Paddle Georgia 2010 Journey Details

Join us for the 6th Annual Paddle Georgia as our rainbow-colored flotilla of canoes, kayaks and paddlers embarks on the Broad and Savannah rivers from near Georgia’s Granite Capital of Elberton to the fall line, river city of Augusta. Paddle Georgia 2010 will cover some 55 miles of the Broad and some 27 miles of the Savannah.

On the Broad you’ll stroke through one of Georgia’s last remaining undammed rivers which stretches across Northeast Georgia’s Piedmont before spilling into the Savannah as part of Clarks Hill Reservoir along the Georgia-South Carolina state line. A portage around the East Coast’s second largest man-made lake will take you below Clarks Hill Dam where the journey continues on the wide, wild Savannah as it runs for the Coastal Plain below Augusta.

You’ll paddle the Upper Broad’s whitewater, descend through rural countryside of Elbert, Madison and Oglethorpe counties, ply the big water of Clarks Hill, and soak in the Savannah—a river cloaked in history—from prehistoric island dwellers to modern day industrialists. Experience the Broad River Natural Area, Clarks Hill and Stevens Creek dams, the Augusta Canal and riverfront and more as you venture into the hospitable towns of Danielsville, Elberton and Augusta.

Off river, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about these rivers and the region through water monitoring opportunities, tours of area attractions and nightly activities at campsites that include entertainment, games and programs highlighting the river’s cultural and natural heritage. An educational adventure for the whole family, Paddle Georgia will show you Georgia as you’ve never sent it before.

VIRTUAL JOURNEY
Click on the links below to view the 2010 virtual tour.

	Day 1: Wildcat Bridge Bump — A wild ride down the Broad’s best whitewater. At Wildcat Bridge, the Broad’s gently flowing water gives way to the likes of Horseshoe, Rooster Tail and The Waterfall for a thrilling run of Class II rapids. Click here to view the virtual tour
	Day 2: Madison County Contra — Leaving behind the whitewater, the Broad trickles over a few more shoals as it slows and winds through rural countryside. Deep holes and sandbars punctuate this nine-mile stretch that ends with a view of the river’s most prolific product—lots of sand at a dredging operation. Click here to view the virtual tour
	Day 3: South Fork Fandango — The South Fork of the Broad meets up with us on this 12-mile run that offers up a variety of rocky outcroppings, bluffs, sandbars and oxbows. Swimming holes, deep and teaming with schools of fish, are frequent along with inviting beaches. Click here to view the virtual tour
	Day 4: Anthony Shoals Shuffle — Hurdling towards its meeting with the Savannah, the river reaches a crescendo near the end of an 18-mile day at Anthony Shoals—a spectacular and challenging maze of rocks and rapids that grows rare shoals spider lilies in the late spring. Don’t be surprised if you are visited by otters, ospreys or eagles along the way. Click here to view the virtual tour
	Day 5: Reservoir Reel — The free-flowing Broad and Savannah slow and spread at Clarks Hill Lake, but the beauty doesn’t stop on the Eastern U.S.’s second largest man-made reservoir. Along this seven-mile paddle, the lake laps at the base of impressive bluffs and runs between wooded, mostly untouched banks. Click here to view the virtual tour
	Day 6: Dam to Dam Do-Si-Do — From Clarks Hill Dam to Stevens Creek Dam to the Augusta Canal Dam, this 14-mile run is a history lesson that spans nearly 5,000 years. Sure, you’ll have to tote your boat around a dam but the tour takes you from the prehistoric pottery of Stallings Island to the circa-1800 canal at Augusta. Click here to view the virtual tour
	Day 7: Savannah Rapids Romp — The river’s last gasp in the Piedmont gives way at the fall line in a series of shoals and empties into a watery gateway to Augusta. Along the way, you’ll paddle a portion of the historic canal, slip beneath an interstate highway and ride triumphantly along the urban waterfront of Georgia’s second largest city. Click here to view the virtual tour

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Research Project

Join Georgia Adopt-A-Stream to assess the health of the Broad and Savannah rivers. During the trip, volunteers will learn about Adopt-A-Stream monitoring protocols and participate in monitoring activities to better understand this dynamic river system. All volunteers will have the opportunity to become a certified Adopt-A-Stream Chemical Monitor upon completion of the workshop. No prior training needed. Simply check the box on the registration form to receive information about this opportunity.