Lookout Creek in Georgia

Trip Overview

This is the creek on the west side of Lookout Mountain. It runs north along the Georgia/Alabama border and empties into the Tennessee River at Moccasin Bend. The creek is in dire need of a debris cleanup, but a good four hour trip is possible if you are willing to pull a canoe over one fallen tree. This creek is perfect for poling as it has a rocky bottom and the depth varies from a few inches to approximately ten feet.

This trip is best done if you have someone to drop you off and pick you up later as there is no parking at the end of the trip unless you make arrangements with the Lookout Mountain flight park.

An upstream trip, from the gristmill, is also possible but I have yet to see how far I can go in that direction.

COMMENTS:

Most of the property adjacent to the creek is privately owned.

Directions:

Take highway 136 east from Trenton. You will soon come to the Lookout Creek Bridge. The bridge is unmarked, but Lookout Creek is the only body of water in the area. Take a right onto Sells Road. There will be a parking area on your left at the ruins of an old gristmill. This is the put-in point.

To access the take out point, proceed as follows: Take Sells road back to highway 136. Go east on Hwy 136 until you come to Piney road. Take a left onto Piney road and continue on it until you are at the foot of Lookout Mountain. Take the road on the left which takes you to the Lookout Mountain Flight Park. It is well marked. The bridge, just before the flight park, is the take out point.

Launches:

The put in point is semi-maintained. Its state of disrepair varies with recent flooding, but it is well used as it is the local swimming hole. It is very easy to find.

The take out point is a small trail between the bridge and the flight park. It is approximately 25 yards from the bridge.