Big Creek

This stretch of water is greatly affected by storm runoff, so I don't know that I'd really want to try it except immediately after some rainfall. When we ran it, the creek was around 4 ft and 400 cfs, and looked very impressive compared to its normal, tranquil self. Park at the old mill and carry your boat upstream towards the dam. Pick a spot and put in and you will hit the fun stuff almost immediately. We were surprised by how fast we were moving and it is easy to get 'behind' the boat if you don't stay on top of things. The water will be very muddy and turbulent, but it seems to be mostly silt and not sewer; my friend swallowed some water but didn't get sick. Since it is post-storm runoff, there were also large branches and small logs floating around us. Once you get a little below the covered bridge, most of the excitement is over and all too soon pulling out on the left at the national park parking area just before Riverside Drive. At this level, we didn't have any problem going under the sewer pipes, but it doesn't hurt to walk downstream (path on the left side of the creek) and check. We did this one afternoon after work and could have run the river a couple more times before dark; we were in an out in less than an hour. One nice thing is that you are in the middle of a major metro area, but you are surrounded by the terrain which makes it seem more remote. Lots of fun for some afternoon giggles and the novelty factor.

jim verner
jimvern@bigblackdick.com

i just boated this creek on sep. 20, 2009, right when the storm was in atlanta. only because sope creek was to to high. you could hardly get under the bridge of sope creek. 3 cops were talking about arresting me. i simply said there are no signs saying i cant do these. well they let me go. this creek is short but so much fun when its in flowed stage. i had my creek boat, you can park at the Roswell mill and its a park and play creek because the run with rapids is short. when it flouds there are two places to surf. 1) right before the bridge but i would look at it first. 2) after the bridge about 100 yards. this one is deep enough to throw loops.

Is the Vickery Creek Dam Runnable? I saw the picture labled 'Vickery Falls' and was wondering if that was it.

I had heard the pool was very shallow. I checked the depth....at the time it was well over my head. Probably 10ft

We ran this last weekend from the park just below Grimes Bridge down to the Hootch. The flow was at 480 and made for a very fun SHORT run. Great for a quick afternoon run, (we only live about 20 min's from the area). Next time we will put in at the old mill just above the covered bridge. This will eliminate 2 of the portages and still let us enjoy the best of the rapids.

Running the only decent route when the water is low, the center can be ran but only when there is a decent amount of water flowing.

From Boatertalk:

Re: Vickery Creek/Big Creek - Georgia by Gorman Oct 04 2002, 0:03 GMT New

Date: Oct 04 2002, 18:10 GMT

From: river1313

I hiked and paddled up from the Riverside Dr park to the base of the dam and paddle down from there. Good class II-III drops for about 150 yrds at medium water levels then flat water. I've looked at it from Roswell Mill at really high water and it was big and moving fast. There are a couple overhead pipes that I'd worry about at this level. A lot of work for not a lot of whitewater...I'd say only worth if you live very close by. I haven't been on it upstream of the old mill dam along Oxbo Rd...I noticed driving along it the other day there is a low head dam with maybe some class II below it.

One very important thing to note...THE WATER QUALITY IS NASTY!! There were signs in it saying no wading and warning of the high fecal coliform counts. I'd say this makes the Chattahoochee look pristine. It's the reason I only like to paddle the Hooche upstream from Big Creek.

-chad-

4 or 5 pipes cross the stream and make for an interesting limbo or if the river is high then a portage. There is also a new parking lot being made below the first mandatory portage on oxbo road and would probably be a better putin

Hey will, on the park service map they call the dam the 'Roswell Dam'