Yellow
2. US 78 to Hwy 124
| Difficulty | I-III |
| Length | 7.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Yellow River at Ga 124, Near Lithonia, Ga |
| Flow Rate as of 34 minutes | 117 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 26, 2009 |
River Description
This section of Yellow River, in particular from US 78 to the Yellow River Park, offers its most challenging white water. As noted in the posts below, the quality of the water has improved greatly. Save for the last three miles, this section of the Yellow passes entirely through private property. When scouting it is best to do so either from rocks that are squarely within the banks of the river or from the boat. When approaching Annistown Falls, do not scout and/or portage on river left.
From the US 78 bridge the river is flat water until you reach site of the old highway bridge crossing (mile 0.6). As you pass the brick supports for the bridge, the river banks to the southeast. There is the first small ledge, creating a small wave that can be surfed. For the next mile the river alternatives between a series of ledge drops and flat waterÂone of the drops is three feet. Before reaching the island, there are the Ledges (mile 1.8)--two significant drops form the entrance into Island Rapid (mile 1.9). Both of these ledges will produce substantial holes at high water.
Below the island the current stills again for more than a mile, as the river approaches the entrance to Annistown Falls (mile 3.4). From the Falls the river widens and works through a rock garden and over small ledges. At lower levels this section is technical, at medium to high, it presents more substantial challenges. After the last ledge, there is a take-out--park of the Yellow River Park. Beyond this ledge, the Yellow returns to a placid flat water stream to the Hwy. 124 Bridge.
River Features
Put In
Ledges
Set of two ledges before the island. At higher water, work to the right in dropping the second ledge.
Island Rapids
After negotiating two substantial ledges, the river is then divided by an island. The left channel is a series of three drops that require quick maneuvering. The right channel, according to Susan Welander, p. 263, gives the better ride Âas you accelerate through it to the left.Â
Annistown Falls
You will know you are approaching the falls when you see Annistown Road Bridge over the river. Most of the flow moves towards the right side of the river and then curves to the left as it spills over the five foot drop that is Annistown Falls. The best place to scout is from a big rock in the center of the river. Stopping on far river right is another location for scouting his drop, although there is some current there. You can portage from both of these locations. Take care exiting your boat, as the rocks are very slippery.
The two main lines for running the rapid are: running the main drop through the seam; or, boofing off the river right ledge. When scouting the falls, take notice of the following: Look for obstructions in the main flow of current, or below the ledge. There has been wood stuck in the falls in the past. If there is wood stuck in the drop, a portage should be mandatory. For running the main drop, check for visual cues upstream and downstream to line up for the main drop. You will not be able to figure out where you are until the last second, leaving very little time to make corrections. Notice the rocks to the right, left and bottom of the drop. Run the drop just slightly to the right of the main flow at the top to drop into the wave train below.
A word of caution: At high water, the center rock (for scouting) is covered and the river right eddy is gone.
Below the drop, there are eddies on river right and river left. After the drop, work your way to far river left as you go under the bridge. Be sure to be all the way river left as you go over the next drop, a 2 foot sluice, as you exit from under the bridge.
Work immediately to the left again to go over the last drop, Annistown wave/hole. This is a three foot drop that is almost river wide and pretty sticky at normal levels. Stay away from running this drop on river right due to a large rock immediately downstream.
---Description of 'Annistown Falls' by Scott Houser
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportNew Strainer @ Anniston Falls
Around 550 cfs
Someone has been making it impossible to park at Annistown Bridge, by blocking the gravel access to the parking area. There is also no good way to park along the highway in order to carry boats up on the trail from below the bridge.
I recommend continuing downstream to take out at Yellow River Park. Technically, there is 'no parking' along the road where the last rapids end, but if you're able to do a fast load, or to carry boats to the parking lot, you're OK. Otherwise you can go down the flatwater and take out at or below a park viewing platform on the right bank. From there, I think it's about a quarter mile carry to the parking lot.
regarding the comment 2009-09-17: be very careful about attempting to scout this ledge-drop on river left at medium to high flows. The rocks mentioned will be covered at the levels we normally run this, and the left side of this drop has serious pin potential. The only safe line to run this drop at high water is far river right, so scouting from the left bank will not be much help. Unfortunately this house has a new owner and they bought it during the drought, so they're not too familiar with boaters in their backyard. Try to be respectful, stay near the water when scouting or portaging, and be quick about it. If anyone has an encounter with this person I would like to be told about it - I live in this subdivision and can try to talk to them as a neighbor. Note that they own both sides of the river, about 2000 feet of frontage and the island downstream, and the property was being marketed as 'owning the river' because of this. I have not had the opportunity to speak with this landowner yet, but you should assume that they think they own the river bed and that you are trespassing even when you're in your boat on the water. Now that the water is back, I hope we can educate them on Georgia navigability precedent.
Note to the post on 2009-08-30. The landowner in the fancy house above the Island rapid (where you likely scouted from) is very touchy about boaters being on their property. When we last ran it we had a group staring us down, and it was not because they were interested in seeing our paddling skills. If the flow allows, I recommend scouting this from the rocks sticking into the river from river left - I think it is better vantage point for seeing the rapid anyway.
Went down this run yesterday at around 1200 cfs. It was a great run with some challenging III's lots of II's and one V. The first mile or two is flat water. The first III we scouted on the river right near someone house before we ran it. After that it splits left or right. We went right and there is a nice long slide with a huge rock splitting the river. Then there was about a 1/4 mile of II, followed by some flat water. Then we came to anniston falls. The entrance drop to it was about a IV with some moderate holes. Just under the bridge however was a massive riverwide hole. When we got there there was a guy in a playboat and two canoes which suggested I didn't run it because the hole was smiling up stream. We didn't run it and after it there was about a good 1/2 mile of II that was pretty fun.
I've been paddling the Yellow over the winter and it has been a blast. As a beginner the various water levels have presented challenges and learning that has helped me develop my skills. But I haven't met up with any other boaters until today. But it was through the mail as I had dropped my Drivers License upon returning to the Anniston Bridge to retrieve my truck. Some great soul found it and returned it to me. I'd like to thank-you and wanted you to know that it was for a fellow kayaker. Always looking for pointers... thanks again
Ken Stallings kemsan42@yahoo.com
In case it's not obvious, the map markers are not for the hwy 78 to Yellow River Park section described, but for the next section. Not a big problem, just focus on the section above the one marked when using the map.
me and a buddy have come up with some names for the falls down:
the falls name is being debated, 'beer can falls', cuz of all the beer cans on top, or 'milkshake falls', cuz of the lovely chocolate milk looking water of the yellow river.
-the rapid under the bridge is 'Trashcan', cuz of all the bottles and crap along the bank
rapid around the bend is 'Spin City', cuz at regular flows spin and cartwheel holes are everywhere.
-after that it's 'Mobey's Dick', there is a big whale looking rock close to the left bank, thats mobey's dick, and beside it is a wonderful playhole.
-then the rapid before the takeout is 'briar patch hole', cuz of the sweet spin and blunt hole next to the briar plant, this hole becomes sweeet at med. to high flows.
-last is the takeout rapid named 'crack in the rock jr.' or 'buttcrack', cuz one of the lines is through the 'buttcrack' looking drop.
those are the names we call the rapids from the falls down, the rapids above are still in the process
The Yellow River can flash flood after thunderstorms. It has gone from 350 cfs to over 7,500 in a couple of hours. The ledge and hole at Annistown Bridge become interesting at high water. Definitely can reach IV - IV+