Broad, |
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| Name | Range | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| BROAD RIVER ABOVE CARLTON, GA | 2.00 - 22.00 ft | 00h37m | 3.13 ft (rc= 0.1 ) |
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The gauge is located in Carlton GA, 18 miles south of Hwy 281. It will take the water 6 to 12
hours to hit the gauge.
2 foot is the minimum for this run. 3-4 foot is optimal for beginners. Levels above 6 foot the
river takes on a totally different character and is better suited for more advanced
paddlers.
Around 7 or 8 feet the outpost start shutting down trips, and the surfing starts to get
nice!
At levels above 15 feet or so, large surf waves and holes abound, some have good eddies, many are
caught on the fly. Roostertail Rapid at the end is an incredible sight and fairly intimidating
with large standing waves and holes. At these levels, come with a bombproof roll or you will be
looking for your boat in Augusta...(Alex Harvey, 2003)
The river has been run upwards of 20 feet or 17,000 cfs.
There are two outfitters available on this run. One is located at the put-in and the other is
located at the take-out.
The Broad River Outpost is located at the put-in. They have a large parking area, and charge $5
for parking and shuttle. According to the BRO website, there are 7 rapids in this stretch. At
flood stage, Roostertail Rapid makes a huge 10 foot tall surfing wave.
A note from the BRO Owners:
"I own and operate the Broad River Outpost on Hwy. On our gage at the put-in, we tried to 'mimic' the USGS gage' at Carlton. It's similar at low levels but gets progressively lower at the high water levels.
In the years past we had a painted gage on the bridge itself. Like our new gage, the Bridge Gage has a proportionally lower reading than the gage at the 72 bridge . . . wider channel, steep gradient, etc ???? We should do a mathematical comparison / curve . . . maybe one day."
The following is an approx comparison of the gage heights.
-2 foot on the bridge is about 2 foot on the usgs and our new gage at the put-in.
2.5 feet on the bridge is 64" on our new gage which is approx 6'. Our new gage stops at 6 foot.
12 foot on the bridge is about 21 on the usgs.
16 feet on the 281 bridge was approx 27 at the USGS site - the highest I've seen.
There are many old paddlers who've run the Broad River at the high water levels - it turns into a wonderful 'big water' class 3-4 run. We thought an update on the gage system would be helpful. We do get calls from confused older boaters . . . but then it could be our age.
Thanks
Michael Moody
For more info: Broad River Outpost.
The other outfitter for this section of river is The Sandbar. They are located about 1 mile past
the bridge on river left. Driving directions if you're coming from Athens on Hwy 172 go over the
bridge for the Broad and about 1/2 mile on the right is a dirt road King Hall Mill road. Go
about 1 mile look for their sign on the right. Their shuttle service costs $5 and puts you in
right above the first ledge. It also cuts out a mile and a half of flatwater.
If you are into creeking, and the Broad is too high for mere mortals, a 2 mile run that opens up
is Mill Shoal Creek which is a class 3 run where the owner of the Sandbar, Gerald Carey, owns all
of the land on river right and will arrange shuttle. Or if you do your own shuttle, the owner
does not mind as long as you notify them. They will give you directions to the put-in and
take-out.
For more information call (706) 245-4163 or visit the website for the Sandbar.
| Name | Range | Updated | Level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BROAD RIVER ABOVE CARLTON, GA | |||||||||
| usgs-02191300 | 2.00 - 22.00 ft | 00h37m | 3.13 ft (rc= 0.1 ) | ||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| broad [GA] |
19233.bmp
|
2.80ft | alex brantley | |
| broad [GA] |
19234.jpeg
|
2.80 | alex brantley | |
| Broad River [GA] |
3 falls at low water
|
n/a | Eddy Hicks | |
| 2y222d11h21m | Broad River [Ga] |
Center line at 3 Falls
|
2.80 | Eddy Hicks |
| 2y238d03h21m | BroadUS Route 281 to US Route 172 [GA] |
19235.bmp
|
n/a | alex brantley |
| 6y240d11h21m | Broad River [GA] |
Another shot of first wave, Ashely
|
17,000 cfs | Alex Harvey |
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | The Sandbar put-in |   | |
| 1.7 | First Ledge | II |   |
| 3.3 | Lunch Stop Rock | II | |
| 4.3 | 3 Falls | II+ |  |
| 4.4 | Skull Shoal Creek | ||
| 5.0 | Roostertail Rapid | II+ | |
| 5.5 | Hwy 172 bridge | I | |
| 6.5 | Broad River Outpost takeout |  | |
| 6.8 | Moores' ledge | II+ | |
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Broad US Route 281 to US Route 172 (mobile)
User Comments
my Jeep at the old takeout today and it got broken into, my window got smashed and all my cd's
stolen.The police said that they have been having problems there lately.
Sent: Fri 5/20/2005 8:26 PM
The gage reading hasn't been updated since last fall due to a problem with equipment failure with
the USGS. They are trying to fix the gage but have had problems acquiring the new parts needed as
well as relocating it for use in drought years....
The folks at the USGS are actively working to fix the problem...
Last recorded reporting date was 10/27
I wanted to cuss all day, but then again I have ran it at levels between 4 and 8ft and the Broad
takes on a different character. Levels above 8ft. to 12ft get ready for some almost river wide
holes, and at these levels the big wave at rooster tail will be a definite hoot, but this only
happens after close hurricanes or days and days of continuos rains. Call micheal at the B.R.Outpost
and ask how the river is running on those particular weather events.
http://www.alexjharvey.com/2004_paddling_trips.htm
to do below 3.0' on the USGS gage above Carlton. Perhaps too low for
'gonzo' paddlers, but for beginners the level at around 3' is guite
nice. Generally it is clear ( as to get low it has to 'not' rain for
awhile ) and it's nice and technical. Plenty of small surfing waves
and holes to play in as well. For us, '"Too" low is closer to 2'
rather than 3'. Mabe a comprimise would be in order...... We can
easily run it at 2' but for sure it's BONEY.
on the "note from the BRO Owners, you omitted the hwy that we are
located on ... It is Ga State Hwy 281 aka Wildcat Bridge Road.
On the Rapid Descripitions:
Alex has omitted the second rapid. We call it "lunch stop rock". It's
a switchback from center to left. class II. IT's real 'joy' is it's a
great place to practice combat rolls as there's a strong current coming
out of the shoal through a deep channel with a great eddy ( behind
lunch stop rock ) to recover and do it again. It's also half-way down
the run.
On Roostertail Rapid - you can 'see' the State Hwy 172 ( not 192) after
you go past the rapid. There's some great surfing on the approach run
as well.
One major note:::::::
The water fall ( third shoals ) center route is undercut and become a
'real' keeper and is very dangerous above 5 or 6 foot on the Carlton
Gage. To further this caution is a small ledged below the shoals which
tends to recirculate the major part of the water back upstream to the
waterfall with the undercut. I've seen logs recirculate and dissappear
back up under the falls.
going to work. The water fall at the end should have more writeup cuz its the best part. I try to
send more pics to the riverkeeper. The waterfall is at the island. You can get out and scout. Run
river right at the island and there are several routes at the falls. There is a slide on left side
and a drop in middle. Drop has a slight hole in my opinion. If you run the drop get some speed
before the drop cuz it can be shallow up to the drop and hard to get some strokes in.
Broad river
Hwy 218 to hwy 192
A buttload of flatwater, followed by a small ledge rapid. Last seen there was an old coleman canoe
wrapped around a rock in the middle of the first ledge.
Then a butt load more flatwater, follwed by the rapid with the 6 foot waterfall on the right of the
island, and some good surfing on the left. Then a buttload more water followed by Roostertail
rapid. Roostertail is right above the takeout bridge. Its about a 10 foot tall sloping ledge, best
run on the right Maybe class 2 plus at normal flows.
Then there are two small ledges between roostertail and the takeout.
Broad at carlton was reading 1750 cfs., or about 5.5 feet. Water was bank to bank, but low. The
play sucked. Another two feet of water and some good waves and holes would start growing.
If I were to do this run again, I would wait for floodstage, and run skull shoal creek in to just
above roostertail. Most of the good whitewater is located at the take-out bridge. As for the rest
of the run, 6miles of flatwater with three rapids just wasn't worth it. This would be a good run
for a first time boater.
At the level we had, the tour-ons in ducks and sit on tops had no problems with any of the
rapids.
July 6, 2003