Tallapoosa

On April 30, 2025 I noticed Alabama Power was running minimum flow over a gate at Thurlow so I went out on the bridge to look at the rapids directly below the dam. They had divers in the water doing inspections so they had all generators off and I found out they would be doing that for a couple of days. I got in touch with a friend of mine, Erik Amason and showed him some videos and pics I got of the rapids and we decided to meet up the next day and run a few lines there that I have now been told had never been ran before. We put in at the ramp and paddled up to the rocks below the dam and gave the rapids a good look and decided they were good to go. Erik walked up to the base of the dam and got the first run on the main line right down the middle. I soon followed and got the second run down that main line. Erik also ran a creeky line with 2 big drops (10-12 footers) that was reminiscent of something you'd see in Western North Carolina.

There's a lovely island campsite between the falls and the end of the sneak that can be accessed from the takeout. It's a great spot for lunch or a campout if for whatever reason you want to spend a night in Tallassee. It's usually occupied by a friendly, although heavily drug influenced group of locals who are rough in demeanor but ultimately harmless.

Tyler runs the left line at Tallapoosa Falls

Erosion caused by turbulent waters and rock fragments

At the base of what was Talisi Falls, often referred to as 'The Great Falls of the South'

Water seldom flows over these massive rocks, once called 'The Great Falls of the South'

A long rapid through a stretch of broken ledges above the sneak, on river left. Don't get too far off line or you might get munched by one of the many holes which flanks the tongue of this rapid.

Some play spots begin to form at 5000 cfs

Sticky Hole is a really fun hole. It's good from around 10000 cfs and up.

'The Takeout' (shown here) is a good park n play spot when the dam is releasing around 5,000. Different holes appear all across the riverwide ledge, depending on how much the 'pool' has filled up.

Video taken at the 2003 Coosa Whitewater Festival, which, oddly enough, ended up being held on the Tallapoosa due to flooding.
Take at the 2003 Coosa Whitewater Festival.

Adam going big at Sticky hole

River left line,

Bad Line