Mulberry Creek

Tons 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.

Fun drop, watch the rock on the left at the bottom. The creek was barely runable at this level, too low.

One of the less vertical lines off of Mulberry falls.
Clint Rienhart paddling a Dancer down the class 5 sneak around Mulberry falls. The sneak is actually much harder than running straight off the 35 foot near vertical falls (especially in an 11 foot long pinning machine).

The rapid was dubbed 'No Balls for the Falls' by those who ran it. Some thought the falls should have been named 'no balls for the sneak route'.

This is a diagram of Mulberry Falls with my best estimates on the Rapid Categories - they obviously fluctuate with the water level. Always scout thoroughly because this creek's strainers move from week to week, as the creek can go from a trickle to flood stage in hours. I also placed good parking/put-in locations, useful trails, good scouting locations, and key hazards on there... What's worked best for us is running the river right side, then hiking up the wide trail to do the river left side (beware of Girl Scouts), and then obviously finishing with the Gauntlet... Naming: We call the big falls 'Whitener Huck Falls' because Joe Whitener has pretty much conquered them - successfully run nearly every route when the creek was at a trickle, at flood stage, and everything in between, numerous times. It doesn't involve much kayaking skill, just a ballsy 'huck.' We call the final stretch of Rapids 'Flanagan's Gauntlet' because on 11 Jun 05 when the creek was in total flood stage, I took a nasty swim there & came closer to drowning than I ever care to come. I went over on the very first rapid, failed 3 roll attempts, then swam the entire gauntlet, spending 90% of the time underwater (despite PFD). I also got a giant bruise on my butt that made it hurt to sit down for a week. This incident kind of got in my head so running this stretch always gets my heart racing... Anyhow, I hope this information is useful to future paddling explorers of this awesome creek. This creek will get your adrenaline flowing & let you know you're alive!

Joe hits this in exactly the right spot yet he still barely hits submerged rocks. If you go at lower water level or veer either left or right you'll impact more shallow rocks. Boof the best you can.
Joe Whitener running it once again - this is about as clean as I've seen it run. The same day, we all entered the falls decent at about the same location. 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. No carnage for any of us (on these big falls anyway).

Here is a look at the big falls at medium water level from a different angle. Joe Whitener hucked them again that day. You can also see the rapid that pushes you right just above the falls, as well as the tail end of No Balls.

This is the first little drop on river right. Note the strainer on the bottom left corner of the picture - that has been there since at least May & doesn't look like its moving anytime soon. So its safest to go far right or far left here. Joe took these photos (stitched together here) from a great scouting location on the 1st Island.

Luke enters no balls from river right entrance. There is a rock in the middle of the 2nd drop, which we usually stay left of. This is how to run it, except on the 2nd drop Luke drifts slightly farther left than ideal.

River right on the guantlet section

First major drop after the entry slide on no balls for the falls-V

The first falls of the Mulberry.
Video taken circa 1994.