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We are not able to secure camp sites due to renovations at the park.  We will move this event to a date in February.  Stay tuned

Your TL's are experienced paddlers and enjoy planning and experiencing areas outside of metro Atlanta.  Both have kicked around the idea and 2017 is the year we get the shirt offered by GA State Parks.

 Join us for our quest to earn the coveted Park Paddlers Club T Shirt!  The GA State Park system has identified 6 waterways, 22 miles total,  at various locations around the state, that comprise the Park Paddler Club. These parks are Chattahoochee Bend, Crooked River, George L Smith, Reed Bingham, Stephen Foster, and Sweetwater Creek. If you’re familiar with the Canyon Climbers Club or Muddy Spokes Club, this is the same idea. We will be scheduling various paddles/camping events based on locations and weather throughout the year. The official number is 22 miles, we see this as a minimum and intend on doing much more dependent on parks and conditions.

How it works: You purchase a Park Paddlers Club card ($10) from a ranger station at any participating park or online at http://gastateparks.org/ParkPaddlers  then visit each park and paddle the specified waterway and minimum length. The ranger will then stamp your card. Once all 6 stamps are collected, you send the card in and receive a Paddlers Club T-shirt by mail.

At each event all paddlers will be expected to have their own boats and equipment and be able to paddle a strong D3 or D4. Our paddles will involve currents, wild animals, and many hours in a boat – it is not an advanced series of events, but the paddles also will not be beginners’ paddles in most cases. We hope to complete the series within 2017, but dates will be subject to locations and geographical considerations (i.e. we won’t paddle the swamp during yellow fly season, etc.). So join us for one, join us for all, just join us and paddle!

Our first paddle was Chattahoochee Bend park, a 5-mile day trip. Our second was Sweetwater Creek, where we had an easy paddle around the reservoir, got out of our boats and stretched near the spillway, saw some beaver dams, etc. Our 3rd was George L Smith with a beautiful swamp feel, several trails wound through the Cypresses. 4th was Stephen Foster State Park and the Okeefenokee Swamp and 5th Reed Bingham State Park. These were all good paddles, our last stop takes us down to the furtherst southern destination paddle, Crooked River State Park in St Marys, very close to Cumberland Island. Here we will paddle tidal waters for 4 mile minimum (most likely 8 miles depending on tide) and those interested may work their way to Cumberland Island by boat or ferry. 

Paddle number 6 – Crooked River State Park / St. Marys, this paddle is needed to receive a punch in our cards. This paddle is a 4 mile tidal water paddle with a slight current. There will be no shuttle. The website suggests This 4-mile loop on the club's only tidal river travels through salt marsh and past sandbars. Look for dolphins, river otters, birds and perhaps even a manatee. Timing is very important for this trip. Be sure you paddle with the tide and not against it. Sit-on-top kayaks are available for rent. All paddle requirements can be found online athttp://gastateparks.org/ParkPaddlers .

Lodging:

Due to the location of this paddle, we will not be securing camp sites for all. You are welcome to stay anywhere you like, and meet us at 9 am at the boat ramp. Your leaders will be camping at Crooked River State Park (contact us if you'd like to secure sites near each other). When we meet we will review the tide charts and set the paddle time accordingly.

All members are welcome to register and participate in this event. When registering all members will go to a wait list. However, those who have participated in the first 2 will have priority followed by those who completed one of the first 2. After those registrants have been added, other registrants will be added in the order they have registered. It is not unusual for people to sign up and not pay by the deadline, at which point we will offer their spots to others, so be sure to remain on the waitlist.

$5 Park fee or GA STate Park Pass required

May cancel in case of inclement weather

If bringing a dog, be sure your friend is well versed in your boat

Dogs must have PFDs also

Please realize other paddles in this series are not suitable for dogs, especially when we visit the Swamp areas which are inhabited by many predators.

We will meet at Crooked River State Park State Park in St Marys at boat ramp

Park Paddlers Club Cards may be purchased in advance online or at Ranger Stations http://www.georgiastatepark s.org/ParkPaddlers

Please feel free to set up your own carpool - plan on being 30 minutes early to the event.

This event may be cancelled due to inclement weather