Alapaha River Paddling Guide
Jungle-like in its remoteness and luxurious with exotic vegetation, the dark reddish-brown waters of the Alapaha wind through a swampy wonderland teeming with wildlife. Signs of habitation are rare along the river's course; only a few isolated cabins intrude on the remote tranquility. An underlying strata of limestone creates small shoals that approach Class II in intensity, enlivening the paddling. This is, however, mostly a smooth-water run, complete with trees that grow profusely in the river channel, often blurring the dividing line between river and swamp.
MAPS: Alapaha, Tenmile Bay, Willacoochee, Hastings Fish Pond, Lakeland, Naylor, Howell, Statenville, Jennings (USGS); Berrien, Atkinson, Lanier, Lowndes, Echols (County)
GA 135 TO FL 150
TRIP SUMMARY
Class: I (II); Length: 85.3 miles; Time: Up to 1.5 weeks; Gauge: Web, phone; Level: 2.8 feet; Gradient: Less than 2 feet per mile; Scenery: A+
DESCRIPTION: Following a course of extreme and seemingly endless loops and tight turns, it is possible to run the Alapaha as far north as the US 82 bridge, although trees, primarily sweet gum, cypress, and Australian pine, have taken up residence midstream. After a period of high water, dislodged debris collects on these trees, making downstream progress in this upper section technically challenging at best, a dangerous struggle at worst.
When the Alapaha's largest tributary, the Willacoochee River, enters the stream west of the town of the same name, paddling becomes a more relaxing experience. There are still trees found in the stream from the access at GA 135 (A) to the town of Lakeland (C) downstream, but the additional flow increases the stream's width to 45-60 feet. The river's low, sandy banks are relatively newly formed, and trees (pine, water oak, laurel oak, sweet bay, birch, and an occasional live oak) growing on the banks are in a perpetual slow-motion migration into the riverbed, creating a lush canopy that shades the dark-brown waters from the sun.
As it progresses into Lanier County, the Alapaha's course is slightly less curving as it flows in the center of a broad, forested, swamp corridor. Between Lakeland and Statenville, the current gets faster as the river straightens further. White sandbars on the insides of bends continue to provide excellent swimming or camping spots, and persist until crossing beneath the Southern Railroad bridge at access point F. From time to time sand bluffs up to 10 feet high and populated with pine encroach on the bottom land, making for good camp sites in absence of sand bars or during periods of higher water. A good camping spot that was formerly a designated stop along the Alapaha Canoe Trail sits a little over two hours below access point F on the river-right bluff.
The current is moderate on the Alapaha, but the river comes up quickly after a good rainfall to create a fast current at high water. With the density of trees crowding the banks, high water can create dangerous conditions for novices or anyone caught outside of a boat. Flat-water paddling prevails throughout the river, except at infrequent shoals. A ledge that approaches Class II difficulty, complete with a surfing wave, is located between US 84 and Howell Road. Avoid sharp limestone rocks at the shoals and where they are exposed at the banks. In low-water periods, the river disappears into the ground-water table downstream of CR 6 before reaching the Suwannee.
SHUTTLE: From Valdosta, take US 41 south into Florida to reach the lowest take-out for this section, east of Jennings. All upper access points are easily reached via GA 135.
GAUGE: The USGS Web site provides data for the Alapaha at the town of Alapaha (upstream of Willacoochee) and at Statenville. Using the Statenville data, 2.8 is a good minimum, with a maximum above 8-10 feet. Additionally, the Echols County Sheriff's Department at (229) 559-5603 can provide runnability assessments, as can the local outfitters. The river is generally runnable from late November through August.
wayne clifton says:
my river of chioce when the water level is right . the red breast and bass fishing is great. there is nothing quite like seeing a deer slipping into the river and swimming across unaware that he is being watched. are a beaver jumping over the bow of the boat when startled. what’s really cool is seeing a critter jumping from limb to limb and miss and hit the water, realizing this is not the place to be he becomes a world class swimmer. you can see all of this if paddle easy and stay quite.