Long Swamp Creek,

Grandview Rd to Cove Rd., Near Jasper, GA ((aka Cove Creek))

Boofing, Long Swamp Style

Boofing, Long Swamp Style
Photo of Chris Gorman by Michael Minton taken 07/02/03 @ medium

Gauge Information

River Description

This is the after work, after thunderstorm run just outside Jasper, Georgia.

There are a couple of nice runnable waterfalls. The first one can be viewed by hiking less than half a mile down the trail on river left from the put-in. Most of the run consists of bedrock rapids.

At the put-in the creek is about 15 feet wide. Look for all the rocks under the Grandview Bridge to be underwater. There are a couple of small class 3 slides, then two fairly large slides. Shortly after that is the 15 foot waterfall. Off the middle or middle left is usually preferred. The landing zone is quite deep but the lip shelf gives good boofs. Scout on the left to look for trees.

Below that are some more slides and 2 more drops of note. The first is an eight foot tall ledge with a pretty scary notch on the right. At lower flows you have to run thru the notch. Bring your elbow pads.

Next is an eight to ten foot tall ledge that can be boofed right off the middle. After that the river flattens out until the takeout. There is probably a mile of good whitewater followed by a mile and a half of flatwater to the takeout.

There are usually numerous logs to limbo or portage in the lower section below the rapids (which do collect wood as well). Keep a ready eye out for these. They came down during Ivan (2004) and don't look like they'll be going anywhere anytime soon.

The dam at the takeout can be run, but the landing zone is only one paddle blade deep. If you run it make sure you land the boof dead flat.

The locals still call this one Cove Creek due to the take-out being on Cove Road, but the maps all call it Long Swamp Creek.

Directions:
From Atlanta take I-575 north to Jasper. Go right (east) on Highway 53 to downtown Jasper. Cross over Main Street in Jasper, then take a left at the next light onto Burnt Mountain Road. Go about a quarter mile then take a right on Cove Road. Long Swamp Creek is the first creek you cross over at the bottom of the hill. To get to the Put-in continue up the hill on Cove Road, then take the first left onto Grandview Road. Long Swamp Creek is the first creek you come to across from a horse pasture.