Mill Creek, Georgia, US
|
|
Cohuttas - Along Mill Creek Rd.
| Usual Difficulty |
III-V+ (for normal flows) |
| Length |
3 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
200 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
350 fpm |
The first rapid
The first rapidPhoto of Simon Bishop by Jon Scott taken 11/19/02 @ .9
River Description
Mill creek runs beside the road most of the way. It has many put in and takeout options. If you
like steep gradient,ledges, and large waterfalls the first mile from Hickey Gap campground has it
droping 350 ft. Driving from Hickey Gap back down to the takeout the creek will appear again at a
pulloff large enough for 2 cars. This is a good put-in for the lower 2 miles with some III-IV
creeking. The first takeout is at two drain tiles that flow under upper Rocky Flats ORV trail. The
second takeout is where Rocky Flats trail crosses the stream. The first rapid from Hickey Gap
put-in is "Ooh My Liver" noted for all the beer drank around this rapid, two slides finished by two
small ledges. Continous boogie water will bring you to a bend to the left and a rock wall on river
right. Get out on the right and walk down to "Hickey Gap Falls" a 45ft waterfall with a tricky
entrance. The line appears to be center or left. After running two ledges below the falls get out
on the right again and look at "Lower falls" a 10ft ledge into a very steep and long slide. The
line is down the right. Know where these drops are cause at higher flows eddies become few and far
between. These both should be portaged on the river right. After the Lower falls a few more rapids
then the road will appear again. 1.5 miles from here you will enter "The Staircase" a long class IV
that can be seen from the road. As with all small creeks, lots of wood and strainers in this
one.
Other runs nearby are:
Holly Creek
Conasauga
Jacks
Ocoee
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2003-02-26 19:01:45
Editors
First Descent
User Comments
around strainers and several limbo's. Very continous, tight, and small eddies. I think the best way
to internet gauge anything in the Cohuttas is with the usgs Mill creek near Crandall gauge. Its
location is just a few miles below rocky flats ORV trail and the only usgs gauge we have in the
Cohuttas. Haven't got it dialed in or corelations yet but around 3ft is showing good signs of water
in the Cohuttas. Check this gauge and post flows, time, and dates. This gauge reports often and
should be great once we get it dialed in. Thanks cohuttariverrat
Wallace, and Mark Bowman.
for aeration and the landing.
portages due to trees, at higher water maybe no portages but it would have to be 2 - 2.5'(scary but
fun as hell). all the drops have been run consecutiveley at 2', great level, but not fun solo.
whole thing from Hickey's Gap to the Rocky Flats tile. I know that there are alot of locals who
should be running it.
On June 26 2004 hickey gap falls was run by Obie Jenkins. The water level was a healthy medium and
the falls has got to be taller than 45'. Please note that the river right side of the pool is only
4' deep, the river left side is 8' deep, and the long slide at the top of the falls is just as tall
as the vertical part, so you haul ass off the last part. Witnessed and photographed by Keith
Broadwater and his father Barry Broadwater. I will submit pictures soon. If this isnt the first
descent please let me know.
I just saw it on the usgs website.<br>
Where is it located?<br>
Holly Creek @ Chatsworth USGS guage 650 dropping to<br>
500<br>
(Holly reading were taken before & after leaving<br>
toady)<br>
<br>
I would suggest this as a great July alternative to<br>
the Ocoee, very boney. Mark Cummnock would be proud<br>
none the less.Class 3-4+ run with two 5+ drops. One<br>
was done today, the other needs higher flow to go.<br>
Pics when developed. Easy access, roadside.<br>
The unrun rapid, a Oceania size slide was named Meat<br>
Grinder. Imagine a slightly shorter, same angle slide<br>
with a junky entrance, & then alot of bounce to finish<br>
it out.<br>
Preferred level would be between 1.5 & 2.5'. Between<br>
2.5 & up will really be exciting.<br>
<br>
Ted Hayes<br>
few years now.<br>
when it was first scouted, it was more than choked with wood but thanks to a little cleaning i
believe it was first run in '01. it takes quite a lot of water to push it though. area creeks
should be nearing flood stage for this to be an option.