Georgia Natural Wonder #45 - Talking Rock Creek. 1,271

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #45 - Talking Rock Creek

OK I moved this up on the list of natural wonders of Georgia over better whitewater rivers like the Cartecay or the Upper Chattahoochee. While the white water is not as technical, that is more than compensated by the wilderness experience and the beauty of the sheer rock walls that give Talking Rock Creek its name. Hard to find Internet images to fill this post, most of the photos are mine, even if the narrative may be someone else.



From Atlanta head up I-75 North to 575 North to 515 North. Pass Jasper and take a left and exit on Highway 136. As soon as it crosses the creek you put in there. For the take out spot and the end shuttle car, follow 136 to Carters Lake. Just before the highway crosses the lake, take a left on a dead end road to the end and park anywhere. The access has plenty of places to park. Put-in and take out is easy. There are no fees since this is an abandoned section of 136.



Mixture of American Whitewater and Sherpa Guide

We checked the gauge on the net Sat and it was at 2.3. Sunday evening when we came back the gauge was at 1.9. Based on those readings and our experience with loaded down boats I would say that that those levels are just about the cutoff point to do Talking Rock Creek on OC1s loaded with camping gear. Talking Rock Creek, with its narrow watershed and rocky nature, can be difficult to catch at a navigable level that will hold out for the two days normally required to paddle the lengthy most popular section. But after a good rain, Talking Rock provides paddlers with a rollicking fast Class II ride that is worth the wait.



Back at the put in you begin access to a splendid canoe experience. As we paddled down the creek, it narrows into a quiet slow moving river. It feels like your entering a cave as the steep forest banks block out the sun's rays. The only noise came from the beautiful King Fishers which scolded me, from above, as I disrupted their fiercely guarded fishing territories.



Talking Rock Creek enters a gorge environment of beauty and isolation.



Terrain is extremely rugged and sheer rock walls often rise 100 feet or more above the stream.



This was probably the most remote we've been in GA. Yep them Georgia mountains sure are beautiful and this particular stream is an extra nice treat. It was a delightful adventure as we had never scouted it before and put in with boats loaded with camping gear for the first time. All we knew was that it was pretty, fairly remote and that it was a class I/III creek. At 2.3 feet there were many rapids / shoals some quite long, but only 2 or 3 rapids of any consequence and a couple of fun wave trains.



Numerous deep, quiet pools give ample opportunity for swimming, fishing, or just relaxing.



This is an excellent area for camping and at 18 miles this can be stretched to a two day trip. You have to be on the river by 9AM to make it in one day.



The scenery is unique; rocky outcroppings frequently rise from river right as the creek travels through a small gorge environment. The creek is comparatively wide and is not prone to deadfall blockages. Residential development, some of it notably haphazard, can encroach on the views, but the creek remains one of Georgia’s best—and most elusive—Class II paddling runs."



At the level we did it, many of the shallower areas were quite marginal and technical. You really really had to pick your lines well.



I stopped at a large sandbar to stretch my legs and enjoy the solitude of Talking Rock Creek. There are minimal signs of human activity here. Shortly after leaving the sandbar I began to hear the rapids. They were just ahead. The water quickly turns from deep green to shallow clear whitewater. Just then I heard a splash. A young buck was crossing the creek about 30 yards behind me.



Of particular interest is the scenery along the entire route. At low water levels there are many small islands of river grasses and flowers in midstream that create a maze for canoeist.



Steep cliffs will be on the sides of the stream. The name talking Rock Creek came from the echoes that reverberate from the cliffs when any loud sound is made. One imposing bluff on the right side about two thirds down this section contains what appears to be the entrance to a cave that is well above stream level. This was a place called Cedar Cliffs,.



From here I parked my kayak on an island, and waded through the water to reach the rocky bank. I hiked up the right side of the creek until I couldn't see my kayak.

             

The rocks are easy to climb on but very jagged. During heavy rains this creek rises dramatically.



All in all a beautiful and fun river especially after Talking Rock/Rapids (34.55919N/-84.63063W) where the rapids are fairly close throughout the run except for the 3 mile flats at the end.



This gorge also holds one of the last stands of virgin timber in the state.



There is no access until the creek dumps into Carters Lake and you have to paddle two miles across flat water. Talking Rock Creek empties into Caters Lake. Where it joins the Coosawattee River and forms a large freshwater estuary with lots of nooks and crannies to explore. I saw several herons, turtles and bass breaking the water.



Did an overnight trip with my friend Pete and had an absolutely great time, except for the flats at the end We had head winds all the way through them. I would not have minded the flats much but the wind really made it a trudge. I can see where doing it as a day trip and ending up with headwinds after a 14-15 mile paddle would be a test of endurance.The "published" total length of this run is 18mi but I retraced the river on my mapping software and the distance I get from the put-in at hwy 136 to the Carter Lake Reservoir hwy 136 take out is 14.67mi. Alright, Monday we finish the coast of Georgia, a two parter to wrap up the top 50 Natural Wonders of Georgia. Concentrating on Tennessee Saturday and recuperating Sunday. So Monday we continue.

Top Row Dawg Addendum

Found some more photos from my adventure.





Who packs a newspaper for a canoe float?





Even with no cliffs, wilderness experience, no houses for 18 miles.



Waterfalls.



Waterfowls.



Shallow at times. 24 times.



Up on cliff.



Pete floats by.



Don't let that fish get away GNW Gals for today.