In 1995, Joe Cook hopped in a canoe and traveled from the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. When all was said and done, Cook had traversed 540 miles in 100 days. This experience got Cook thinking about what impact a long-duration paddling trip could have on people.
Enter Paddle Georgia, a seven-day paddling excursion that sees participants exploring the waterways of the Peach State. Since its inception in 2005, Paddle Georgia has taken a different aquatic route each year, and now, in its 20th year, the event’s posse of paddlers will parade through the Chattanooga area.
This year’s route will see paddlers start off in Ringgold on South Chickamauga Creek, continuing through Chattanooga along the Tennessee River. Then, participants will travel on Nickajack Lake and through the lock, proceeding into Northeast Alabama, where the trip will conclude. This is a year of firsts for Paddle Georgia, as this excursion marks the first time the trip has gone through a lock and three states, says Cook, who serves as the coordinator of the event.
When not on the water, paddlers will rest up at campsites, where they’ll enjoy catered meals (if they purchase a meal plan) and an educational program or entertainment, Cook says. Along the way, participants will have opportunities to visit local sites and attractions, such as Audubon Acres and the Tennessee Aquarium.
According to Cook, an event like Paddle Georgia helps engage people with their rivers, showing them how we use and depend upon — and sometimes abuse — our rivers.