Ocmulgee River in Georgia

Trip Overview

A friend and I took advantage of the high water level to kayak from Lloyd Shoals Dam to Wise Creek by way of two narrow, secluded river-left channels, including the one around Forty Acre Island.

We paddled the six miles in about four hours, slowed by a half dozen river-spanning strainers and by the challenge of the four shoals, which were muscular class threes. All four shoals sneak up on you, partly because of the canopy and quiet along the stream.

We caught glimpses of two bald eagles, a little brown heron, killdeer, and beavers.

The shade makes the horizon lines at these drops hard to see and we had to back-paddle pretty hard to scout them. (They should definitely be scouted before you run them as the channel is tight and runnable at only one spot; even a single stuck log or branch in these drops could do real damage.) Portaging around was difficult due to the steep banks.

Don't try this section alone.

Accommodations:

None

Fees:

None

Directions:

Put in at Highway 16 to the turnoff to the ramp below the Jackson Lake dam and take out at Wise Creek (Forest Service Road 1019)