Edit

You're braver than I am! The last time I canoed this section (with camping gear - about 2 years ago), it was around 335 cfm, and I thought that was marginal at best. I had hoped to do this section again this week, but not with the water this low. Instead, I canoed the section from the Lake Blue Ridge dam downstream (north) to Copper Hill, TN. There is a small park right at the state line with a boat ramp. The trip took about 5 hours, but was very rocky for the first 3 hours or so. It seemed the water level was a little lower than "normal", even though it is controlled by the dam.

Me and my girlfriend just did a two day camping run on this through the national wilderness part in a 1980 Mad River canoe with about 130 pounds of gear. This was at a level extremely low; I'm thinking 170 cfs at the very best. But even though the trip was hard work, I'll still have to qualify this as one of the best wilderness excursions I've had in a long time. It's technical to run this tandom with gear, but it can be done as long as you accept you'll have to walk your boat off rocks not too infrequently. No tree barriers are impassible unless you're in a large boat. The rapids are entry level, but I would recommend at least one person on the trip to have experience, because this could give the casual float trip seeker a really long day. If you're looking for some great Georgia scenery and wilderness, then take the trip. Just be prepared for the hard work ahead. Edit

I HAVE CAMPED QUITE A FEW TIME'S ON THIS RIVER AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT GREAT TIME'S. I HAVE FLOATED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO AND THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO. WHEN THE RIVER IS LOW THINGS GET SLOW..LOL! BUT IT IS STILL WONDERFUL! THANKS TO TOCCOA VALLEY CAMPGROUND FOR OFFERING A GREAT PLACE TO CAMP. STEVE Edit

I"m planning another overnight trip on this section in June. Has anyone been down the river lately? I haven't seen any trip reports in a long time. Sam

John Spivey<br /> This is a beautiful run for a family overnighter or long full day adventure.Is it even runable at 200 cfs with gear for a camp-out?I guess we'll chance it!!

Took several buddies from work down this section of the river (Deep Hole to Sandy Bottom) May 29-30, and camped at the swinging bridge. Water level was around 335 cfs or so. I was a little worried but, despite a few scrapes over some rocks early on, we didn't have any real problems due to the low water level (of course, it would have helped if we hadn't lugged so much gear in the canoes!). <br /> <br /> Found some serious littering from previous campers at the bridge. We cleaned up what we could. Otherwise, the entire trip was almost pristine.<br /> <br /> The deadfall Rick mentioned, just past the bridge, was easily passible by ducking under it. At higher water levels, it will cause problems, but portaging should be fairly easy there.<br /> <br /> This section can be done in 2 very easy days, or even in one day if you're in a hurry (maybe 8 hrs?). During our trip, water averaged 3-4 mph most places, 4-5 in some.<br />

New deadfall (red oak with leaves still green) all the way across the river about a half mile downriver of the swinging bridge and Margret Drifts. Passable only at left bank. At low level today (about 360 cfs), canoes had about 6&quot; headroom after ducking. If water higher, portage on left bank looks fairly easy.

NEW HAZARD NOTED 3/2006: downed tree across river between Deep Hole and Margret. May be skidded across at mean water level.

The Toccoa is a beautiful river with some great camping spots along the way, do be careful for nearly half of the river banks are privatley owned and there have been reports of owners with shotguns. Watch out for fisherman, sometimes they are hiding in nice eddy's hidden by the rocks. Generally this is a great river for people that are just starting out. A word of caution, in a matter of minutes (what feels like minutes) this river can scare up some nasty rapids if it starts to rain hard. I found myself going over margret drifts for the second time in a week.. only this time it had started raining within a half hour of puting in at Deep Hole. MD went from a regular class II rapid with some nice lines to a bucking menace with some deep holes and lines that run you into log jams on the right side. Other wise this river is absolutely a pleasure, and I know I will be going back.<br /> <br /> A special thanks to the Forest Ranger that is in charge of Deep Hole, he was able to help us in ways that no one else could. :)<br /> <br /> Nic

The rapid located under the swinging bridge (referred to as MacKaye Bridge Rapid) is locally known as the Margret Drifts. <br /> <br /> Ken

Ran it 9/11/2004 with 12 members of GCA at 400 cfs. Two days previous it was at 1400 cfs following Hurricane Frances. I imagine the bridge rapids were quite a bit gnarlier then. It probably comes up as quickly as it goes down with rain, so be on your toes. Big thanks to Margo and Jimmy Booth for their kind hospitality and know-how.