A 7-mile float on the Chattooga River and a tour of Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens
Northwest Georgia and Chattooga County is the destination for this adventure that takes in seven miles of the narrow and winding Chattooga River (not the famous whitewater river of Northeast Georgia) and ends with a visit to Paradise Gardens, the legendary folk art sculpture garden of Howard Finster, a preacher turned artist, whose work famously appeared on album covers for REM and Talking Heads. He is now revered as the “Grandfather of Contemporary American Folk Art.” Paradise Gardens is located just a half mile from the river. The paddle route features intimate, tree-shaded paddling with a few small shoals and a beautiful spring. In recent years, the City of Lyerly has developed access points along the river to create the Chattooga River Water Trail.
Skill Level Required:
This is a flatwater paddle with small shoals. It is suitable for all paddling skills, from novice to expert.
Register
Registration fees are $40 for youth 17 and under and $85 for adults. Registration closes May 15 or when full. Registration fees include guide services, river maps, shuttle service and entry to Paradise Gardens. Detailed information about meeting times and locations will be e-mailed to all registered participants one to two weeks prior to the event. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Apply for a Scholarship:
A limited number of scholarships to encourage women, people of color, recent immigrants and low-income individuals and families to participate are available. Apply for a scholarship HERE!
