Chattahoochee, GA

6 - Metro Hooch - Powers Ferry to West Pallisades/Paces Mill (Metro Hooch)

Class I-II+(III)

3.5 Miles

Metro Hooch

Metro Hooch
Photo by Brad Roberts taken May 2000 @ 920 cfs

Gauge Information

Chattahoochee

6 - Metro Hooch - Powers Ferry to West Pallisades/Paces Mill I-II+(III)

low

805

10/13 22:45

[detail]

Min Sug. Level:

850 cfs

River Description

Gauge

Gauge Description:

Optimal Levels: 2500 cfs and up.

The cement and wood stairs in the main channel at the put-in are a good gauge. If all the stairs are out of the water the river can be considered low. This usually corresponds to about 900 cfs.

If you see exposed dirt below the stairs, then the river is too low.

At 2000 cfs the bottom cement step is underwater. This would be a low, but not scrapy level. Rafts would not be getting hung up on rocks at this level.

3 stairs underwater is about optimal. This is about 3500 cfs. At this level there is some good surfing to be found.

At 5000 cfs all the rocks in the river are underwater. Lots of good sidesurfing holes. Short boats can get vertical. The only eddies are in the backwash of holes.

If the takeout parking lot is underwater, then consider the river high. This occurs around 12,000 cfs.

Morgan Falls Dam is the primary feeder for this stretch. Release info for Morgan Falls Dam: 404-329-1455. When Morgan Falls is releasing the water can get very cold, very quickly. Don't be suprised if the river becomes blanketed in a thick fog.

Buford Dam at Lake Lanier is 40 or so miles upstream. Normal releases from Buford do not directly affect paddling levels on this section; CONTINUAL releases do.

Buford Dam info number: 770-945-1466

RIVER DESCRIPTION:

At the river left put-in you have two options. Closest to the parking lot is a channel with some flatwater slalom gates. A variety of olympic calibre paddlers have practiced at these gates. The drain at the lower end of the channel is under the interstate bridge and sometimes gets temporarily jammed up with wood. As of summer 2008 this channel is impassable.

On the other side of Powers Island is the main channel of the Hooch. There is usually a mild current here which is good for warmup.

Just below the put-in is the Interstate 285 bridge over the river. On river right there is a very small wave hole under the bridge which is a good place for novices to practice surfing. After this is a long stretch of flatwater.

Next up is a riverwide series of small ledges. At flows over 1500 cfs the best surfing is on river left. Most of the flow goes far right through a class II chute with good eddies on both sides.

A few hundred yards beyond, the second set of ledges is rocky with a fast chute down the middle and a number of good eddies to the sides. Known locally as the "Devil's Racecourse", this is a very good place for novices to practice swiftwater ferrys and eddys. At higher flows most of the rocks disappear underwater; follow the flow left of center. The pool on river left at the bottom of the chute is great for roll practice.

Below the pool the river is divided by an island. Most of the water goes down the left side of the island and forms a nice wavetrain with a couple of surfable holes. Eddy behind the island and ferry far right across some more small islands and ledges to get to a park service picnic area, with restrooms. This is a very scenic spot and probably the best choice of lunch stop on this section; also is a good place to hike out if necessary - follow the downriver trail uphill to get back to civilization. On river left across the pool is the diving rock, obvious in the summer by the presence of locals diving into the river from the higher of the two cliffs. The lower cliff makes a fun seal launch for kayakers.

After this the river bends to the left and goes over the third series of ledges. This set is similar to the first; most of the flow going far right, but there are plenty of alternate routes down. The abundant rocks create many small playspots. About this time the odor of sewage sometimes drifts over the river. That lovely odor comes from a vent pipe about 50 feet back in the woods on river right. There is an underground sewage line that runs next to the last half of the run on river right.

As the river takes a right bend and the I-75 bridge comes into view there will be a strong eddy with a clean eddy line on river right at medium flows. This is a great playspot for the local squirt boaters, and a great place to learn mystery moves.

Just above the I-75 bridge there is a large obvious rock 30 feet off the right bank of the river. I don't recommend splatting the upstream side of the rock, but it does have a great eddyline for stern squirts. Class III-IV Rottenwood Creek (see AW reach #497) enters the river just below this point.

On river right just below the bridge is a little drop running right to left that may have some wood in it but is otherwise fun to run. From this point down to the takeout, look for many more small surfing ledges at normal water. The river starts fording out, getting more shallow and gravelly.

The takeout is on the right about a half mile past the I-75 bridge. You can spot the end of the concrete boat launch from a few hundred yards upriver, sticking out of the trees.

Map of the put-in: Powers Island.

Map of the takeout: West Palisades and Paces Mill.

East Palisades.

Map of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

How Polluted is the River??

StreamTeam Status: verified

Last Updated: 2008-08-01 20:52:57

Search Results

Photos/Videos 1- of 10

Metro Hooch

Metro Hooch Chattahoochee GA
(19.23KB .jpeg)

Metro Hooch put-in

Metro Hooch put-in Metro Hooch GA
(20.40KB .jpeg)

Metro Hooch Map

Metro Hooch Map
(46.07KB .gif)

Metro Hooch First Ledge

Metro Hooch First Ledge Chattahoochee GA
(161.22KB .jpeg)

Metro Hooch Third Ledge

Metro Hooch Third Ledge Chattahoochee GA
(154.27KB .jpeg)

flood

flood Chattahoochee GA
(1.07MB .jpeg)

nasty water

nasty water Chattahoochee GA
(1.50MB .jpeg)

parking lot flooded

parking lot flooded chattahoochee ga
(1.03MB .jpeg)

flooded road

flooded road chatahoochee ga
(836.11KB .jpeg)

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Gauge

Gauge Description:

Optimal Levels: 2500 cfs and up.

If the takeout parking lot is underwater, then consider the river high. This occurs around 12,000 cfs.

Buford Dam at Lake Lanier is 40 or so miles upstream. Normal releases from Buford do not directly affect paddling levels on this section; CONTINUAL releases do.

Buford Dam info number: 770-945-1466

Chattahoochee R at Atlanta [ GA ]

Current Conditions

Stage	Flow	Updated
2.7	805	10/13 22:45

Station Graphs

Linked Reaches

Search Results

Level Legend:

Running

Below Minimum Recommended Flow

Above Maximum Recommended Flow

Unknown

Descriptions of reaches with River Name in bold have been verified by a regional StreamTeam member.

State	River Name/Section	Class	Level	Rel. Level	Updated
GA	Chattahoochee— 6 - Metro Hooch - Powers Ferry to West Pallisades/Paces Mill	I-II+(III)	805 cfs	low	10/13 22:45

Station Description

AW Gauge ID:	1059
USGS Station:	02336000
HUC:	03130001
Latitude:	33.8592
Longitude:	-84.4544
Class:	-1

News

Guidebooks

World Whitewater: A Global Guide for River Runners
$16.07

User Comments

2008-10-13 01:04:44 (0 days ago)

I would also like to know if there is an outfitter for this section. If not I would like to run it soon in a canoe and if anyone is interested we could take 2 vehicles and leave one at the takout. Hit me up at stodge@comcast.net. Jeremy Edit

2008-08-09 10:56:05 (65 days ago)

is there a outfitter or anybody that runs a shuttle on this section any info would be great thank u Edit

2008-05-23 11:12:06 (143 days ago)

well, we ran this section yesterday. the cars we left at the put in were all broken into. someone took a crowbar or something and pried the locks out of the cars. they obviously knew what they were doing. the cops have had this problem before. and are working on finding the culprits. my suggestion is to park on the river right side of the river as the parking lot has more activity and is less hidden. Edit

2007-03-13 12:01:14 (580 days ago)

Robert ButeraDetails

If doing an "attainment workout", an alternate putin/takeout is the NFS parking lot and beach off of Whitewater Creek Rd (see the East Palisades map). This is just upstream of the I-75 bridge. From here it is a short paddle upstream to 3rd ledge.

2006-11-30 10:45:32 (683 days ago)

Paul MartzenDetails

Curious if the hydro relicensing for the <a href="http://www.southernco.com/gapower/hydro/mfp.asp?mnuOpco=&mnuType=&mnuItem=">Morgan Falls Dam</a> will have any effect on boating this river.

2005-06-18 12:07:02 (1213 days ago)

gary debacherDetails

Many of the paddlers and fisherpeople place little or no credence in the BacteriaAlert program. I, for one, have paddled the Hooch in all conditions and have never gotten sick. There is also no reason to believe that infection is a greater risk on this river than on other GA rivers. The "HIGH" risk warnings are a classic example of exaggerating risk, and could have been replaced by a simple warning that when the water is high and brown, it is likely to be dirty and certain to be more dangerous for swimming.

2004-09-23 20:31:20 (1481 days ago)

mike lewisDetails

The Hooch was a flowin. I went out just after the heavy rain from Francis and Ivan and it was quite a blast. Ivan was by far the wildest I've ever seen the river, 6-8' holes just north or the Jumping Rock at Sandy Creek. On Friday the 17th the river was somethign special. My trip was a bit soured by 2 rookies that I happened to see fall out and I spent a good bit of time getting them safely to shore. But they made it. We even managed to save one of their boats. If you're in the market for a $200 red Galyans kayak, the other one is somewhere still in the river. Anyhow, the river is back to normal to high levels now, went out again today check out how the river has changed. Just south of the Palisades stay to the far left and there are some new cuts and changes in some old ones. I just found this site and its cool to have somewhere to talk about it. Taker easy.

2004-09-18 15:32:32 (1486 days ago)

Brad RobertsDetails

I found a trip report of the river at 28,000 cfs: From: "Jimmy" <whitehtwoo@y...> Date: Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:47 pm Subject: Metro Hooch at 22 ft ADVERTISEMENT How often do you get the chance to paddle the chocolate milk colored water of the Metro Hooch at 22ft? Not since, well... today. Which was my reasoning behind doing it. My buddy Jamie and I put in at Powers Island just after noon. The water was at the bottom of the walking bridge over the inlet and there were 2 dry steps at the river. As we approached the 285 bridge, there were a few honks from passing cars above.. I'm going to assume they were meant for encouragement. Lots of boilers and funky currents under the bridge and a small wave train on the right, nothing really worth stopping for. About 100 yards down and around the bend, we could see the first set of shoals and they were raging. We pulled over by the Riverside apartments platform and planned our route. River right seemed the best bet, doesn't hurt to be close to shore if need be. Things were bouncy for the next 50 yards... and at Devil's Race Course the waves grew to about 5 feet and were coming from all directions. I got caught between one coming sideways and another cresting right in front of me. It flipped me over (yuk!) and the current started pulling me to the bottom of the river... upside down. I tried to hit my roll, but couldn't get the paddle out of the water fast enough before I started sinking. I had to punch out and spend the next 20 yards floating to the shore. I collected my boat and paddle, dumped out and met Jamie a few yards downstream. Everything else from then on was a little pushy, but for the most part washed out. The Palisades take-out ramp was completely underwater and we ended up paddling all the way to the far end of the parking lot, just before it hits 41.

2003-08-25 09:48:58 (1876 days ago)

William Van De BergDetails

Beware of car breakins at the takeout and possibly the put in. Be particularly aware of a black jeep cherokee with very dark tinted windows, as that was the vehicle driven by the person who broke into my car at the takeout of this run last week. If you see a car like this parked away from all of the other cars in the lot, try to get the license plate number and call it in to the rangers of the park, as this vehicle has been implicated in several of the recent breakins at this park. Be good to bag this guy so that cars left in these lots can be a bit safer again.

2003-07-15 18:23:35 (1917 days ago)

will reevesDetails

I boated below the takeout once and there are some mild rapids from here to "the Wave".

2003-07-08 02:10:11 (1924 days ago)

Brad RobertsDetails

Twice recently I've had the pleasure of running the metro hooch around 8000 cfs. Its sweet. First ledge. The hole on the lower left is really big. It looks friendly, but you would have to drop it from above, and we've been skirting it. There is no good eddy to look at it before you drop it, and if you miss it you are on to the next wave/hole. The midstream ledges are awesome!! Surfing everywhere. Holes, waves of all types and descriptions. Most of them are one shot deals, but if you don't catch the one you are going for, be heads up and there will be another close by. After that is a good breath catching stretch of flatwater. Which leads the second set of ledges :-) Best surfing is top right, then start working to the middle. In the bottom middle of the channel are two large holes. The top one is more of a cool, but really big breaking wave. Its good to go. Behind that is a full blown hole. I've seen it played in, but not often. The eddy lines here at this level are big, boily, and mobile. Just below hole #2 is the only eddy you will come to midstream. Take a breather. More surfing is just below to either side of the island. The best hole is directly between the eddy and the island, but its hard to see until you get close. From there work back to the right of the island and grab whatever hole you can drop. At this water level I was perferring the faster boat over the spud for making the moves. (but the spud rocked once you made the moves). Below the island it flatten out until you get to the next ledges. The next set, start right of center, then start working right. Once again, drop anything you can. No eddies - so all the holes are one shot deals. On the right, where there is flatwater, is a nice big surfing wave. Once again a one shot deal. Then things flatten out for a bit. Next thing is the squirt spot. Nice wave beside the eddy. Long boats can ender, short boats can throw multiple ends. The wave beside the eddy is finicky. The big VW sized boulder is very close to covered at 8000 cfs. Great eddyline for squirts and such. Below that is the I-75 bridge. The bridge is a hoot. Boiling eddy line. Marching and moving eddy fences. There is a great wave toward the bottom left with a good bridge piling eddy. Surfing the pillow above the top pilings is fun, but sketch. Below the bridge is a great wave on the right. Another once shot catch on the fly deal. There is a tempting wave below this one, but stay away, its made by a rootball and backed by 75 feet of underwater strainer. Below this is mostly flatwater, with two or three smaller waves before you get to the takeout. At this level the water will be mostly runoff. Rolling and swimming is not recommended.

2002-12-25 22:59:59 (2119 days ago)

Brad RobertsDetails

Somewhere around 12,000 cfs is when the take-out parking lot is in danger of going under water. Which is also about the level the National Park Service locks the gates to the take-out. Not a problem for boaters, just paddle across the parking lot and hike up the hill to the parking area outside the park.

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Rapid Summary

Mile	Rapid Name	Class
0.0	Put - In
0.6	First Ledge	II+
0.7	The Eddy
0.8	Second Set of Ledges	II+
1.0	The Island	II
1.3	The Dive Rock
1.4	Third Set of Ledges	II
1.8	The Squirt Spot
1.8	Whitewater Creek Access
2.5	The Big Rock
3.5	The Take Out

Rapid Descriptions

First Ledge (Class II+, Mile 0.6)
First Set of Ledges. Above 2000 cfs the best surfing is on river left.

The Eddy
In the flat pool between the first and second set of ledges theres a big eddy on river right beside a sandy beach. For the squirt boaters there is a very nice seam here. Downtime is possible.

Second Set of Ledges (Class II+, Mile 0.8)
The second set of ledges. Sometimes referred to as "The Devils Racecourse" from an old William Neely map. The main route is down the middle. Good eddies on both sides, good eddylines for squirting. Slalom gates are sometimes hung here in the winter. For those into attainments, the upstream move here is one of the hardest on the river.

The Island (Class II, Mile 1.0)
Some surfing to be found on the left side of the island at low water and some side surfing holes on the right side of the island at high flows.

The Dive Rock
Big Rock outcrop on river left. Lots of drunk people jumping off it during the summer.

Third Set of Ledges (Class II, Mile 1.4)
At high flows some surfing can be found.

The Squirt Spot
Above the next big Island there is a nice big eddy on river right, just before the river goes around a right bend. Local expert squirt boaters get up to 10 seconds of downtime here.
For Squirt boaters who want to park and play there is the Whitewater Creek access point on River Left. The Whitewater Creek Road Parking area is on the left where Long Island Creek enters the river.

Whitewater Creek Access
Parking area and access, river left.

The Big Rock
As you come around the last bend in the river and the I-75 bridge comes into view there will be a Volkswagen sized rock on river right. There are strong eddy lines on both side of the rock for squirting. This boulder is mildly undercut, I don't recommend splatting the upstream side.

The Take Out
Use the boat ramp on river right. If you go under Highway 41 you've gone too far.

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Chattahoochee, GA

6 - Metro Hooch - Powers Ferry to West Pallisades/Paces Mill (Metro Hooch)

Metro Hooch

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Metro Hooch

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Metro Hooch Third Ledge

flood

nasty water

parking lot flooded

flooded road

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Chattahoochee R at Atlanta [ GA ]

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