This fall, river lovers will have the opportunity to explore Southwest Georgia’s scenic Flint River during Georgia River Network’s (GRN) Paddle Georgia Fall Float on the Flint, a three-day, 56-mile canoe and kayak journey set for Oct. 8-10.
This will be the third year that the statewide river advocacy group has offered this trip in conjunction with Flint Riverkeeper, and organizers are expecting at least 150 paddlers to make the journey.
Registration for the event begins July 1 online at www.regonline.com/fallfloat2016. Registration fees are $325 for adults, $280 for youth age 8-17 and $140 for children age 7 and younger.
Registration fees include catered breakfasts, lunches and dinners for three days, camping privileges, shuttle services, event t-shirt and decal, maps and guides, entertainment and educational programs and a year’s membership in GRN.
“We keep returning to the Flint each fall because it is such a popular trip,” said Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia coordinator, “The Flint is unlike any other south Georgia river. It’s limestone bluffs, lively shoals and blue hole springs surprise most first-timers and keep others coming back to experience it again and again.”
Paddlers will launch Oct. 8 from Mitchell County Landing south of Albany and finish the journey Oct. 10 at Flint River Heights Road north of Bainbridge. During the event, they will camp at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat in Newton.
The trip is an offshoot of GRN’s annual Paddle Georgia event, a 7-day summer-time trip that ventures on a different Georgia river each year. Now in its 12th year, that event has grown into the largest week-long canoe and kayak camping adventure in the country.
In addition to providing participants with opportunities to learn about the importance of the Flint River and Georgia’s other rivers, Fall Float also serves as a fundraiser for Georgia River Network and Flint Riverkeeper.
Since its inception in 2005, GRN’s Paddle Georgia trips have guided more than 4400 people down 15 Georgia rivers while raising more than $330,000 for river protection. Earlier this month, more than 400 people participated in Paddle Georgia 2016 on the Conasauga and Oostanaula rivers in northwest Georgia.
“We’re excited about partnering with GRN to bring people from across the state and nation to the beautiful Flint,” said Gordon Rogers, Flint Riverkeeper. “But, we also want to see local citizens take part in the trip. It’s a great opportunity to explore your own backyard.”
The trip is suitable for novice paddlers as well as experienced paddlers. Paddlers range in age from four to 84, with many families participating.
Those interested in participating can get more information at www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia or by contacting Joe Cook at 706-409-0128 or joecookpg@gmail.com.
