Chattahoochee River near the Jones Bridge boat ramp in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
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Length: 3 miles
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
The trip between the Jones Bridge to Holcomb Bridge/Garrard Landing units of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area starts off excitingl…for the Chattahoochee River, at least. Immediately after departure is a field of turbulent water. However, not only do you have to navigate around the rocks that lurk just below the surface, on a summer weekend you have to navigate around the dozens of fishermen that dot the river. Jones Bridge Park sits on the opposite side of the river from the National Park Service boat launch, and it is a popular city park. It is probably the most bustling area on the entire river.
Rapids near the Jones Bridge unit boat ramp in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Once you pass this initial area of small rapids, aside from a patch here and there, it’s back to typical Chattahoochee water flow—flat and calm. This section also returns the paddler back to nature, something missing from Abbotts Bridge to Jones Bridge, for while there are still subdivisions and strip malls along the river, most are far back from the shoreline. Out of sight and out of mind.
This trip is highly recommended for beginning kayakers looking to shoot small rapids before moving on to more adventurous rivers, as well as for families with small children, for as with the Bowmans Island to Settles Bridge trip, the “rapids” will thrill the youngsters while presenting little danger of having a boat overturn. It is also a short trip; you will be done long before the kids start asking, “Are we there yet?” Making it further kid friendly is the fact that it takes out at Garrard Landing, and this park has a children’s playground. The park is actually a city park, not a unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, but the National Park Service does own the property on which the boat ramp is situated. The actual Holcomb Bridge unit of the Recreation Area is on the other side of the river to the right of the industrial building. There is no access to it other than by boat, and since it’s just a wooded area with no trails or other features, there is no point in visiting it.
The Garrard Landing boat ramp is on the right immediately after the bridge at Holcomb Bridge Road.
Overpass on the Chattahoochee River at Holcomb Bridge Road
One word of warning: the boat ramp is very likely to be buried in mud. When I landed, I stuck my oar into the mud just to see if there was an actual bottom to the muck. After about a foot, I could hear the oar hit the concrete of the ramp. Needless to say, I and my kayak were covered in mud. I have been to this ramp multiple times, and it has always been muddy.
Garrard Landing boat ramp on the Chattahoochee River
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Last updated on May 16, 2024
