
Protect Your Rivers by Paddling Your Rivers!
Compete to win up to $8,000 in prizes for paddling you’re already doing in 2023 — and help protect Georgia’s rivers in the process — by joining Georgia River Network’s 25th Anniversary Paddle-a-thon! Now through Sept. 6, paddlers can log the miles they paddle to win prizes in categories such as “Most Miles Paddled,” “Most Kayak Fishing Trips,” “Most Trash Collected” and even “Most Miles Paddled with Your Pet!” Part paddling competition, part community fundraiser, all are invited to join Paddle-a-thon. You can choose to raise money on behalf of the org or to just paddle, it’s up to you!
Join Paddle-a-thonThis short 5-mile journey takes in one of the most popular river runs in North Georgia, exploring the historic Chestatee River just south of the Gold Rush town of Dahlonega. Plan a day or a weekend in the Georgia mountains around this three-to-four hour Sunday morning paddle. With its headwaters along the flanks of Blood Mountain in Dicks Creek and Frogtown Creek, the Chestatee flows through the heart of North Georgia’s Gold Rush country where during the 1830s, thousands of settlers moved into the area seeking their fortune. Many worked from flatboats on the Chestatee River where they dredged the river bottom in search of the precious metal; others developed even more elaborate systems–including a diving bell that was employed for a short period on the river in the 1870s. The trip is mostly flatwater with some Class I shoals and flows through a mostly wooded and undeveloped riverfront. The trip is suitable for beginning and novice paddlers. Kayak rentals are available. Registration begins March 1. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Outdoor recreation enthusiasts, conservationists and leaders from across the state will gather to celebrate 25 years of protecting rivers and waterways on September 8 at the Georgia Rivers Gala.
Guests will enjoy full bar service with live music, a sit-down dinner, program and live dance band.
Come out to 42West from 7-10 p.m. on September 8 to celebrate a quarter-century of working together for healthy rivers.
Sponsor, get tickets or donate at garivers.org/georgiariversgala

For more information: Wilderness First Aid/CPR Certification Class (regfox.com)
Ever wonder why we’ve been doing this same trip–at the same time of year–in the same place for nearly a decade? Well, it’s because the lower Flint is so beautiful and so unique that we just keep coming back to it year after year. Even after all these years, it remains one of our most popular trips. Unlike any other river in South Georgia, the Flint will surprise you with its lively shoals, Swiss cheese-like limestone bluffs, beautiful blue hole springs and abundance of wildlife–both on land and in the water. This two-day, two-night canoe/kayak camping adventure takes in 36 miles of the Flint’s wonder. Along the way, you can choose your non-paddling activities: lounge on a sandbar, jump from a limestone cliff or take a dip in a chilling, breathtakingly beautiful blue hole spring. We’ll camp at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat, a picturesque camp overlooking the river in Newton with tent camping, cabins for rent and RV camping sites. Restrooms with toilets and showers are provided. Catered meals will be served in an indoor, air-conditioned dining hall. Educational programs on the river and after dinner each evening will give you a greater understanding of the Flint and water issues shaping Southwest Georgia, the state’s most productive agricultural area. Click here for more details and registration information.
The 22-mile adventure takes you through an incredible diversity of landscapes and introduces you the the wonder that is, well…one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders–the Okefenokee Swamp. Beginning at Stephen Foster State Park, the paddle route explores both the wide-open cypress-lined big water of the swamp as well as the intimate hardwood-lined “Narrows” as the swamp begins forming what will soon become the Suwannee River. From the Narrows, the route emerges into a prairie-like landscape dotted with majestic cypress before passing through the man-made Suwannee River Sill and into the Suwannee River proper. The route’s final 14 miles from Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo take in a beautiful and winding section of one of the South’s most fabled rivers. Wildlife? You bet! Expect to see lots of alligators! Camping is at Griffis Fish Camp, an historic old-school campground established in the 1930s. Restrooms with toilets and showers are provided along with tent camping. Individual RV campsites are also available for additional fees. Catered meals are served beneath a temporary shelter within our camping area. Space is limited for this adventure so register early! Kayak rentals are available. Click here for more details and registration information.
This 15-mile paddling adventure shows off some of the best of the Okefenokee Swamp, exploring the iconic prairies of the swamp’s east side and the wooded narrows and cypress-lined path of the Suwannee River on the swamp’s east side. Upon completion of these paddle routes, you’ll understand why the Okefenokee has long been considered one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders and why it is now a candidate for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trip features fully indoor accommodations at the Suwannee River Eco-Lodge, part of Stephen Foster State Park, catered meals and great educational programs each evening. We begin with dinner and program Friday evening, Dec. 1, followed by two days of paddling. Kayak rentals are available. Click here for more details and registration information.