April 11 - 13, 2025
Lower Altamaha River
Weekend Paddle
Darien, GA
Join the Georgia Conservancy as we explore the lower Altamaha River during the weekend of March 11 - 13, introducing visitors to one of Georgia’s greatest treasures and welcoming returning paddlers to the annual paddling and camping adventure!
Known as Georgia’s “Little Amazon,” the Altamaha is a mighty river. It drains the second-largest watershed on the east coast into the Atlantic Ocean at a rate of over 100,000 gallons per second. Its main stem, forming in Lumber City at the confluence of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, is undammed and free-flowing, creating a relatively intact and healthy ecosystem that is home to more than 100 rare and endangered species – the largest concentration in the state.
The Altamaha is also a little-known paradise for paddling, bird watching, and camping. Photographers, artists, and nature lovers enjoy the abundance of wildlife found in this pristine waterway.
Photo by Phuc Dao
On Friday, paddlers are welcome to join us at our basecamp for the weekend at Altamaha Regional Park (ARP) to set up camp and enjoy dinner and the campfire with fellow participants.
On Saturday morning, our boats will leaving from the ARP and we will paddle 17 miles on the main stem of the Altamaha, Stud Horse Creek, Lewis Creek and Rifle Cut. We will make our way to Darien Creek as we enter downtown Darien and take out at Skipper’s Landing. After the day on the water, we'll enjoy a dinner, Sweetwater brews and share stories around the campfire.
On Sunday morning, participants will have the opportunity to return to the water and explore the cypress-laden system of lakes directly across the Altamaha from the campground.
In-kind donors and local food producers we will be enjoying during our weekend: ASW Distillery (Atlanta), and Cafe Campesino Coffee (Americus).
Join us on a Georgia Conservancy Stewardship Trip to learn more about important location-specific conservation issues, as well as statewide advocacy opportunities. Our goal is simple: Create a connection between some of Georgia’s most precious places and the people needed to protect them.
Banner Image by Andre Turner
REGISTER BELOW
*Registration date TBD
LEARN MORE ABOUT The Altamaha River
Drifting Into Darien: A Personal and Natural History of the Altamaha River by Janisse Ray
River Of Kings by Taylor Brown
Altamaha: A River and Its Keeper by James Holland, Janisse Ray, and Dorinda Dallmeyer
“The Allure of the Altamaha” by Stephanie Tames of The Nature Conservancy
PHOTOS FROM PAST TRIPS
The Altamaha River to Sea Paddle is one of our Heartland Rivers of Georgia Paddle Series trips featuring camping, day paddling, weekend paddling, and stewardship on rivers in Georgia. The series brings to light conservation efforts, economic development and recreational opportunities on Georgia’s Heartland Rivers, including the Broad, Etowah, Flint, Ochlockonee, Oconee, Ocmulgee, Ogeechee, Chattahoochee, Altamaha, Satilla, Savannah and Yellow rivers, as well as Spring Creek near Bainbridge.
Learn more about the Georgia Conservancy's Stewardship Trips Program
If you have any questions about our Stewardship Trips Program or about any upcoming trip, please contact Georgia Conservancy Stewardship Trips Director Clark Harrison at charrison@gaconservancy.org.
