Georgia Rivers Releases River Adventure Schedule for 2026 

Georgia Rivers April 10-12 Spring on the St. Marys adventure will take paddlers into the Okefenokee Swamp where spring flowers will be in full bloom. Credit: Joe Cook

Just in time for the holidays, Georgia Rivers releases its canoe/kayak/paddleboard/fishing adventures schedule for 2026, giving river lovers the opportunity to give the gift of adventures to one another.  

ATHENS, GA, December 22, 2025 –Registration opens for the organization’s spring 2026 weekend adventures and 2026 day trips on Monday, Dec. 22, at 8 a.m. and continues until sold out. The full slate of paddling and fishing trips can be viewed here. The schedule features more than two dozen trips ranging from excursions in the Okefenokee Swamp to whitewater float trips down North Georgia’s Toccoa and Broad rivers. It also features guided kayak fishing trips and water safety and kayaking skills classes for beginners. 

Trips range in price from $70 for day trips to $450 for weekend adventures with discounts for youth. Full and partial scholarships for women, people of color, recent immigrants and low-income residents are available for all events. Most trips are limited to between 30 and 40 participants. Parties interested in applying for scholarship may do so here. 

Seasoned canoeists and kayakers and beginners alike will find something of interest on the 2026 schedule, according to event planners. Two trips celebrate America250, exploring American history while experiencing the scenic beauty of Georgia’s rivers and streams. Other adventures combine paddle trips with visits to some of Georgia’s famous folk art installations and still others will involve gathering and processing wild fruits. 

“Our goal is to connect people with the incredible beauty and infinite fun to be experienced on Georgia’s rivers,” said Rena Ann Peck, Georgia Rivers executive director, “When people are connected to our rivers they care about them. When they care about our rivers, they protect them and they protect the public’s right to access them.”

A kayaker snaps a photo amongst the towering cypress found along Ebenezer Creek near Savannah. Georgia Rivers Ebenezer-Brier Creek Adventure set for March 13-15 will explore two beautiful Savannah River tributaries as well as Revolutionary War and Civil War history as part of America250 celebrations. Credit: Joe Cook

Weekend Trips

The organization’s trips begin Feb. 28-March 1 with a two-day adventure exploring Spring Creek and the Chattahoochee River in Southwest Georgia. Aptly-named Spring Creek is a clear, cool stream fed by beautiful blue hole springs while the route on the Chattahoochee follows an iconic steamboat path and takes a side trip to the historic Coheelee Creek covered bridge. 

On March 13-15, Georgia Rivers will host a two-day event on Ebenezer and Brier creeks in the Savannah River basin. Both are otherworldy paddling paths marked by ancient cypress trees and home to rich American history. The first of the organization’s America250 adventures, this trip will lead participants through Revolutionary War and Civil War historic sites along the routes. 

“We’re excited to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with these river trips,” said Peck. “Our history revolves around our rivers.” 

On April 10-12, a three-day adventure on the St. Marys River and Okefenokee Swamp will feature a day in the swamp and two days of paddling the blackwater St. Marys River along the Georgia-Florida state line. Participants will camp at Charlton County’s historic Traders Hill beneath sprawling live oak trees.  

On April 24-26, the Ogeechee River near the Georgia coast will host paddlers on a two-day, 16-mile journey with camping and educational programs at the historic Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Museum and Nature Center. 

The spring weekend adventures close out May 1-3 with a two-day, 28-mile Chattahoochee Camp and Paddle, utilizing the recently opened Chattahoochee RiverLands parks along the river in south Fulton County. The “paddle-in campsites” feature primitive tent sites and covered pavilions with electricity, restrooms, showers and picnic areas. 

Georgia Rivers adventures are more than just paddle trips. Fishing and floating is as common as paddling. These stewardship trips incorporate education about issues impacting Georgia’s water resources. Credit: Joe Cook

Kayak Fishing

Georgia Rivers will also host a series of kayak fishing classes and trips, running from March through September. These classes provide novice and beginning kayak anglers with kayaking and fishing skills, and water safety training. Classes are scheduled for March 28 on Lake Allatoona, April 18 on the Chestatee River and July 18 and Aug. 15 on the Chattahoochee River. 

Then on Aug. 29, Georgia Rivers will host a day-long kayak fishing expedition on the Chestatee River near Dahlonega and on Sept. 19-20 kayak anglers will hit the Flint River for two days of fun and fishing within the state’s Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Learn to Kayak

New kayakers wanting to get their feet wet (and nothing else) will have the opportunity to learn skills and water safety tips to keep themselves upright and out of the water through a series of trips for beginners. The series kicks off May 16 on National Safe Boating Day with multiple “Kayaking 101” classes being offered by Georgia Rivers. 

That day of learning is followed by a flatwater paddle trip on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell June 6 and a flatwater paddle trip that includes a few shoals and small rapids on the Etowah River near Cartersville July 18.

Day Trips

Georgia Rivers day trips take canoeists, kayakers and paddleboarders on adventures all over the state. The season kicks off May 23 with an America250 trip on the Broad River where participants will learn about the Revolutionary War heroics of Nancy Hart and see the spectacular blooms of shoals spider lilies along the river’s Anthony Shoals. 

Three trips highlight rivers and Georgia folk art, including a float July 25 on the Chattooga River near Summerville followed by a visit to Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens; a whitewater rafting trip on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus Aug. 8 paired with a visit to St. EOM’s Passaquan in Buena Vista, and a Toccoa River float and Groovy Zoo visit in North Georgia Aug. 22. 

The fun continues come harvest time with an Oconee River float near Athens Sept. 12 during which paddlers will gather wild muscadines and make jelly at the end of the trip. Likewise, on Nov. 1, paddlers will harvest and process wild persimmons into jam following an 8-mile journey down the Savannah River near Augusta.

Paddle Georgia 2026

The Cartecay, Coosawattee and Oostanaula rivers will play host to the organization’s 21st annual Paddle Georgia adventure set for June 13-20. The seven-day, 95-mile adventure will follow a water trail through North Georgia from Ellijay to Rome. More than 300 people are expected to participate. Registration for the trip will open in February. 

Georgia Rivers’ full slate of kayaking instruction and water safety classes will be announced early next year. 

Individuals interested in exploring the state’s rivers on their own can take advantage of Georgia Rivers’ free Georgia River Guide app available at both android and Apple app stores. The app provides detailed information for boaters about how to access and what to expect on dozens of Georgia rivers and streams.

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For More Information:

Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia Coordinator, 706-409-0128 or joe@garivers.org

About Georgia Rivers:

Georgia Rivers is a statewide 501c3 organization with the mission to protect and connect people with Georgia rivers. Georgia Rivers serves as Georgia DNR’s non-profit partner running the Georgia Water Trails Network, creating river maps and guides and providing the free Georgia River Guide mobile app. Georgia Rivers connects people to Georgia rivers by hosting paddle trips across the state, including the signature week-long Paddle Georgia camping adventure hosted on a different Georgia river each year; and by conducting kayak training and safety classes. Georgia Rivers also serves as fiscal sponsor of the Okefenokee Protection Alliance, Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition and Georgia Water Coalition.

Visit garivers.org to learn more about paddle trips, water trails and ways you can protect Georgia rivers.