Georgia Rivers

04/24/2025

Escape to the river this summer on Paddle Georgia!

🛶 Spend a week on the Tennessee River basin, home to dramatic landscapes, iconic tourist destinations (Chattanooga, Rock City and Ruby Falls!) and geological wonders like the soaring limestone bluffs along South Chickamauga Creek, Tennessee River Gorge, and Nickajack Cave (home to thousands of gray bats!)

Join us for all 7 days June 15- 22 or choose 2, 3 and 4-day options.

Learn more and register at garivers.org/paddle-georgia/2025

📷️: Limestone bluffs and caves line South Chickamauga Creek

04/23/2025

Join Paddle-a-thon and protect Georgia rivers!⁠
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Paddle-a-thon is a paddling competition and peer-to-peer fundraising campaign that promotes river recreation and right of passage across the state.⁠
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📍After every paddle trip, fill out our Adventure Log Form to detail what river you explored. Every adventure you record will be used as a data point as we log all the places Georgians actively paddle! ⁠
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Join as an individual paddler, paddle team, or as a fundraiser at mightycause.com/event/Paddleathon2025
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04/23/2025

Thank you for supporting Georgia Rivers during the Crescent Kayak Smallie raffle! 🎟️

The lucky winner of the newest throw n' go fishing kayak is....Trey P.! 👏

🎣 Georgia Rivers is proud to be the “cause behind the craft” for the new Crescent Kayaks Smallie. A portion of Crescent Smallie proceeds will support our work to protect public access to all the places we love to paddle and fish.

🛶 Check out the full features of this new boat! crescentkayaks.com/product/smallie

04/22/2025

Happy Earth Day! 🌎️

Our annual Paddle-a-thon competition and peer-to-peer fundraiser starts TODAY!

🛶 Protect the rivers you love by paddling water trails

📍 Log your adventures. Every paddle will be used as a data point in our freedom to float campaign!

Join as an individual paddler, paddle team, or as a fundraiser at mightycause.com/event/Paddleathon2025

04/22/2025

🌎 Happy Earth Day! In celebration of our water world, we encourage you to download the Georgia River Guide app and donate to help us add more updates to the app!

The Georgia River Guide app can be used to promote rural water trails and communities across the state.

📱 Our app can help you find hidden gem water trails in remote parts of Georgia in just a few taps. Paddling in these areas supports river recreation and boosts the rural tourism economy.

For example, in Gilmer County near Ellijay, recreation on the whitewater stretches of the Cartecay River generates $14.8 million annually. This nature-based tourism creates 263 local jobs and provides $2.9 million in income.

Use the Georgia River Guide app to find new water trails and support communities with river recreation economies!

Download the app and donate to help update the app at
https://garivers.org/earth-day-giving-day-2025/

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wkhK85rXnlA

The Georgia River Guide app can help you find hidden gem water trails in remote parts of Georgia in just a few taps. Paddling rural water trails supports riv...

04/22/2025

Last call to purchase Crescent Smallie raffle tickets!

🎣 Crescent Kayak recently introduced a new throw 'n go fishing kayak, the Crescent Smallie! This kayak has similar features to the favorite Crescent Shoalie kayak, but now in a more compact size!

🎟️ Enter our raffle for a chance to win a new Crescent Smallie! rafflecreator.com/pages/55174/crescent-kayaks-smallie-earth-day-raffle-2025

The raffle will be drawn on April 23. Get your tickets now!

Georgia Rivers is proud to be selected as the "cause behind the craft” for the launch of the new Crescent Smallie. A portion of Crescent Smallie proceeds will support our work to protect public access to all the places we love to paddle and fish.

See full specs of the Crescent Smallie: crescentkayaks.com/product/smallie

04/22/2025

Happy Earth Day! In celebration of our water world, we encourage you to download the Georgia River Guide app and donate to help us add more updates to the app!

📱 Did you know the Georgia River Guide app features threatened water trails? Favorite river runs, such as water trails on the upper and lower Chattahoochee River, have been debated by varying navigability definitions. But we know that if a river can float a boat, we have the right of passage! This freedom to paddle Georgia’s rivers and streams has been established in Georgia common law since statehood and should be enshrined in Georgia statute.

Use the Georgia River Guide app to find at-risk water trails and paddle them as proof that right of passage on these waterways should be protected.

Download the app donate to help us add more updates to the app!

https://garivers.org/earth-day-giving-day-2025/

https://youtube.com/shorts/SIGNihB1_ME?feature=share

Favorite river runs, such as water trails on the upper and lower Chattahoochee River, have been debated by varying navigability definitions. But we know that...

04/19/2025

Calling all explorers and adventures!

🛶 Paddle Georgia is a unique week-long wilderness adventure that leads to amazing discoveries, personal growth and new friends.

🌎️ Our trip attracts participants from across Georgia, the southeast, and the nation. Paddle Georgia 2024 included over 300 participants from 15 states!

⛺️Paddle Georgia is known for fostering companionship and camaraderie with hundreds of fellow paddlers. Paddle alongside old and new friends, grow your confidence day by day and share a wild experience with other explorers of all ages and backgrounds!

Paddle Georgia is also a transformational experience for youth. Over the past 19 years, we’ve seen many children grow up on Paddle Georgia and thrive on the river.

Participants return year after year to have reunions with their Paddle Georgia family. Join the Paddle Georgia family by attending our 20th anniversary trip, held this year on the Tennessee River June 15-22!

Learn more and register at garivers.org/paddle-georgia.

04/17/2025

Throwback to Paddle Georgia 2023 on the Savannah River!

WTOC11 captured our mission to paddle and protect Georgia rivers during our signature, week-long paddle trip.

Join us this year, Paddle Georgia 2025 on the Tennessee River June 15 -22!

Register today at garivers.org/paddle-georgia/2025-2

https://www.wtoc.com/video/2023/06/30/preserving-georgia-rivers-one-paddle-time/

04/17/2025

Enter our raffle for a chance to win a new Crescent Smallie!

🛶 Crescent Kayak recently introduced a new throw 'n go fishing kayak, the Crescent Smallie! This kayak has similar features to the favorite Crescent Shoalie kayak, but now in a more compact size!

🎣 Georgia Rivers is proud to be selected as the "cause behind the craft” for the launch of the new Crescent Smallie. A portion of Crescent Smallie proceeds will support our work to protect public access to all the places we love to paddle and fish.

🎟️ Get raffle tickets today! rafflecreator.com/pages/55174/crescent-kayaks-smallie-earth-day-raffle-2025

The raffle will be drawn on April 23. Get your tickets now!

See full specs of the Crescent Smallie: crescentkayaks.com/product/smallie

04/15/2025

Get ready to see top sights in THREE STATES during Paddle Georgia 2025 from June 15-22!⁠
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To celebrate our 20th anniversary of Paddle Georgia we will venture through three states–Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama - to see dramatic landscapes, iconic tourist destinations and lesser known geological wonders (including the soaring limestone bluffs along South Chickamauga Creek, Tennessee River Gorge, Russell Cave National Monument, Neversink Pit and Nickajack Cave -home to thousands of gray bats!)⁠
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Participants can register for all seven days or choose 2, 3 and 4-day options.⁠
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Sign up to see all the sights at garivers.org/paddle-georgia.
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04/14/2025

Stop by to see Georgia Rivers at Sweetwater 420 Fest April 18 - 20 at Pullman Yards in Atlanta! ⁠
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We will be part of the festivities with 🛶 the latest Crescent Kayak Smallie and 📱 promoting the Georgia River Guide app. ⁠
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🎟️ You can get raffle tickets for a chance to win a Crescent Kayak Smallie early at rafflecreator.com/pages/55174/crescent-kayaks-smallie-earth-day-raffle-2025
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See the lineup and event details at sweetwater420fest.com!

04/14/2025

🎣 Calling all kayak fisherman! Crescent Kayak introduced a new throw 'n go fishing kayak, the Crescent Smallie!

🎟️ Georgia Rivers anglers can enter our raffle for a chance to win a new Crescent Smallie!

Georgia Rivers is proud to be selected as the "cause behind the craft” for the launch of the new Crescent Smallie. A portion of Crescent Smallie proceeds will support our work to protect public access to all the places we love to paddle and fish.

Get raffle tickets today! rafflecreator.com/pages/55174/crescent-kayaks-smallie-earth-day-raffle-2025

The raffle will be drawn on April 23.

🛶 See full specs of the Crescent Smallie: crescentkayaks.com/product/smallie

04/12/2025

Twenty years ago, Joe Cook envisioned a paddle trip that connected people with the incredible beauty and infinite fun to be experienced on Georgia’s rivers.

🛶 Paddle Georgia was created to connect people with Georgia’s rivers and raise funds and awareness to help protect those rivers.

“When people are connected to our rivers they care about them. And, when they care about them, they protect them," said Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia Coordinator.

💧Today, Paddle Georgia paddlers have become some of the strongest river conservation advocates speaking up for the protection of healthy, clean flowing rivers across Georgia!

Join us for Paddle Georgia 2025 on the Tennessee River June 15-22 to celebrate 20 years of river adventures in Georgia!

Learn more and register at garivers.org/paddle-georgia.

04/11/2025

Take one class for a lifetime of fun on the water!

This half day, introductory level class will help you feel more familiar with the features of your boat and paddle and give you more confidence on your adventures.

Learn more about our introduction classes and sign up at garivers.org/grn-kayaking-instruction/

04/11/2025

Hear Joe Cook present "Poleboats to Ramblin’ Rafts: Three Centuries of River Use in Georgia” tomorrow from 2:30 – 3:30 pm at the Georgia Archives history symposium on Georgia's Waterways.

Joe will trace the journey of pole boaters, raft hands, steamboat pilots, and modern-day whitewater thrill-seekers to understand how Georgia's laws have evolved to facilitate the "highest and best" use of Georgia's rivers throughout the state's history, from the 1800s to the present.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺!

The April History Symposium: 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 kicks off TODAY at the Georgia Archives! Join us as we explore the history, conservation, and cultural significance of Georgia’s rivers, wetlands, and coastline.

Today’s Highlights:

🔹 Sally Bethea, retired founding director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, will discuss her book, 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦, and the ongoing fight for clean water. (Part of our Lunch & Learn series!)
🔹 Danielle Bunch from the Clayton County Water Authority will highlight the role of wetlands in conservation and community engagement.
🔹 Logan Barrett, Director of Collections and History at the National Civil War Naval Museum, will explore the rise and fall of the Chattahoochee River Squadron and its impact on the region’s industrial future.

Tomorrow’s Highlights:

🔹 Dr. Anthony Martin from Emory University will reveal how nature and human activity have shaped Georgia’s coast.
🔹 Paul Bolster, former state representative, will examine the political movements that protected Georgia’s coast and rivers.
🔹 Dr. Kurt Knoerl from Georgia Southern University will dive into Georgia’s maritime history and underwater archaeology.
🔹 Joe Cook from the Georgia River Network will trace the history of water recreation in the state.

This event is free and open to the public! Stop by, engage with experts, and join the conversation about Georgia’s waterways!

For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdft7vkh.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: Please note that starting Monday, April 7, the front lot off Jonesboro Road will be partially closed for repaving. Additional parking is available behind the Archives via Clayton State Boulevard. We look forward to seeing you at the symposium!

04/11/2025

Hear from Georgia Rivers at the Super South Summit!

🎤 Executive Director Rena Ann Peck will share the power of peat within the Okefenokee for climate resiliency.

🎤 Other speakers during the three day conference will discuss innovations for fostering a circular economy, showcasing sustainable technologies and accelerating climate action.

📅 April 15, 16 + 17
📍 CNN Omni Hotel at Centennial Park in Atlanta
🎟️ supersouth.org (Use code "Rena Ann Peck" for 20% off tickets!)