12 Paddles in 12 Months: Paddle 3 - Chattahoochee Bend State Park

12 paddles in 12 months in 12 Georgia State Parks

Did you know that there is Georgia State Parks offers a paddlers club? All you have to do is paddle in 12 (or more) GA State Parks. Join me in completing this paddling challenge in 2026! More information on the 12 months of paddling is below. 

Paddle 3 is the Middle Chattachoochee water trail. We will be putting in at Coweta County Riverside Park Boat Ramp and paddling approximately 10 miles to the Chattohoochee Bend State Park. 

Please arrive at 10 am at Coweta County Riverside Park to make introductions and unload the boats. Then we will do a shuttle (40 min round trip) to leave the cars at Chattahoochee Bend State Park. We will pile into 1-2 cars and make the trip back to Riverside Park and hopefully be in the water by 11 am. The first 5 miles of this section of river I have not paddled before but is listed as class I-II (not quite a class II). You should have experince paddling and be able to dodge rocks etc.  We will likely stop at McIntosh reserve for a bathroom break and lunch. After that it will be smooth sailing to our take out at Chattahoochee Bend State Park. 

I will check water levels a few days before and the morning of the paddle to be sure it is safe and passable. If for some reason we can not paddle on the Chattahoocie I will make a quick change to another location. Please check your email morning of the paddle. 

More information on the "12 paddles in 12 months in 12 Georgia State Parks" (see GA State park list here https://gastateparks.org/sites/default/files/parks/pdf/clubs/ParkPaddlers_MemberCard_2023_fillable.pdf )

I will post the following paddles at least 1 month ahead of the date of the event. The paddles with the * will have boat rentals. I have 1 make-up paddle listed but will likely repeat others over the summer so you wil have several oppurtunities to get 12 paddles. The last paddle is at the Okefenokee, we will rent some cabins and have a celebration for those folks who paddle in 12 parks in 2026. 

Paddle 1: January 17th: Sweetwater Creek State Park

Paddle: 2 February 21: Watson Mill Bridge

Paddle 3: March 14th: Chattahochee Bend

*Paddle 4: April 11th: George L. Smith State Park in Twin City

*Paddle 5: May 23rd – 25th High Falls State Park, Dames Ferry State Park and Indian Springs (we have a primitive campsite rented for people who want to stay overnight at High Falls). 

*Paddle 6: June 20: Hard Labor Creek State Park

*Paddle 7: July 18: Moccasin Creek State Park (Lake Burton)

*Paddle 8: August 15th Don Carter State Park (Lake Lanier)

*August 22nd (make-up Paddle): Fort Yargo State Park

*Paddle 9: September 19: Elijah Clark State Park

*Paddle 10: October 31: Halloween Paddle: James H Floyd State Park

Paddle 11: November 7th: Fort Mountain and Hike the Gahuti Trail

*Paddle 12: December 4-6: Stephen C Foster State Park - Okefenokee

We will meet at the boat ramp at Coweta County Riverside Park https://maps.app.goo.gl/X6nA8vDTzeGdYnrU9

We will then drive to the boat ramp at Chattahoochee Bend State Park.https://maps.app.goo.gl/6zEPfPetsovvovdM7

Your GA State Park Pass will allow parking or it is a $10 fee.

We will need 1-2 volunteers to take the shuttle drivers back to their cars. 

This trip will cancel for inclement weather or river flow rates over 4000 cubic feet per second. Trip leader will make a decision by 8 am the morning of the paddle.