Apalachee, Georgia, US
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High Shoals - Hwy 186 to Price Mill (High Shoals)
| Usual Difficulty |
II-III(IV) (for normal flows) |
Apalachee River - High Shoals
Apalachee River - High ShoalsPhoto of Tommy Price by Will Reeves
Gauge Information
River Description
Directly below the bridge/dam, there are a series of small drops that lead to a large
sliding drop of about 25-30' that ends in a big pool. The drop can reportedly be run on
most sides although the launch pad in the center is preferable for nice boofs at higher
water. Beware potential pitoning on rocks below surface on river right and left of launch
pad (although open boaters have said they had no problems on these rocks, there could
be a potential piton leading to injured legs in a kayak).
From the highway coming from Athens, turn on dirt road on left immediately before bridge
and go to sandy beach below drop. Carry up on river left and enjoy. At higher flows
some boaters have run the low head dam on far river left scraping against the river bank,
but screwing this up could lead to a protracted surf (to say the least)- be careful in doing
this.
Minimum level should be considered around 350 cfs, but at this level it will be mighty
scrapy. Better flows are from 500 or so and more. Around 2000-3000 cfs, boofs off the
launch pad get really fun and lofty.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2002-11-11 13:59:42
Editors
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
The drop is an actual class III move but has some rebar near the top.
I went there a little while back, to look at it with<br>
a lot of water. While I was down there a 30<br>
something year old guy pulled up in an old<br>
van. Said he was the land owners son. I was<br>
still in work clothes. He asked what I was<br>
doing. I told him that I was checking out the<br>
rapid. He said If you're going to put in here<br>
and paddle that's fine, but we've lost our<br>
insurance and can't let people hang around<br>
anymore. He told me where his dad lived and<br>
to stop by before I came down again. He was<br>
very nice once he realized I wasn't there to get<br>
drunk though. I didn't mention the fact that I'd<br>
been paddling just the drop on earlier days<br>
though, didn't know how he'd react.
High Shoals is just a big slide with a nice launch pad in the center at proper flows. I have only
run it at high flows, around 2000 and above, and at that level it is great, fun stoff above the
drop to play in and then the big drop to hit. The main danger is that rocks below the surface on
the river left of the launch pad that are easy to piton on if you are running it at too low of a
level, leg breakers for sure. If in doubt, make sure you boof the launch pad in the center. Not
sure about the slot on far right, never got over there to check it out but it may offer a creeky
alternative, just gotta scope it out and make the call. To get there, go out 441 south from Athens
and at the big gas station complex (handy Pantry perhaps), take the right and go til you are abotu
to cross over the river, take the small dirt road on the left and follow to a sandy beach below the
drop. Carry up the river left side of the drop and run it. Fun, fun, fun, but definitely a one hit
wonder.