| Difficulty | II-III+(IV) |
| Length | 3.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 30 fpm |
| Gauge | Sweetwater Creek Near Austell, Ga |
| Flow Rate as of 25 minutes | 78 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 27, 2014 |
Look for Sweetwater Creek to be runing 800 cfs and rising or locally heavy rain of at least 1.25 inches.
Annewakke will drop back down to nothing in a matter of hours. The sweetwater gauge is used to show if Annewakkee has gotten enough rain to check, but sweetwater holds water for days.
River Description:
The put-in is on Annewakee Road and there's good parking on the downstream side of the bridge. There is a great but grabby playspot right at the putin. The creek picks up quickly and gets your blood pumping with a few fun class 2's. Then it's flat for a bit... then the horizon line. The first large drop is about 9 feet and reminds me of the Upper Tellico. It's a safe drop if run left of center, look out for the 'Hole of Doom' on the center-right after the main drop. It probably wouldn't kill you but you'd probably swim out. It's easy to miss.
Next is a short class 2-3 section that runs through a power line cut. There are some great waves here! You used to be able to drive (4x4 only!) out the power lines to this spot but thanks to vandals the entrance has been cabled off.
Be VERY careful not to just drop over the next horizon line immediatley after the power lines, you could get REALLY hurt. The next drop is about a 12 footer and really kicks. The river left side is an almost certain pin. The water runs down a slide and hits a jagged rock and forms a kind of mini Oceana with a not-so-forgiving 'Thing'. The left of center line has rocks at the bottom so that's no good. The center line seems the way to go, angling to the right a bit.. Be careful not to get sucked back into the hole at the bottom or you're swimming. The right side could be OK but we didn't run it. The far right side is a plunge into the abyss and we didn't know what was down there so it's still a mystery. The portage is on river right.
After the big drop there is a 1/4 mile of class 3 wa
...This river wide hole makes a great warm-up spot. The river left side is a cool seam. The river right side is a bigger hole/wave with great play, However... it's quite difficult to make a graceful exit from this side.
This is the first big drop on the creek. Pull over on river left bank to scout this one. The drop is safe all the way across however... There will be an ugly hole awaiting you quickly below the drop if you go off too far to the right. Stick to the left.
Powerline rapid drops over a series of rock shelves creating fun drops and good surfing waves. Eddy out at the bottom on the right before the horizon line. You'll want to scout the next drop.
Right off the center seems to be the way to go here. Too far left is pinning potential. Left of center lands you on a rock shelf. Right of center puts you into the meat. Far right is a possibility. The bulk of the water pours over here and plunges into the abyss... I'd like to see it at lower water before running it. Paddle hard after the drop or the base of the falls will pull you in. After the big drop you still have some manuevering to do. Portage is on river right.