July 22, 2023
Conasauga River Day Snorkel (GC Donors Edition)
Cisco, GA
Enjoy the opportunity to snorkel in the Cohutta Mountains! On July 22, join the Georgia Conservancy and Casper Cox, author of Snorkeling the Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia, for a day of snorkeling in the Conasauga River!
This is a special Georgia Conservancy donors-only trip. Not a GC donor? Support the Georgia Conservancy today and invest in the future of Georgia's natural resources and communities!
The headwaters of the Conasauga and Jack’s Rivers originate within the Cohutta Wilderness, a federally-protected wilderness area located in the mountains of north Georgia and southeast Tennessee. As a result, our snorkeling destination, located at the edge of the expansive Cohuttas, provides visitors with the chance to experience one of the most biologically-diverse sections of river in North America. The two remote mountain rivers offer wildlife miles of unspoiled sanctuary and are home to over 70 species of fish - twice as many than are found in the entire western United States. Some of these species are found nowhere else on Earth.
Though not attire usually associated with the mountains, participants don a mask and snorkel to catch a glimpse of these colorful, native fish, both large and small. Masks, snorkels and wetsuits will be provided by the U.S. Forest Service.
What to bring: A swimsuit, tennis shoes or wading shoes/strap‐on sandals for time in the water, a towel, a plastic bag for wet clothes, a change of clothes and shoes, snacks, bug spray, and lots of water.
Participants will meet Georgia Conservancy staff in Cisco, Georgia at Cisco Baptist Church on each morning at 9 AM. After a brief logistical discussion, participants will carpool and caravan from Cisco Baptist Church to our snorkeling location on the Conasauga River - about a 40 min drive on single-lane and forest service roads.
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.
Watch this short video, produced by Freshwater Illustrated and filmed at the location of our snorkel, to get a glimpse of the underwater beauty you will experience:
TRIP PRICE/OPTIONS
Conasauga Day Snorkel - $45 per person
All prices are per person. Everyone should bring a swimsuit, tennis shoes, wading shoes/strap-on sandals, a plastic bag for wet clothes, a change of clothes, snacks, bug spray, and lots of water. The GC will be grilling out and providing lunch for participants, please be sure to answer the food allergy and dietary restrictions question during registration.
Recommended Experience Levels: Beginner
*DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
REGISTER BELOW
*Registration opens to Georgia Conservancy donors ($30 and above) on June 1 at 5 PM. Use your email-provided promo code for early registration when registering for this trip.
CASPER COX - Our UNDERWATER GUIDE
The Georgia Conservancy is excited to welcome our friend Casper Cox to this year’s snorkeling trip. Casper has worked as a guide in Southern Appalachia for more than two decades, sharing the underwater wonders of mountain streams with groups like ours and assisting biologists and film crews interested in these incredible ecosystems. Click here to learn more about Casper and his work!
Casper is also a published author, and his book, Snorkeling the Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia, showcases many of the sights that we will see during our Conasauga River snorkel. Click here to pick up your copy today!
The Conasauga Snorkel is one of our Bucket List Adventure Trips. Our Bucket List Trips are once-in-a-lifetime journeys that include adventures in the Cohutta Wilderness, Okefenokee Wilderness, Blackbeard Island, Cloudland Canyon, Jeykll Island and on the Conasauga River.
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.
