Rafting the Chattooga River, South Carolina
The Chattooga River was accorded the status of “Wild and Scenic River” in 1974 for its historical, cultural and recreational importance. The river originates at the foothills of Whiteside Mountains in North Carolina and eventually forms a natural divide between South Carolina and Georgia. The Sumter and the Chattahoochee National Forests border the river and provide an ecstatic wilderness tour. The rafting season begins in March and lasts till early November.
The Section I of the Chattooga is ideal for fishing the native trout. This section is less popular with rafters because of irregular topography and access problems. The Section II extends from State Highway 28 to Earl’s Ford. This section is ideal for novice rafters with an average gradient of twelve feet per mile and Class II-III rapids like Big Shoal. Gently floating on this section lets you admire the ravishing colors of wildflowers and watching the rich wildlife of the surrounding parks.
The Section III starts at Earl’s Ford where the river accelerates and revs up the rafting action over chutes, ledges and rapids. The Warwoman Rapid features an S-turn movement and poses as a serious challenge to the navigating skills of the rafter. Dangerous rapids lurk behind this one. Ball Sluice, a Class V rapid enchants the veteran rafters for its sheer thrill. Other notable rapids are Dicks Creek Ledge, the Narrows, Second Ledge, Eye of the Needle and Painted Rock.
The Section IV extends seven miles from U.S. 76 to Tugaloo Lake. This section is recommended for experienced rafters as the rapids take unmanageable proportions through an average gradient of 49.3 feet per mile. The river constricts dangerously to half its width before Seven Foot Falls. The most challenging rapids follow after this. Five falls, underlying ledges and five rapids (Class III-V) appear continuously in a 500 yards distance. This series of thrilling snarl-ups like the Class IV Raven’s Chute alter the hydraulics and make it tough for even the veterans of rafters.
The Deliverance Rock shouldn’t be passed unnoticed. The movie Deliverance shot in the exciting locales of Chattooga featured this colossal rock as Burt Reynolds swam past it in a striking scene. The Long Creek Falls is a beautiful natural landmark to grace your rafting trip.