It’s hot out, but a statewide river conservation group reports that it’s cool on Georgia’s rivers.
Through the end of the summer, Georgia Rivers will host several canoe/kayak/paddleboard trips and kayak fishing trips on North Georgia rivers. The group’s outdoor adventures continue into the cooler months with trips on South Georgia’s Flint River and in the Okefenokee Swamp.
“When it comes to summertime in Georgia, there’s not much better than dipping your toes—or your whole body—in a Georgia river,” said Rena Peck, Georgia Rivers Executive Director.
Registration is now open for paddle trips on the Chattooga River in Northwest Georgia (July 25), Chattahoochee River in Columbus (Aug. 8), Toccoa River near Blue Ridge (Aug. 22) and Oconee River near Athens (Sept. 12)
Kayak fishing trips are planned for the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta (July 18 and Aug. 15) Chestatee River near Dahlonega (Aug. 29) and the Flint River near Thomaston (Sept. 19-20).
In the fall, Georgia Rivers will host two-day camping and paddling trips on the Flint River (Oct. 9-11) and on the Okefenokee Swamp and Suwannee River (Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 20-22). Registration for these events opens Monday, July 6, at 8 a.m.
A day trip on the Savannah River near Augusta is also planned for Nov. 1. Additional information and registration instructions are available at www.garivers.org/events.
The summer events on the Chattooga, Toccoa and Chattahoochee feature visits to local folk art landmarks, including Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens near the Chattooga River; Eddie Owens Martin’s Passaquan in Buena Vista (a short drive from the Chattahoochee in Columbus) and The Groovy Zoo, a metal sculpture wonderland near the Toccoa River in Mineral Bluff.
The Sept. 12 journey on the Oconee and Nov. 1 trip on the Savannah will include harvests of wild fruits and jam-making sessions—wild muscadine on the Oconee and wild persimmons on the Savannah.
Kayak fishing adventures are led by American Canoe Association-certified kayak-fishing instructor Kendon Townsel who will provide tips and training for getting the most from your kayak fishing experiences.
Oct. 9-11, Georgia Rivers Fall Float on the Flint will introduce paddlers to a 36-mile stretch of the river between Albany and Bainbridge filled with playful shoals, abundant wildlife, beautiful limestone bluffs and breathtaking blue hole springs. The trip features two nights of camping at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat in Newton, meals catered by local restaurants and breweries and nightly educational programs.
The organization heads to the Okefenokee in November. On Nov. 6-8 paddlers can explore the Okefenokee Swamp’s wilderness canoe trails and a portion of the Suwannee River with camping, catered meals and nightly educational programs at historic Griffis Fish Camp in Fargo.
On Nov. 20-22, paddlers will stay at the Stephen Foster State Park Suwannee River EcoLodge while exploring both the east and west side of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge that may earn UNESCO World Heritage Site status this summer. This event features catered meals and nightly educational programs.
“We organize these trips to engage people with our rivers,” said Peck. “When people experience our rivers, they then are motivated to take action to protect them. We need a statewide village to keep our rivers clean, healthy and accessible to all.”
Scholarships to participate in these journeys are available to women, people of color, recent immigrants and low-income individuals and families. Interested parties may apply at: https://georgiarivernetwork.regfox.com/paddle-georgia-scholarship-application.
Georgia Rivers paddle trips introduce about 1000 people to Georgia rivers annually. The trips support the organization’s river conservation efforts.
Georgia Rivers, formerly Georgia River Network, is a 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission of connecting people with and protecting Georgia’s rivers. It serves as Georgia Department of Natural Resources non-profit partner coordinating the state’s water trail program.