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The upper
Etowah offers paddlers more challenging rapids, great scenery, good fishing and
short portage around the 10 foot drop of spectacular Etowah Falls.(DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO THIS FALL)
Beautiful Mountain Laurel and Rhododendrons cover the banks of this small, fast moving stream that keeps you anticipating what is around the next bend. The Etowah is best in the spring and early summer when the water levels are higher and numerous wildflowers are in bloom. Wood ducks, great blue heron, deer, otters, rainbow trout, silver spotted gar, osprey, red eye bass, and turtles can be seen along the river. Put in at Highway 53 above Dahlonega and take out at Highway 9 below the town.
The lower part of the Etowah River northwest of Atlanta is great for beginners.
***Make sure to call about water release schedule from Allatoona Dam (706)334-7213 !!!
A great part of the Etowah a relaxing trip is to go toward Rome, GA, on 411/20. It crosses the Etowah River about 7 miles north of Cartersville, GA. This is the take out point. Cross the bridge and turn left. You will see the off-road parking and rough road leading down to the riverbank. Then head back toward Cartersville on 411/20. When you come to the red light with a school on your right hand side, that is Hardin Bridge Road. Turn right. The bridge is a few miles down. The put in slope is across the bridge on the left. You can park off road by the bridge.
Or
From Knox Bridge boat ramp on Allatoona, paddle North (to the left) and go under the bridge. There is a large section of the lake to cross before you hit the actual river, but it is calm and fairly secluded with very little boat traffic. It takes me about 45 minutes to clear the lake and head up river proper, but from there you can continue up the Etowah for about 12 miles before you hit any serious upstream current. There is a smaller tributary on the left about an hour paddle from the boat ramp that heads upstream into a WMA. This is Shoals Creek and there is an old civil war bullet foundry about 2 miles upstream. In this protected preserve, otters, beavers, deer, turtles and many Great Blue Herons can be seen. It helps if the water level is high as Shoals Creek can be more of a shovel than a paddle in low water. T
From Atlanta take Hwy 75 North to hwy 575 to Georgia Hwy 20 West. Knox Bridge boat ramp is on the left about 6 miles West of Canton. Fields landing Park is about 1 mile before the boat ramp.
