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Includes:
paddling
Required Gear:
PFD
Boating gear. I wouldn’t suggest a raft on this one.
Be sure you are capable of paddling 2 miles upstream if you are doing this car to car.
Cautions:
You're on the water above a Spill way. Don’t screw around. BE SAFE PLEASE!
All normal cautions from a river paddle.
It’s always a good idea to have a friend along when you are out paddling.
Other Notes:
I’d suggest doing this as a one way paddle and having someone give you and your boat a shuttle. I’d suggest you park at either Johnson Ferry Rd, Powers Ferry Rd, or Cobb Parkway. Have someone shuttle you and your boat up river then do this Event as a one way, downstream paddle. The Portage is particularly cool, since that is something most people don’t get the opportunity to do. A noted highlight in the portage is the extreme temperature difference between the water at the top compared to the bottom of the Spillway. Here are a few GPS points in case you have a handheld:
Mile Marker 313T N33 58.323 W84 23.062
Mile Marker 315 N33 59.566 W84 23.022
Gold Branch Rec Area GB1 N33 59.104 W84 23.233
Time:60 minutes to 90 minutes car to car. Time will differ if you head down stream. It took me around 80 minutes including high water upstream paddling, snapping photos, etc.
Maps:
- map 1
- map 2
How to get there:
From I85/I75 Going North through downtown Atlanta.
Take I85 North. Take GA 400 North. Stop and pay toll. Continue North past I285. Take the NORTHRIDGE ROAD exit number 6- toward GA-9/ DUNWOODY PL. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto NORTHRIDGE RD. Turn RIGHT onto ROSWELL RD/ GA-9. Turn LEFT onto AZALEA DR. Turn LEFT onto WILLEO RD. Follow Willeo Road to just about 1 mile past the Chattahoochee Nature Center. On your left you will see a small parking lot. Here is an aerial view of the parking lot. I don’t have it’s name, but it should be fairly obvious.
The put in is where ever you want beside the parking lot. When I was there the whole area was one big dirt bank. Here is map of the Parking Area.
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This is a fairly simple paddle if you do it car to car.
Put in and answer the following Questions.
As you head out and enter the main channel you will see a River Mile Marker on your LEFT. You will need to locate the next two of these River Mile Markers. Both are obvious and easy to locate. The 314 River Mile Marker Sign has one color paint, but another obvious color being revealed as the current paint chips and peels.
QUESTION#1: What color paint is being revealed?
Paddle on down river and locate the 313 River Mile Marker Sign. Answer the following Questions.
Look through the hole in the sign post. You will position your boat on the upstream side of the post. Your view will be more downstream than upstream, and you will find yourself looking toward the opposite side of the river from the Portage Sign.
QUESTION#2: What do you see on the banks of the River when looking through the hole?
QUESTION#3: What approximate color is it?
Now paddle over to the Portage Sign and answer this Question.
QUESTION#4: What are the missing words from the sign pictured?
That’s it !!
When I was paddling back upstream I got to paddle through some of the classic Fog you see on it.
Return to you car at leisure.
Being so close you should paddle over to the Portage and at least hike down to see the other side of the Spillway. Hopefully you are doing this as part of a one way paddle and in that case you actually get to do the Portage.
Either way, be careful and enjoy the scenery.
1. What color paint is being revealed?
2. What do you see on the banks of the River when looking through the hole?
3. What approximate color is it?
4. What are the missing words from the sign pictured?
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