Mulberry Creek
GA Route 219 to West Point Lake
| Difficulty | III+(V) |
| Length | 2.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 7, 2005 |
River Description
This is a destination paddle location that offers less than a half mile of whitewater in an awesome fashion. A very beautiful area that has a minimum influence from man. A good place to visit, if even just to see the gradient.
Put-in is uneventful below the GA 219 Bridge as is all the way to the falls area (half-mile). This is a nice place to see vertical drops without having to go north. All of this stretch of river has been done and at various water levels and is runnable. The geographical layout of the surrounding area makes this magnificent drop really stand out. Utmost caution should be used. Boaters have been successful here but at least on kid has died diving off the main drop only to hit the boulders just a few feet underwater. Below the big drop is solid III with slotted paths that easily make log jams. Scouting all runs is highly recommended.
Take out is biggest problem with this creek. The creek empties into backwaters of the Chattahochee.
The river left of the falls area is a girl scout camp that really enjoys keeping us off of their land. Any detected intrusion will result in a visit from the local police.
On a side note the creek claimed the life of a local young adult (03/01). Any negative activities in the local area is sure to exacerbate problems with local authorities.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportTons of fun to run laps on, the waterfall is more of a slide at the level we went on and was really easy. The follow up rapid was a good class 2-2+ to fun down and hike back up. Easy walk to run laps on which a clear line.
Joe Whitener & I ran this creek once or twice a week from June - August 2005 at various water levels and did every section (except Mammoth Falls). Luke Swenson joined us on 3 AUG 05 as we ran all the falls. I have posted pictures & videos of every section we did (except the Gauntlet) with by best descriptions of the falls. I have also posted a diagram that I hope is of some use to future paddlers. Although we did get to run the falls at flood stage after a big week of storms in early June, I still don't think there was enough water to do Mammoth Falls (but we honestly didn't even think to scout it at the time). Every other time we went, there wasn't even a trickle over there. GA 219 Bridge is obviously the best put in location. We found a workable take out location at the end of Terry Lane - just past a house you can paddle through a swampy area and hike up a small hill to get to the road. Be careful not to anger the land owner(s).
A good takeout option is to carry back up to the top of the rapids on river left and paddle to GA 219. If you only run part of the last rapid the carry up is easy.
It looks like a new generation of boaters found the Mulberry. This is a great run with some terrific rapids that let boaters practice creeking moves. The map looks mostly correct. Back in 1992 when we started running this section often we had other names for the rapids, but times change. What we used to call Mammoth Falls on far river right (right and downstream of 3rd falls) is missing from the map, but I suspect this is because they have not run the river at high enough flow to do the really big drop. The top right is sometimes open and not full of strainers.
I love the topo map for this one.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=16&n=3612871&e=681375&s=25
Some pretty serious gradient.
Will Reeves, David Tillman, and Scott McKlesky have run all the falls. This was back in 1993. At the time they ran the falls in both open boats and C-1s.
These are the first falls on River Left. Its important to hit it at the right spot & this water level is the minimum since there are rocks at the bottom. Easy scouting & take out locations to the river left side. (But watch out for the girl scouts - its their camp & they will call the police.)
Joe hucked these falls at least a dozen times during the summer of 05, at various water levels, without incident. Best scouting locations & trails on the river left side (but beware of the girl scouts - it's their turf)... On 3 AUG 05 Joe, Luke Swenson & I entered the falls decent at about the same location with slightly higher water. When Luke Swensen ran it, he got pushed left on the decent & got bounced around a bit. When I ran it, I got pushed slightly left and then got spun left - completing the ascent & entering the water backwards. But no carnage for any of us (on these big falls anyway).
Joe running No Balls for the Falls - probably the most dangerous & churning section of the creek. He entered it this time from river right entrance. Best scout location is on the river right immediately after the 3rd Right Falls.
Joe just ran these falls at this high water level. Rapid just upstream of the falls forced him over the falls to the river right (near No Balls). The rapid just upstream of the falls is the greatest danger - throwing you off course, especially at this high water level.
This is the 2nd Falls River Right. Steve is taking the right option here, though we usually prefer to go left. The rock on the right side of the picture is a minor hazard when taking the left option. Steve has had some minor carnage here (it may not be a bad idea to wear elbow pads). These 2nd Falls will lead immediately into the River Right 3rd Falls so be sure to scout both before running. Best scout location is from the river right bank (top left of picture) & walking downstream.
This is the right option of the River Right 3rd Falls (left option is safe too). Be sure to scout this thoroughly, on 30 Jul 05 there was a giant, deadly strainer at this exact spot. You will need to take out immediately after this fall to scout downstream; downstream is vicinity No Balls for the Falls with some significant hazards.