Chattahoochee River between the Bowmans Island and Settles Bridge units of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

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Length: 4.5 miles
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours

SAFETY ALERT: US Coast Guard approved life jackets must be worn by all people, regardless of age, from below the Buford Dam to the Hwy 20 Bridge, which is the first bridge you will come to—you can’t miss it. Water is often released from the Buford Dam, and if you are in the area from directly below it to the Hwy 20 Bridge, you will probably end up overturned in the rush of water. Before setting off on your journey, you can call (770) 945-1466 for a recorded message about when water will be released. Plan your trip for after or well before the release time. Furthermore, if you hear horns blowing, get off the river. This is the signal that water is about to be released from the dam.

If you are looking for adventure along the 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, the Bowmans Island to Settles Bridge trip is second best you will find (Johnson Ferry to Paces Mill is the best). While most of the rapids are not much more than large ripples, there is one not far from the start that might put some water in your boat. I went down in an inflatable canoe with my wife and 7-year-old daughter, Sasha, and she thought that rapid was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos since I was actually doing the paddling, but the spot is marked by a large rock jutting out at an angle from the middle of the river (people were fishing on it when I went by). You’ll know it once you hit it, as the rapid stands out from the rest. If it ends up scaring anyone, you can ease your mind knowing that from here on out it’s back to large ripples and flat water.

I do need to clarify one thing. Not far from the start is the actual “Bowmans Island” and the river forks around it, coming back together at the end of the island. I took the fork to the right, so I can’t say what lies to the left. I took the right fork because the left fork appeared to have a lot more rocks in the way. Google satellite photos of the area (available on Google Maps) confirm this. However, I don’t know if more rocks means more rapids (and more fun) or if it means more times getting stuck and having to get out and push your boat over the rocks (less fun). Thus, choose the door on the right to guarantee your prize. Choose the door on the left and take your chances.

At a little over four miles in length, this is a great trip for children—long enough to have fun but short enough so that they don’t start asking, “Are we there yet?” every five minutes. There are actual mile markers along the river, just as on a highway, so you know how far you have gone and how much further you have to go. My estimate of two hours should be the maximum it should take you unless you choose to float, not paddle, down the river, or stop for a long picnic. And if a picnic is indeed in the plans, for the first two miles there are no places to pull over, but beyond the two mile point you will find a few small “beaches, ” including one near the 346 mile marker (about an hour from the starting point).