Water Trails & Paddling
Upper Chattahoochee River Water Trail
Water Trail Information
The Upper Chattahoochee River Water Trail is approximately 36.2 miles long and is located upstream of Lake Lanier, beginning at the confluence of Sautee Creek and the Chattahoochee in White County and ending at Clarks Bridge Park in Hall County. There are eight access points and six sections along the corridor that may be used by boaters. Wildwood Outfitters provides access to several GA DNR sites that are not yet fully open to public access, including camping at Buck Shoals State Park. Additional camping opportunities and facilities are available at Don Carter State Park. Paddling classifications range from Class I-III (depending on water levels) on upper and middle sections to flat water/lake paddling on lower sections.
Learn even more about points of interest along the river, see the latest data from water gauges and access a handy guide to wildlife in the area on the Georgia River Guide app.
River Basin
Chattahoochee
Location
Upper Chattahoochee River (Sautee Creek to Clarks Bridge County Park)
Distance
36.2 miles
Number of Access Points
10
Classification of Trail
Class I-II+ (some Class III at high water)

Nearest Population Center
Helen, Toccoa, Gainesville
Outfitters
Wildwood Outfitters
(706-865-4451)
https://wildwoodoutfitters.com/
Partnering Organizations
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
GA DNR
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
Trust for Public Land
Wildwood Outfitters
National Park Service
Map and Guide Book
The “Chattahoochee River User’s Guide”—the latest in a series of river guides from Georgia River Network and the University of Georgia Press, traces the 430-mile course of the Hooch from its headwaters at a spring on Coon Den Ridge near Jacks Knob in northeastern Georgia to its confluence with the Flint River, where they form the Apalachicola River. The Georgia River Network guides provide many little-known facts about Georgia’s rivers, bring to life these rivers’ cultural and natural history, and present river issues in an immersive and engaging manner that will inspire users to help protect their local waterways.
126 South Milledge Avenue, Suite E3, Athens, Georgia 30605 | (706) 549-4508 (phone) | info@garivers.org