NRT Database

Location: The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers 48 miles of river trail available for raft, canoe, kayak, and motorboat use year round. The trail begins below Buford dam in Forsyth County to the take out at Powers Island/Paces Mill, metro Atlanta,
State(s): Georgia
Counties: Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett
Longitude: -84.07594
Latitude: 34.15968

Driving Directions

Many access points from Metro Atlanta. Start your visit at the Island Ford Visitor Contact Station. See www.nps.gov/chatt The river is accessible by boat North of Morgan Falls Dam at Bowmans Island [34.1583deg N; -84.0774deg W], Abbotts Bridge [34.0244;-84.1718], Medlock Bridge [33.9959;-84.2027], Jones Bridge [33.9988;-84.2478], Chattahoochee River Park [34.0022;-84.3620], Morgan Falls Dam [33.9654;-84.3822], Johnson Ferry [33.9457;-84.4042], Power Island [33.9041;-84.4421], Paces Mill [33.8704,-84.4526].

Description

The 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is available for raft, canoe, kayak, motor boat and other small boat use year round. Jet skis are not permitted at any time. The river remains a cool temperature year-round, rarely getting warmer than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The river within the park is open for boating from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Night boating is not permitted in the park.

The river offers excellent opportunities for leisurely paddling a raft, canoe or kayak to observe wildlife and wildflowers, do some fishing, or simple relaxing recreation.

On days when Buford Dam is not releasing water, the river below the dam is calm "flat water" with an occasional class I/II shoals or rapids.

Even if you don't have your own boat to use, there is equipment available for rental. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area does not rent boats, however there are several authorized outfitters that rent canoes, kayaks, rafts, and tubes for day use on the river.

The entire 48-mile-long corridor runs along the Brevard Fault Zone, which forms the Chattahoochee River channel. It forms, in part, the dividing line between two physiographic provinces: the Appalachian Mountains and the Piedmont Plateau. The mixed habitat types within the old and stable Chattahoochee River channel form a biological link with the Appalachian Mountains. This has resulted in high biodiversity within the adjacent park.

The park provides a scenic river corridor with opportunities for natural solitude and seclusion within relatively undisturbed forests, wetlands, bluffs, ravines, and open water areas.

To provide the public with information about the NRA, the park provides visitor contact stations staffed by rangers, a website, and a Chattahoochee River Guide that provides access locations and natural & cultural resource information. Signage is present at trail heads, mile markers are visible on the river, and geographic signage is on bridges and crossings.

Flow rates and conditions and water quality status are provided through several partnerships that are available on different web sites for public information.

Additional Details

Primary Surface: Water, moving
Secondary Surface: None
Elevation Low Point: Not Available
Elevation High Point: Not Available
Elevation Gain (cumulative): Not Available

Year Designated: 2012

Supporting Webpages and Documents

Contact Information

For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). For questions, suggestions, and corrections to information listed on the website, contact American Trails.

Park Ranger:
Ann Honious
Superintendent
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
1978 Island Ford Parkway
Sandy Springs, GA 30350
(678) 538-1200
[email protected]