Kayaking Etowah River | Enchanting Dawson Forest, GA | Hwy. 9 to Kelly Bridge | 9-Miles

Trip Overview

Breathtaking scenery, sounds and beauty of the Etowah River meandering through the enchanted Dawson Forest of North Georgia. We paddle 9-miles with multiple 4K UHD cameras and plenty of scenic nuggets to take in -- Nuclear Aircraft Lab artifacts, stunning Barefoot Waterfalls, Radioactive Rapids and Rock Island. All supported with an amazing collection of ambient music tunes.

LAUNCH: Free Etowah River Park (Mountain Stewards Launch Site) on river right, downstream side of the GA 9 bridge. This park has lots of parking, a stepped boat ramp, toilet, pavilion and swing. Coordinates are 34.359198, -84.113525.

TAKEOUT: Is on river right at a private parking area, Kelly Bridge Canoe & Kayak Launch. Deposit your $3 per person in the drop box. The park has a toilet and changing rooms. Coordinates are 34.353738, -84.206349.

TRIP OVERVIEW:

This stretch is mostly in Dawson Forest so the only development you'll see are several houses at the start and finish, and some old bridges and bridge abutments. Banks are lined with rhododendron, mountain laurel, and nearer the end there are rock outcrops, cliffs and rock islands. Several sandbars and rock outcrops throughout this stretch, perfect for lunch breaks and swimming.

Once you pass an open area with power lines and an old railroad bridge (around mile 3), you'll see an old cement water pump RIVER LEFT, just past the bridge. This was used to pump river water up to the Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory.

BARERFOOT WATERFALLS is 5 miles from the put in and 5 minutes past an old truss bridge. Look for a small creek RIVER LEFT with a trail leading up a 6' easy embankment. Great camping area.

RADIOACTIVE RAPID (CLASS I) is about 5 minutes past Barefoot Falls. It consists of two ledges and an island. If you don't want to run it, portage across the island. Otherwise, the deepest channel is far RIVER LEFT. It's a straight shot through standing waves and has a huge pool for swimming. If water level is good, look for the narrow chute RIVER RIGHT for an exciting alternate path. Around mile 7.5, you'll find Rock Island which is a perfect for one last hangout spot. Huge pool, lots of current circulation, so be careful.

GA Nuclear Aircraft Lab History:

The Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Lab, also known as AFP No. 67 (Air Force Plant 67) was a U.S. Air Force test facility located in the Dawson Forest in Dawsonville, Ga. Site of Lockheed's lab for testing nuclear aircrafts. This area operated 1958-1971 and was acquired by the City of Atlanta for a second airport, but its topography was determined to be ill-suited for an airport, THANKFULLY. The only objects left above ground are the concrete foundations on which the buildings, reactors and water pumps were placed.