Chattahoochee River in Georgia

Trip Overview

My girlfriend and I took a trip down the Chattahoochee in North Georgia during Memorial Day weekend. We started at Sautee creek where Rt 17 crosses over it. The creek was shallow and moving pretty well - but fairly easy to navigate.

Shortly after that it enters the Chattahoochee. The river isn't very wide or deep in this stretch - but it moves well and isn't too bad for intermediate paddlers if you can find the right lanes. Easy rapids are frequent.

The stretch is very pretty. We did some fishing and caught a few bass. There are trout in this water too - saw them surface many times, but weren't taking my spinners. I wished that I brough some surface lures or flies.

Most of the area is private property - so you can't get out and wade - but fishing from a boat is ok.

We took out where the 255 bridge crosses the River. I don't know for sure how long the trip is, but I would guess about 8 miles. It took us about 3.5 hours going at a leisurely pace.

Accommodations:

Unicoi Outfitters is just south of Helen on 17. They know the water and sell fishing licenses.

Outfitting:

We had 2 rec. kayaks - a Necky Manitou sport and a Liquid Logic Stingray 12.

Fees:

Designated trout water - so any fishing requires a trout license also.

Directions:

To Put In: From Helen, GA - take Rt 17 south to Sautee. Right after the intersection of 17 and 255 there is a bridge over Sautee creek. It isn't marked but its right after the intersection. You can park there and carry your boat down the slope to the creek. Other option: turn left onto 255, then right onto Lynch Mountain road. There is a put in at the end of the road.

To Take Out: From the 17 bridge at the creek - continue south down 17 until 255 takes a right turn. Follow 255 till you get to the Bridge over the Chattahoochee. There is parking on the side of the Road.

Resources:

Just search for Sautee, GA in mapquest and you should be able to find this easy.