We are Georgia Rivers

Georgia Rivers

Who we are

Georgia Rivers is the sole statewide advocacy group protecting rivers and water trails in Georgia.

We are Georgia Rivers.

Since 1998, Georgia Rivers has helped establish a human network of more than 30 community river conservation groups including riverkeepers, water trails groups and statewide coalitions. We have developed a physical network of water trails to increase river recreation across the state, organized Paddle Georgia canoe and kayak adventures for thousands of individuals and families, and trained hundreds of paddlers in skills and water safety. With the support of river protectors and river communities across the state, we are just getting started.

Georgia rivers start in humble headwaters, confluence with other streams and form mighty rivers. Thanks to you, Georgia Rivers is one mighty movement for river protection throughout our state. Our logo features a single flowing river to represent our growing river protection community united on a single goal: protect our rivers for generations to come.

The history and future of Georgians is interwoven with the usage of the waterways. Water is just not a resource for life but culture, economic trade, movement of people, and religious rituals. The usage has been inscribed in law and its continued usage is pivotal in who we are as a people.

We Are Georgia Rivers Brochure

Our Mission and Programs

Our mission is to protect and connect people with Georgia rivers. Our programs fall under the following categories: protect, paddle, explore and fish.

Protect Georgia Rivers

Georgia rivers are the source of life in our state. Clean flowing rivers provide drinking water, powerful rivers provide energy, and healthy waterways sustain our ecosystems and draw us to connect with nature.

Georgia Rivers protects rivers through science and advocacy to ensure all rivers are clean, healthy and safe to swim. Our mission is to keep rivers open for public recreation, ensure the responsible use of water resources, and provide a clean water legacy for future generations. We unite river protectors and provide leadership for the Georgia Water Coalition, Okefenokee Protection Alliance, and Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition as the fiscal sponsor. We are Georgia DNR’s non-profit partner coordinating the Georgia Water Trails Network.

Protect Georgia Rivers

Paddle Georgia Rivers

Georgia rivers are a place of transformation for those picking up a paddle for the first time and avid paddlers alike. No one is the same after a wild experience on a river, stream, lake or swamp. We believe Georgia rivers have the power to reunite us with nature and with each other. Georgia rivers are gathering places for healing, empowerment, and community.

Georgia Rivers offers paddle trips and paddlesports training to welcome everyone out on our rivers.

We host paddle trips and weekend adventures on rivers in every part of the state. Our annual Paddle Georgia trip includes up to 400 participants and is the largest week-long canoe and kayaking camping adventure of its kind in the nation.

Georgia Rivers offers paddle training through water safety classes, kayak skills classes, and kayak instructor certification courses. Our paddlesports training pathway bridges the knowledge gap for paddlers looking to increase their skills and maximize their fun on Georgia rivers.

Paddle Georgia Rivers

Explore Georgia Rivers

With over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams across the state, you are never more than a few miles from a waterway ready for exploration. Georgia Rivers is dedicated to providing everything you need to explore the rivers near you.

Georgia Rivers is the state’s nonprofit partner running the Georgia Water Trail Network. This network of water trails, similar to hiking trails, includes nearly 40 waterways and 2,350 paddling miles. These water trails promote outdoor recreation tourism for rural economic development and improve quality of life for all Georgians. Paddlers can discover and explore all water trails on our free Georgia River Guide mobile app. Dive deeper into the rich cultural and natural history of Georgia rivers in our Georgia River User’s Guidebook series.

Explore Georgia Rivers

Fish Georgia Rivers

Georgia rivers are teeming with life from the cold, clear trout streams of the North Georgia mountains to the big, slow rivers below the Fall Line.

There are well over a million anglers of all ages across the state. Fish Georgia Rivers offers anglers access to kayak fishing training, beginner fishing trips, and education to protect the rich abundance of fish native to Georgia rivers.

Fish Georgia Rivers

We are Georgia Rivers

We would like to thank our board of directors, river protectors, paddlers and friends who contributed to our rebrand.

This is just the beginning of a new chapter for Georgia Rivers. Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to get all of the latest news on what’s happening on Georgia rivers.