| The Etowah River originates in the mountains of Lumpkin County north of Dahlonega, GA and flows south and southwest into Lake Allatoona over the course of some 60 to 75 river miles. Following is an overview of this section of the Etowah starting at Allatoona and proceeding upstream. | |
| From Atlanta the easiest access to the Etowah
River is Knox Bridge ramp on Lake Allatoona. To get there take I75N to
I575N to Hwy20 west. After crossing over Lake Allatoona look for the entrance
on the left. This is a small ramp, but usually does not see a great deal
of traffic. Remember to bring a few dollars cash for the ramp fee and
note that this area may be closed during winter months and periods of
low lake level. In the event that Knox Bridge ramp is not open, the next
option downstream is Cherokee Co Park, which is also accessed from Hwy
20. If this too is closed, then Little River/Cherokee Mills about 4 miles
to the south is the next closest option.
Starting from Knox Bridge and heading upstream, the first 3 or 4 miles will be flat water with the river's width gradually narrowing from some 300' to less than 50'. From this point to the Hwy140 bridge in Canton several rocky sections are encountered with small rapids and flat pools immediately upstream. As one continues upstream the occurrence of rocky sections becomes more frequent and the average depth becomes shallower. While this is not one of the more challenging or scenic rivers in north Georgia, it does offer hovering opportunities during periods of minimal rainfall. Also it is not heavily populated with canoes & kayaks. |
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Some 25 to 30 miles upstream of Lake Allatoona Kelly Bridge Rd crosses the Etowah near Hightower, GA. On the north bank upstream of the bridge is a small unmanned fee ramp. From a security standpoint, this is a very remote location to park your tow vehicle. It is, however, the only access point within miles of this area. Rather than attempt to provide directions to this ramp a good road or topo map is suggested. Coordinates are 34N21.14 x 84W12.33. Continuing upstream from Kelly Bridge, it is only 3 miles or so to the confluence of the Etowah and Amicalola River. Click here for an aerial map with coordinates. Efforts to ascend the Amiclola have been unsucessful to date, due to large debris piles in the slow moving deep water section where the Amiclola enters the Etowah River valley. Trips to this area by car and on foot have confirmed that the Amiclola is a beautiful river and would be a blast, but a whitewater section about 1/4 mile below the Hwy 53 bridge would need to serve as our turnaround point. This section, referred to as "End of the World Falls" by paddlers includes an elevation drop of about 15' over a run of some 20' to 30'. In view of the obstacles and the fact that this run would only be some 5 miles in length, the best approach is to continue upstream on the Etowah. At this point you are in the middle of the 10,000 acre Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area. This land was previously a research site for the 1950s and 1960 quest to develop a nuclear airplane. In the 1990s it was under serious consideration for the siteing of a second Atlanta Airport. Intead, the city opted to expand its existing Hartsfield Jackson airport in its current location just south of downtown. As a result, this land remains highly isolated today with no access except on foot and horseback. At this point the Etowah has narrowed to a typical width of 30' or 40'. To date we have not traveled the Etowah upstream of Hwy 9, however, surveying trips via car indicate that the river could support operation at least as far upstream as Hwy 53. Further upstream (actually above Hwy 136) the Etowah River diverts through a tunnel constructed by gold miners back in Dahlonega's "Gold Rush" days. Gold mining is still practiced on a small scale today along the Etowah from Kelly Bridge upstream to well above Dawsonville. Additional photos and information will be added on The Etowah River as available. |
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