RINGGOLD, Ga. — Paddle Georgia, the Peach State’s annual week-long canoe/kayak camping adventure, will venture across three states in 2025, with more than 300 paddlers expected to stroke through the Tennessee River basin in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
The event will highlight the Tennessee RiverLine, a transformative initiative that reframes the 652-mile Tennessee River as a continuous system of outdoor recreation experiences.
Set for June 15-22, Georgia Rivers, formerly Georgia River Network, will celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary with this one-of-a-kind adventure achievable only in far Northwest Georgia where streams originating in Georgia flow north into Tennessee and then into Alabama.
The route takes paddlers through a unique geological area punctuated by soaring waterfront bluffs, caves and sinks and scenic river gorges.
The trip will begin in Ringgold, Ga., on the South Chickamauga Creek Water Trail, a narrow watercourse that flows beneath spectacular limestone bluffs, over playful rapids and (unusually) underground before emptying into the Tennessee River just east of Chattanooga.
The journey’s final five days will follow the course of the Tennessee and the Tennessee RiverLine, a 652-mile water trail stretching from Knoxville to the Ohio River, that winds through Chattanooga and the river’s historic and scenic gorge into Nickajack Lake. After locking through Nickajack Lock and Dam in their small vessels, participants will float into Northeast Alabama for the adventure’s final two days. The seven-day trip will cover more than 80 miles of water trails.
“This is our 20th year of doing these annual Paddle Georgia adventures,” said Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia coordinator. “We’ve skirted South Carolina on the Savannah River and even stroked into Florida on the Withlacoochee and Suwannee, but never before have we traveled through three states in a single journey. And, we’ve never organized a trip through a landscape like we will see in the Tennessee River basin.”
The region is known for its impressive geological features like Lookout Mountain, home to popular tourist destinations like Rock City and Ruby Falls. Lesser known are the hundreds of caves and sinks that pock the area, making it one of the nation’s caving hot spots. Highly erodible limestone creates these features, including the sink along South Chickamauga Creek that “steals” a portion of the creek’s flow for a time.
On the water by day, Paddle Georgia participants will also have the opportunity to visit the region’s iconic off-water destinations like Rock City, Ruby Falls, the Tennessee Aquarium and downtown Chattanooga, Russell Cave National Monument, Nickajack Cave Wildlife Refuge and Neversink Pit.
The adventure will make use of both public and private camping and event facilities. Participants will first camp at the City of East Ridge’s Camp Jordan before moving downstream to overnight sites at Tennessee River Place, an event facility nestled at the head of the Tennessee River Gorge, and Stevenson City Park in Alabama adjacent to Crow Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Billed as an environmental education adventure for the family, it will feature enrichment programs and children’s activities on the water and each evening. Participants enjoy fully catered meals, indoor/outdoor camping facilities, daily shuttle services to and from the water and guide services.
“Participants like to call it summer camp for adults and families,” said Cook. “It’s an opportunity to embark on an epic adventure, meet great people and see our region’s natural beauty from a unique perspective—from the bow of canoe or kayak. And, the best part, we do all the planning for you. You simply show up with an appropriate boat and gear.”
This year’s Paddle Georgia adventure aligns seamlessly with the mission of the Tennessee RiverLine by connecting participants to river communities and the unique cultural and ecological landscapes of the Tennessee River corridor. As Paddle Georgia celebrates its 20th anniversary, the event highlights the transformative potential of partnerships that inspire stewardship, recreation and shared experiences on and along the river.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Georgia Rivers on the 20th anniversary of Paddle Georgia and welcome them to the Tennessee RiverLine,” said Brad Collett, executive director of Tennessee RiverLine. “This journey exemplifies our shared commitment to connecting people with the river, fostering environmental stewardship and celebrating the natural and cultural heritage of the Tennessee River Valley.
“We look forward to working together to bring this transformative experience to life.”
The purpose of the annual Paddle Georgia event is to connect people with regional rivers and raise funds to help protect those rivers. Since 2005, Paddle Georgia events have engaged more than 7,000 participants and generated more than $900,000 for river protection and water trail development.
“The result of this participation is that streams are getting cleaner as more people advocate on their behalf, participate in river cleanups and hold state regulators and water users accountable for protecting our water,” said Rena Peck, executive director with Georgia Rivers.
Paddlers can choose do all seven days of the journey or opt for two-, three- or four-day options. Registration will open in early February.
In addition to the week-long June journey, Georgia Rivers will offer a full slate of day trips, weekend camping trips and kayaking skills classes during 2025.
More information about Paddle Georgia can be found at garivers.org/paddle-georgia.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.