Oconee, North
3 - Dudley Park to College Station Rd
| Difficulty | I(III) |
| Length | 2.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 5 fpm |
| Gauge | North Oconee River at College St, at Athens, Ga |
| Flow Rate as of 48 minutes | 4.57 ftmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | June 4, 2019 |
River Description
While this is can an enjoyable float, there are at least three hazards in this section. Just downstream of Dudley Park is Easley Mill Rapid, a signficant class III that drops 8 feet in a short distance. Some would insist Easley is class IV at higher water. Easley Mill is formed from the remnants of a mill dam and the streambed is populated with loose rocks of a jagged nature. If you run this, a helmet is highly recommended. If you swim, do not try to stand up in the current as there is a high risk of foot entrapment in this rapid.
There are 2 or more pipes that cross the river in this section. These pipes have been known to form large logjams that can trap floating objects. In 2004, an UGA student who was floating another section of the Oconee, passed away after getting trapped under a pipe-formed logham, near Will Hunter Roads. The water level was unusually high that day, producing a high current velocity and thus very strong current was straining throught the logjam.
If you are unfamiliar with this section, it is advised to run it a low level for the first time, in order to have time to get out and around any potential jams.
River Features
Put In
For the put in, public parking is available at Cooks and Brother Plaza, next to Dudley Park. There is a spot to slide into the river on river left, just off the Greenway. Downstream is Easley Mills Rapid, a significant class III that should be scouted. One can portage river left or put in below here, using the Greenway trail.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a report(Aug 1st 2020) Agreed with the comments completely, I set out just upstream of Dudely park where college Av crosses the river (easy parking and a 1 min trek to the river ), lots of fell trees make the paddle tricky, higher flows significantly makes it dangerous for inexperienced paddler. The water quality is definitely concerning, with a water treatment plant, lots of trash and cloudy/murky water. Incidentally it is also the river where Athens gets its tap water from. Overall nice quiet paddle at low water flows.