.9)

Another long wide shoal rapid. At higher flows there is great surfing everywhere in this one! The locals we saw called this the washing machine.


My son got stuck in the washing machine. The youthful expression of frustration seen on his face. Tube is stuck in Washing machine.

False Horseshoe (Class II, Mile 2.1)

A long river-wide shoal, with a sandy beach at the bottom on river left. Lots of fun small waves and holes thru the shoals.


The ReMax sign detracts from Natural setting.

Horseshoe (Class II+, Mile 2.5)

There is another long pool as you approach this rapid. You can see a long, low ledge of rocks that the river hooks around, thus giving Horseshoe its name.



Run left to right. Big pool at the bottom.


Top Row Dawg sees some action.

Shoals below horseshoe (Class II+, Mile 3.0)

Long fun shoal rapids with some good surfing opportunities.


No style, eyes closed, freaking out.

One more for the road. (Class II+, Mile 4.1)

Just downstream of the takeout, below the bridge, is one last ledge. There are a series of holes on the right, and a wave on the left. At low flows there is an island in the middle. Play your brains out, then paddle back up the 100 yards to the take-out.


Much smoother. Hold breath, point toes.

Here is a female floaters description.

Had an awesome time on this section today @ 740 cfs. It was my first real taste of whitewater besides the Cartecay. Way more intense than the Carty with a few long sections rapids that were amazingly fun. Buck Island Shoals was very squirrely and came close to "losing it" a few times. Canoe Eating Rock Rapid was the most fun I had ever had on a river (until Horseshoe later). The three drops seemed intimidating, but I made it down the first 50 yards of the first ledge without a paddle (almost flipped when I hit a rock entering the top section). Made it over the first ledge and caught up to my paddle just after the first ledge. The third ledge was a lot easier than expected.



There is definitely a slot to shoot for about 30 feet from the left shore that made the drop nice and easy. Washboard was scrappy, but there was a nice wave train that seemed to last until the beach on the river left at the bottom. I really thought Horseshoe was the most fun and challenging. Made it to the bottom and looked back up at it and couldn't believe I made it down in one piece... way more intimidating than the third ledge. Had an awesome time and can't wait to take the trip up again when the weather is warmer.


Don’t let life pass you by, out of focus, too zoomed in. Damn son, get that photo of old dad better.

Now you can float below Duncan Bridge Road but I have never done that. The scenery remains good but there are few Class I and II rapids until you hit Lake Lanier. Then it becomes a slow labored paddle.


Take the Leap and float the real Hooch next time you are in Helen.

These are the put in and take spots below Duncan Bridge.

Q. Duncan Bridge Road Bridge (Hwy 384), (POLS; GA), 5.2 miles, Class II

R. Mossy Creek Access Area, (GA), 5 miles, Class II

S. Belton Bridge, (PALS), 3 miles, Lake

T. Lula Park Bridge, (PALS), 10 miles, Lake

U. Takeout at Clarks Bridge Road bridge

Looking closer I see mention of Mossy Creek State Park. Pictures look like river still has a little whitewater. Sidney Lanier did write about the Chattahoochee coming out of the Hills of Habersham. I am going to do a tangent of White County tomorrow, will cyber explore river some more to see if I am missing anything.

Since my original post, I found these images of my daughter and her boyfriend floating this section of the Hooch.



Buck's Shoals



They call me the Hunter.



Big splash, these Georgia Rivers. No need to go to North Carolina.



Another closed eyed plunge.



Hunter and the Hooch!



Daughter is a real swinger!



Today’s GNW girl is another gaggle of floaters.