I've often considered taking the superlight up and paddling the river just south of Roswell. Thinking of trying that tomorrow. Where to launch? Crowds bad on weekends? ChrisP.
For an out and back paddle trip, I might put in at the ramp on Azalea Drive just below downtown Roswell (near Roswell Rd). There is a boat ramp here, a small parking lot, and a rowing club here. This section of the river is a slow current lake called Bull Sluice Lake. If you put in at that ramp and paddle downstream into the lake, you will first encounter a shallow sandy shoal section where you will feel a little current on the way back, but mostly you will be paddling a narrow lake with side trips possible into swampy areas if the water is high enough. There are some pretty bluffs along the way as well. Paddling from that ramp downstream all the way to the ancient Morgan Falls Dam seems like about a 6 mile round trip to me without too much current to fight to return to the ramp. I have tried, but I can never catch the rowing shells, they are fast!
Paddling upstream from that park ramp, you will pass under Roswell Road, then pass by Don White Park on Riverside Road (under GA 400), then about 1/2 mile upstream from 400, you will hit some rapids where I usually turn back in the kayak. This section is also a reasonable workout as you have to fight the current all the way up here.
Below the Bull Sluice Lake portion of the Chattahoochie, there is a put in off of Roswell Road at the base of Morgan Falls Dam. The current is swift right below the dam, but doesn't upset my sea kayak much (but is very hard to fight back to the ramp). If you have a way to shuttle back to the Morgan Falls Ramp, you could have a nice trip down to a ramp just above Johnson's Ferry Rd. The next park below that will be the Paces Mill parks down near I-285 and you will encounter rapids and rocks before getting to that ramp which might not be so good for SUP. The current is fairly hard to fight back up towards Morgan Falls, but my daily trip in the sea kayak used to be to paddle up there from Sandy Springs and then paddle back for around a 6 mile trip in the sea kayak.
I think you would enjoy the Azalea Drive ramp paddle trip going downstream towards Morgan Falls Dam, it is a pretty section and there won't be any rocks or rapids or significant current.
All of the ramps above Bill White Park do have some section with rocks/rapids and the varying current depending on release from Lanier (usually 2.5 mph in my judgement.)
Everything below Johnson's Ferry has some sections of rapids/rocks and current as well until you get down to the last takeout in Vinings, but it is kind of fun to take a sea kayak through the "Devil's Racecourse" area just below I-285 once in a while when I have cars at both ends.
Another spot nearby that is a nice place to put in is off of Wileo Rd, (turn left off Azalea). There is a small parking lot that is right on the small lake. The parking lot is just before the road crosses over a small creek (Wileo Creek) and before Bywater Trl. Often the Azalea parking lots are full in warm weather, but this spot is pretty secluded and away from the crowds. The water can be very shallow in this area, so its best when the river is up. With all the rain we've had, I think it will be ok. You get through the small pool area onto the river, and head south. You can paddle down to the dam in about 45 minutes w.o too much work. Very nice area. If you look at an aeriel map on Mapquest its easy to spot it.
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What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
For an out and back paddle trip, I might put in at the ramp on Azalea Drive just below downtown Roswell (near Roswell Rd). There is a boat ramp here, a small parking lot, and a rowing club here. This section of the river is a slow current lake called Bull Sluice Lake. If you put in at that ramp and paddle downstream into the lake, you will first encounter a shallow sandy shoal section where you will feel a little current on the way back, but mostly you will be paddling a narrow lake with side trips possible into swampy areas if the water is high enough. There are some pretty bluffs along the way as well. Paddling from that ramp downstream all the way to the ancient Morgan Falls Dam seems like about a 6 mile round trip to me without too much current to fight to return to the ramp. I have tried, but I can never catch the rowing shells, they are fast!
Paddling upstream from that park ramp, you will pass under Roswell Road, then pass by Don White Park on Riverside Road (under GA 400), then about 1/2 mile upstream from 400, you will hit some rapids where I usually turn back in the kayak. This section is also a reasonable workout as you have to fight the current all the way up here.
Below the Bull Sluice Lake portion of the Chattahoochie, there is a put in off of Roswell Road at the base of Morgan Falls Dam. The current is swift right below the dam, but doesn't upset my sea kayak much (but is very hard to fight back to the ramp). If you have a way to shuttle back to the Morgan Falls Ramp, you could have a nice trip down to a ramp just above Johnson's Ferry Rd. The next park below that will be the Paces Mill parks down near I-285 and you will encounter rapids and rocks before getting to that ramp which might not be so good for SUP. The current is fairly hard to fight back up towards Morgan Falls, but my daily trip in the sea kayak used to be to paddle up there from Sandy Springs and then paddle back for around a 6 mile trip in the sea kayak.
I think you would enjoy the Azalea Drive ramp paddle trip going downstream towards Morgan Falls Dam, it is a pretty section and there won't be any rocks or rapids or significant current.
All of the ramps above Bill White Park do have some section with rocks/rapids and the varying current depending on release from Lanier (usually 2.5 mph in my judgement.)
Everything below Johnson's Ferry has some sections of rapids/rocks and current as well until you get down to the last takeout in Vinings, but it is kind of fun to take a sea kayak through the "Devil's Racecourse" area just below I-285 once in a while when I have cars at both ends.
Another spot nearby that is a nice place to put in is off of Wileo Rd, (turn left off Azalea). There is a small parking lot that is right on the small lake. The parking lot is just before the road crosses over a small creek (Wileo Creek) and before Bywater Trl. Often the Azalea parking lots are full in warm weather, but this spot is pretty secluded and away from the crowds. The water can be very shallow in this area, so its best when the river is up. With all the rain we've had, I think it will be ok. You get through the small pool area onto the river, and head south. You can paddle down to the dam in about 45 minutes w.o too much work. Very nice area. If you look at an aeriel map on Mapquest its easy to spot it.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.