Georgia Natural Wonder #91 – Factory Shoals – Newton County(Part 1). 1,003

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #91 – Factory Shoals – Newton County(Part 1)

There are so many mountain sites lately on our GNW's, and I want to move around the state. This little spot near Covington just feels like a spot I discovered by accident.  Driving by on Hwy. 136 and the Factory Shoals sign caught my eye. What a place this is. Then I see on the news a few years back almost back to back drowning deaths at the park, I felt bad because it was such a fun spot. Man I can’t find my pictures anywhere but the Internet is loaded with images.



Confederate flags, girls in bikinis, the rapids, the pontoons floating up on Lake Jackson. This spot has it all.



This Factory Shoals Recreation Park Facebook Page has endless images.



Now this park is on the Alcovy River and according to American Whitewater you can float this river all the way up in Lawrenceville from Hwy. 29 to Alcovy Road. Head north out of Atlanta on I-85 to highway 316. Take 316 north to highway 29. Go south (right) about a mile on highway 29 to find the put in. The Put-in is on the upstream side of the US 29 bridge. Just below the US 29 bridge is a little two foot tall stone dam. Look for enough water to paddle over dam cleanly, otherwise the run is going to be too low.



The Upper Alcovy is a nice little creek run near Atlanta. For an Atlanta area creek this little gorge gets an A for scenery. The first 2/3 of this run is solid Class II with a few poorly placed strainers. Most of the rapids are bedrock ledges. Two of these ledges can make a river wide hole at higher flows. A solid Class III rapid lurks in the middle of the run. This rapid is easy to spot since it consists of large boulders piled up in the creek. The rapid is in a right hand bend in the river. This rapid can collect some nasty wood. The water on river left feeds directly into the undercut so be careful. The conservative line is a hard right hand turn. This move is more difficult at higher flows.


Alcovy River Gwinnett County.

As of 4/06/08 there is a riverwide tree just upstream of the class III drop on this section and at 3.3 ft there is barely an eddy to catch RR in front of it. There are no eddies at that level in the 50 yards before this drop. A new subdivision is going up RR and comes right up to the edge of the gorge so this drop can be scouted beforehand at least until the homes get built. Get on this one while you can as its future value will diminish once Joe Sixpack starts throwing his trash and lawn chairs in.


Unnamed tributary Alcovy River Dacula, Ga.

After this rapid the river continues with its ledgy nature with a bunch more small slides. The creek requires lots of water. That means a lot of rain, which leads to a lot of street run off. So, the water quality leaves a little to be desired.


Swann’s Mill Alcovy River Dacula.

There is a second much larger dam, about 15 feet tall, near the takeout at Alcovy Road. Its runnable at some levels. Please be careful with the dam and portage quickly. River left is the easier portage. The gradient between the dams is just over 100 feet (50 ft mile) but it is fairly constant. This is a relatively new park in here Freeman Mill Park. Gosh this may count as a separate GNW when we get down to 200 or so.



American Whitewater has an entry for the Alcovy River from Georgia Route 81 to US Hwy 278. This section should not be confused with the fun whitewater run through the Factory Shoals Park downstream.  There are some rapids at the put in and a ledge or two during the run but most of this is a moving water paddle out. There are no photos and no rapid descriptions. One member writes, Has this section been confused with the well-known class 1-2 run from hwy 213 down to Factory Shoals Road? The section between 81 and 278 is known mainly for its swampy sections. I have never heard of rapids from those who have run this section.


Factory Shoals Recreation Area camping right on river just upstream the whitewater.

Wikipedia tells us the Alcovy River rises in eastern Gwinnett County, 5 miles northeast of Lawrenceville, and flows generally south through Walton, Newton and Jasper counties. The river is used to define portions of the boundary between Newton and Jasper counties. It joins the Yellow and South rivers to form the Ocmulgee River as part of Lake Jackson, a reservoir formed by a dam on the Ocmulgee. North of I-20, the Alcovy River becomes a lowland swamp for about 4 miles before resuming the nature of a Piedmont stream. The lowland area contains an ecological rarity: the tupelo gum tree.


The famed Tupelo Gum Swamp in winter at the Alcovy Conservation Center, headquarters of the Georgia Wildlife Federation in Covington, GA. Gosh, another possible future GNW.

Which brings us to today’s Natural Wonder, the last mile of the Alcovy River.

Factory Shoals Recreation Area – Alcovy River Description

This run is located within Factory Shoals Park, a county-operated venue 10 miles south of Covington, GA, just off state highway 36.  They charge a few bucks for park use during peak periods (warm months).  Address: 450 Newton Factory Bridge Rd, Covington, GA 30014. This run has a visual gauge located on the bridge just past the entrance of the park on Newton Factory Bridge Rd.



Before you do the first run on this one, it's a good idea to scout the river trail from the bottom up to the bridge and note any new wood or other strainers. Also if it is your first time, you will want to see what you are getting into on the lower half mile; it gets a bit hairy.



The put-in is in the campground on the north side of Factory Bridge Road. Just drive thru the campground until you see water, then find a good parking place. If the campground is closed, go across the bridge to the parking area immediately left at the other end. Follow the riverside trail upstream about 100 yards to the first ledge and slide on in. There is some private property that is well marked that you will not want to trespass on.



The rapids start a quarter mile around the bend from the campground put in. Above the bridge, rapids are class I-II; several ledges with some surfing potential at some levels.


Damn every GNW needs a Facebook Page.

First Ledge (Class II, Mile 0.6)


There is a pour-over on river right and a wave train on river left.  Several good places to surf.

Second Ledge (Class II, Mile 0.7)


This ledge is a straight forward Class II.  Offers some play at varying water levels.

Below the bridge is an island with a variety of routes dependent on water levels.



Below Bridge (Left Side) (Class II+, Mile 0.9)



Below Bridge (Right Side) (Class II+, Mile 0.9)





The gradient increases the further you travel below the bridge. Ledges begin to get more complicated and currents pick up and get more pushy.


This is south of I-20 now, not the Mountains..

Playspot Above Horseshoe Ledge (Class II+, Mile 1.0)


There is a good spot for side surfing on river left.  Center line is a boof, with an ender spot just to the left of the boof rock.  Right side can also be run, though it may be more shallow and rocky than the other options.

A half mile below the bridge, a hundred yards of flatwater pool gives you a chance to catch your breath. Folks gather on the big ole rocky bank on the left.



This is where the flag was flappin last time I came out here around 1990.



Redneck Beach.



The Locals love this place.



Younger generation wading the rapids.



Access at this point is good on both sides if you want to pull out; below the pool things are going to jump up to class III. There are a couple of difficult ledges to work down before you line up for the last drop.

Horseshoe Ledge (Class III, Mile 1.2)


Run the slide on river left.  Or run Twist and Shout rapid on river right.

You can spot the little midstream island from this point that marks the final ledge; as you get closer you will notice the distinct horizon line just beyond the island.The last drop is about 9 foot vertical in 40 foot horizontal, and looks bigger from below (see photos). It features a slide into a mildly undercut boulder on river right, a central flume, and a boof into a pool in midriver. Pass the midriver island on the right side. The protruding boulders 8' off the right bank of the island form a gunsight pointing towards the drop spot for the flume; to hit the boof, eddy behind the last boulder, ferry a few feet to river left, turn and go for it.

Factory Shoals Rapid (Class III+, Mile 1.4



This is the final drop before the river is inundated by Lake Jackson. There are multiple routes including a slide on river right, a boof in the center, and some holes to negotiate on river left.



Most people run the "Toilet Bowl" line, which is a flume/slide into a mildly undercut boulder on river right, or the central boof line into a shallow pool below.  Beware, as there is potential to pin in a chute between the Toilet Bowl line and the boof line - boats of all sizes seem to fit perfectly into this crevice.



More experienced boaters looking for a thrill tend to run the left side of last drop.



On river left are more options depending on water level; there is a nasty big boiling undercut up against the river left bank at the very bottom. You can pull out and portage back up the trail on river right for additional runs.



After this rapid the rest of the river is buried beneath a reservoir, Lake Jackson.



Standard take-out is the beach on river right at the base of the last rapid. A hundred-yard uphill hustle gets you to the 'Big Bend' picnic area on the back side of Factory Shoals Park. Due to the overall shortness and excellent accessibility of this reach, multiple runs in a day can be had with some creative shuttling.

Directions from Covington

Take Highway 36 south about ten miles. Watch for Newton Factory Bridge Road on your left just past Red Oak church. (If approaching from the south, it is the 3rd right from the intersection with GA 212, just past the FFA campground)

Turn in and drive down to the river. You will pass the park entrance on your right; the campground road is across the street, sort of.

The visual stick gauge is found on the piling under the southwest corner of the bridge.

The take out is accessed by entering the park and going all the way through to the "Big Bend" parking lot.

Hike down to the river and scout, especially if this is your first time.

TRD addendum to original post, overload images from Factory Shoals Recreation Area Facebook page.



Beat the Heat!



I am overwhelmed with GNW gals today from actual Facebook pages at this wonder..



Tomorrow a tangent on Newton County and Covington. When will we get back here?