Savannah

Brandon you should go on Facebook and look up The Georgia Canoe Association. Most of the members are whitewater kayakers as am I. I simply haven't been on the section you are asking about. From looking at the pictures I'm not sure I'd play on that. It looks like there are simply too many spots to get seriously injured or pinned and drown. But pics are very deceptive. So take the time to search out some of the GCA members on Facebook. Or go to GaPaddle.com for more contact info. Have fun & be safe.

How dangerous is it to boof the savannah diversion dam? My friend and I really enjoy whitewater and have messed around in the rapids below(even though they're pretty timid) the dam quite a bit. We've always been drawn to the dam drop and think it might be fun. I've seen a video on youtube of some random guy going over using a gopro and without a skirt and he seemed fine. I am just looking for a credible opinion. Thanks.

I did not get to boat, but I got some photos when I visited this park.

The Augusta Canal parallels the river down into town. It is heavily used for flat water kayaking and canoeing. A walking trail also runs along the length of the canal. On the downstream end, the trail starts at 13th street. Every Wednesday evening paddlers get together at 13th Street for a game of kayak football. Anyone is welcome to play and extra boats and gear are often available.

Stu Thompson running Reed Creek, which runs into the Augusta Canal just below the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Needs a big rain to run; definitely needed more than this for my big boat! There are only 3 drops/rapids in this short park and huck.

The dam at Savannah Rapids Pavilion can also be run just to the right of the closest dam support to the GA side. Plenty of downstream current. Sorry for the long-distance video!

Andy Colbert running Reed Creek, which runs into the Augusta Canal just below the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Needs a big rain to run. There are only 3 drops/rapids in this short park and huck.

As mentioned in the previous post, taking out at the Augusta Canal overflow (Rae's Creek) is very easy and cuts off a couple miles of flatwater. Rae's Creek is the first creek entering from river right after Hammond Rapid, and it has little to no current. Just paddle up the creek ~100 yards and take out under Riverwatch Pkwy. It's an easy carry up the trail to the parking area at the canal overflow, which can be reached by taking Broad St. to Goodrich St. toward the pumping station. The takeout trailhead is immediately before Goodrich St. crosses the RR tracks. The parking area is immediately after the RR tracks.

Stevens Creek Dam at Savannah Rapids Pavilion can also be run just to the right of the closest dam support to the GA side. Plenty of downstream current. Sorry for the long-distance video!

Ran the river today at 28000 cfs. I'm a beginner paddler, yet had little trouble even at this level. Put in at Savannah Rapids Pavilion, took out at the canal overflow (which was not running) I was with experienced boaters...they found a few play holes and waves, even threw some cartwheels and loops at Hammonds Ferry. Great day!

Paddled at hammonds ferry @ 15,000 CFS. Good surfing on river left! Large Hole in center.

Don't go out less than 5000 cfs. The only thing you will be doing is getting unstuck off of rocks. At 5000 it is a pretty good ride. Be aware around hammond rapid, someone has created some small dams out of rock. It is a good place to get your boat entrapped.

There is a new bridge and some new steps at the Savannah Rapids Pavillion on the Georgia side that make river access much easier. I have tried several variations to this run and find that I like putting in at the Savannah Rapids Pavillion and taking out at the North Augusta boat ramp about 6 miles downstream. There is only one rapid on the upstream side of I-20 and it should be run just river left of the island. After that there is flatwater all the way until after I-20. If you want to miss this flatwater section another option is to put in at the Augusta Canal Pumphouse and carry to the river. The longest sections of rapids starts here. This site suggests 3,000 cfs as being a minimum for this run but I won't go if it is not at least 5,000 cfs. You will definitely scrape your way down and have to maze through rock gardens at anything less than 5K. To catch Hammond Rapid you have to stay all the way river left and it is the last rapid on the river. At levels over 5,000 you can side surf the hole in the middle. At 3K this rapid is more like scraping over rocks.

This is the largest obstacle on the Savannah River which is otherwise all flatwater and small shoals. The two safest places to drop over the edge without running/landing on a log, or large rock are marked in Green. There is another possible drop up against the Augusta Canal Headgates, but you run a risk of being pinched against the wall after the boof.

Running the Chute at the far side of the Savannah Rapids at the pavillion. Watch for logs...
Check out some more video at:
www.jasonbenton.com

This section of the Savannah River has dozens of islands. I love paddling the channels between them and one usually sees herons. There are many dark granite rocks that have lilies growing from them in spring and summer. Water clarity is usually excellent. Just below the dam at Savannah Rapids Pavillion is a fast chute that is a good place to practice ferrying and rolling in current.