The Chattooga

One of the most well known Georgia white water rafting rivers is the Chattooga and is a classic Southern Appalachian River. Section IV of the Chattooga provides some of the most technical and difficult white water rafting in Georgia and possibly in the Southern United States. The free-running Chattooga offers white water rafting for most skill levels, excellent water quality, and inspiring wilderness scenery.

The runs on the Chattooga are divided into three numbered sections, which roughly coincide with the level of difficulty at moderate flows. Section 2 is an easy float through an area rich in Native American history in it's upper reaches and fine scenery farther downstream.

Section 3, a superb wilderness canyon that may be the most spectacular on the Chattooga. The run has fast moving water and plenty of white water action, with more than a dozen Class III and IV rapids.

Section IV is the best-known section of the Chattooga. Although a Class IV+ run at moderate levels, it kicks up to a bona fide Class V at higher flows. This section of river is the steepest section of river currently being run on a commercial basis in the Southeast. In a one quarter-mile gorge, the river drops more than 75 feet through the famed Five Falls.

The Chattooga was accorded Wild and Scenic status in 1974.