Chattooga, Georgia, US/South Carolina, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | II-III+(IV) (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 13 Miles |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHATTOOGA RIVER NEAR CLAYTON, GA | ||||
| usgs-02177000 | 1.20 - 3.00 ft | II-III+(IV) | 01h21m | 1.69 ft (rc= 0.3 ) |
Gauge info:
The online gauge reads differently than the paddler's gauge on the US 76 Bridge. Most local
paddlers refer to the bridge gauge.
The online gauge reads about .15 higher than the bridge gauge at 2 feet, about .25 higher below
two feet and the same at about 2.8 feet.
Many long stretches of Section 3 are wide and shallow at low water and this can make for a long
day on the river. At levels below 1.8 or so on the bridge is it scrapy. At levels of about 1.2 on
the internet guage it can be intolerable. See alternative river itineraries below.
This section can certainly be run above 3', by experienced paddlers familar with Section 3. Pay
particular attention to areas like Sandy Ford at high water.
River Info:
See also Section
4.
Note: as of 3/30/2001 the logjam to the right at Sandy Ford island is now open
and passable. Some logs remain, use caution.
Shuttle Directions: From the US Highway 76 access proceed east on US 76 into
South Carolina for about 2 miles to the first paved road on the left. This will be Chattooga
Ridge Road (you will see a sign to Oconee State Park, follow it). Turn left here.
Proceed several miles to the four way stop sign and turn left on Earl's Ford Road. Proceed to the
end of this road and into the Earl's Ford Parking area. You will see the registration box and
sign on the left.
There are many variations to a Section 3 itinerary including access points at Thrifts Ferry, Fall
Creek, and Sandy Ford.. More info to come.
Boaters can also put in on Warwoman Creek.
or Whetstone Creek.
Another popular option is to put in at Thrifts Ferry about 2 miles above Bull Sluice and the
Highway 76 Bridge, and takeout at Woodall Shoals (See Section 4 of the Chattooga River for
more information on this part of the river). At Woodall Shoals portage left on the big rock or
run rar right (Georgia Side of the river).
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHATTOOGA RIVER NEAR CLAYTON, GA | ||||||||||||
| usgs-02177000 | 1.20 - 3.00 ft | II-III+(IV) | 01h21m | 1.69 ft (rc= 0.3 ) | ||||||||
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Earls Ford |  | |
| 0.3 | Warwoman Rapid | II+ |  |
| 1.2 | First Island Rapid | II | |
| 1.6 | Rock Garden | II+ | |
| 2.3 | 3 Rooster Tails | III | |
| 2.5 | Dicks Creek Ledge | III+ | |
| 3.0 | Sandy Ford Rapid | III |   |
| 3.5 | The Narrows | III+ | |
| 3.5 | Narrows - second half of the rapid | III | |
| 4.0 | Second Ledge | III | |
| 5.4 | Eye of the Needle | III+ | |
| 8.0 | Fall Creek | | |
| 9.0 | Rollercoaster | III | |
| 9.2 | Painted Rock | III+ | |
| 11.0 | Thrifts Ferry | II+ |  |
| 12.2 | Bull Sluice | IV | |
| 12.2 | Bull Sluice (high water) | |
Warwoman Rapid
Resized photo
Dicks Creek Ledge
(RM) Entering The Narrows
(RM) Middle of The Narrows| Run left, punch the wave hole. |
(Click on image for larger view) |
Painted Rock Rapid| Very large double drop rapid full of potholes and undercuts. During the summer the locals will swim into a cave under the main flow then hang out and watch you boat over them. AW standard rated class 4+ from 1.8 to 2.3. Its easier lower, and harder higher. | 
Boofing Decapitation Rock (Click on image for fullsize photo.) |
Bulls Sluice highwater (resized)When the Chattooga gets huge boaters still run the Sluice.
Report covering the recreation users, use, economic impacts, and economic benefits of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River.
Letters in opposition of paddling on the Chattooga from Paul Broun, Robin Hayes and J. Gresham Barrett - Congressional Representatives
reach
state
state
reachlink
Section 3 - Earls Ford to Route 76 Bridge, Chattooga Georgia, US/South Carolina, US (mobile)
User Comments
13 mile run. The drive from bridge to bridge is 17.2 miles. The river is estimated to be slightly
longer than that, somewhere around 18 miles. Fantastic day trip as long as you plan for 18 miles.
Also, there are more rapids that this page suggests as well. I didnt get a full count but it was an
awesome day and the rapids were extremely fun. I will post more info the next time we run this. By
the way, we ran it at 1.35ft and it was only bony in about 2 places. All around excellent river and
when all other rivers are below runnable, the chatooga is hangin in there strong.
internet data. It is a little further walk then what is below the bridge but the trail is clear.
island has a clear notch in the jog jam, but use caution, especially at higher water or after
higher flows as this will continue to trap more wood until the whole thing gets blown downstream.
myself. Take a good scout of it before you run.
pose a real risk.
the far left chute at the entrance to the last segment. This chute was good to go at 2.25 and
should still run down to 1.7 or so.
it two weeks ago is now gone, so you're good to go.
cheat immediately to the right of the drop, it was barely open at 2.25
the river reaches around the bulging rock at the bottom of the narrows. The large wood is in the
middle crack and spans the entire river left and right channels. Most of us were in a raft that
definately would not slide in under the tree at 2.5 on the Hwy. 76 bridge. Two of the paddlers
scraped under the elongated tree, but these paddlers are far above the caliper of the average sec.
III paddler. I think everyone should get out and look at it before you slide into the bottom. Sorry
if someone has already posted this, but I didnt want to hear of anyone getting hurt. Edit
right of run Edit
in the class 2 tongue immediately upstream from I think S-Turn (the rapid with the big, vertical
boulder near river-left not far upstream from Bull Sluice). It's a long log protruding from
river-left, starting in the air but slightly underwater all the way across the fastest current. The
level was 1.08, and it was easy to see and miss. At higher levels or even at 1 foot, this could be
a nasty pin for the unwary.
earls ford. It is a great way to spend 2 hours after a day of work. The shuttle takes 5 minutes. If
you play some you can liesurely do this section in 2 hours and you get some great scenery,
isolation (during the week), and have some fun rapids to play on.
right. You cant miss it. We went left of the island at 1.4 or so and it was way too bony. The right
side is too fun to miss.
gage.<br>
<br>
Bridge = USGS<br>
0.9 = 1.2<br>
1.05 = 1.29<br>
1.3 = 1.5<br>
1.42 = 1.62<br>
1.95 = 2.03<br>
2.2 = 2.2<br>
2.9 = 2.9<br>
<br>
You'll notice that below 1.5 on the bridge there is a .2 difference in the gages. Above 1.5 they
start to converge. Just over 2 feet they agree. I got the 2.2 and the 2.9 readings this weekend -
thanx to Hanna!!!!!! I'm not sure if they begin to disagre at higher levels, but that would be a
good guess. I'll keep an eye on it and post with more data later!<br>
<br>
Paddle Safe -- Rob<br>