Highway 28 to Earl's Ford (Section 2)
South Carolina – US Georgia – US
- Class
- II to III+
- Length
- 7 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 11 FPM
- Typical season
- January to December
Current Flow
186 CFS
Gauge height: 1.18 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:00 PM
● 0.00/hr (12h) ● 0.00/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- CHATTOOGA RIVER NEAR CLAYTON, GA Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 200 |
| Average | 1,000 |
| Maximum | 2,500 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
This is an exceptional beginner to intermediate run in a wilderness setting. Generally this run can be considered class II except for Big Shoals at lower flow (where it can be rocky). The first section is slower/easier water. If you do run into trouble on this stretch of water you will need to be self reliant to either float out or hike out since there are no roads and immediate help is a ways off.
If you're in the area or have never floated the Chattooga before, any section of this river is well worth the effort and this run down to Earl's Ford is no exception. Enjoy the scenery as you spend some time on the water.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turn Hole | II to II+ | —–— | After the river makes horshoe shapped bend to river right, several riverbed ledges create some class II to III water. |
|
| 2 | Big Shoals | II+ to III- | —–— | This is probably the crux rapid of this run and is identified by a large rock in the center of the river. Depending on flows you can run left or right of the rock. The far river right bank is undercut and would be an area that should be avoided. |
You can land on the rock and scout which channel you want to run. |
| 3 | Five Ledges | II | —–— |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Highway 28 | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | |
| Take-Out | Earl's Ford | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
No external links or resources added yet.
Sign in to add a link.
Community Run Notes
No community notes added yet.
Sign in to add a community note.