GA Park Paddlers Club Series - Paddle 4 Stephen Foster State Park / Okeefenokee Swamp

Your TL's are experienced paddlers and enjoy planning and experiencing areas outside of metro Atlanta.  Both have kicked around the idea and 2017 is the year we get the shirt offered by GA State Parks.

Join us for our quest to earn the coveted Park Paddlers Club T Shirt!  The GA State Park system has identified 6 waterways, 22 miles total,  at various locations around  the state, that comprise the Park Paddler Club. These parks are Chattahoochee Bend, Crooked River, George L Smith, Reed Bingham, Stephen Foster, and Sweetwater Creek. If you’re familiar with the Canyon Climbers Club or Muddy Spokes Club, this is the same idea. We will be scheduling various paddles/camping events based on locations and weather throughout the year. The official number is 22 miles, we see this as a minimum and intend on doing much more dependent on parks and conditions.

How it works: You purchase a Park Paddlers Club card from a ranger station at any participating park or online at www.gastateparks.org  then visit each park and paddle the specified waterway and minimum length. The ranger will then stamp your card. Once all 6 stamps are collected, you send the card in and receive a Paddlers Club T-shirt by mail.

At each event all paddlers will be expected to have their own boats and equipment and be able to paddle a strong D3 or D4. Our paddles will involve currents, wild animals, and many hours in a boat – it is not an advanced series of events, but the paddles also will not be beginners’ paddles in most cases. We hope to complete the series within 2017, but dates will be subject to locations and geographical considerations (i.e. we won’t paddle the swamp during yellow fly season, etc.). So join us for one, join us for all, just join us and paddle!

Our first paddle was Chattahoochee Bend park, our second, Sweetwater Creek State Park. Our 3rd took us South for the Cypress trees of George L Smith State Park and now we go south again for Okeefenokee Swamp. 

Paddle 4

Per Park Paddlers Club requirements, we will paddle the Okefenokee Swamp on a 4-mile round trip to historic Billy's Island. Even in low water this trail provides breathtaking scenery. Be on the lookout for alligators, turtles and other wildlife. Paddling can be challenging on windy days. Canoe and kayak rentals available. Call the park ahead of time for water levels. Of course we're traveling too far for such a short paddle, so we will be setting our sites on paddling the canoe trail in hopes of having lunch at the first platform. 

All members are welcome to register and participate in each event. However those who have registered to complete the Paddlers Club Series will have first priority. When registering all members will go to a wait list. Those in the Paddlers Club Series will be added to the event first. After those registrants have been added, other registrants will be added in the order they have registered. 

Those interested in camping are invited to stay for the night. we'll discuss those detais closer to the paddle. Sites at Stephen Foster will be independently booked by participants.

On Sunday we will head back toward ATL and stop at Reed Bingham State Park for our 5th paddle. Please see separate write up for this paddle.

Stephen Foster State Park

17515 Hwy 177 Fargo GA 31631

I 75 S to GA 401 S

Exit 16 - turn right onto 221 / 84 toward Quitman/ Valdosta

Left on 84 / 221 - Wiregrass PKWY

Turn right on 41 S / Patterson St

Bear left on GA 94

R on 441 / GA 89

L on GA 177 - gate on left

May cancel event in cae of inclement weather

If bringing a dog, be sure your friend is well versed in your boat

Dogs must have PFDs also  

Please realize this paddle may not be suitable for dogs, the area is inhabited by many predators. Excercise extreme caution in judgement if bring your dog

We will meet at the boat ramp at the Park

Park Paddlers Club Cards may be purchased in advance online or at Ranger Stations http://www.georgiastatepark s.org/ParkPaddlers

Please feel free to set up your own carpool - plan on being 30 minutes early to the event.

Inclement weather may be a reason for this event to be cancelled.

Please be on time as the area gets dark early. Your leaders will be camping at Stephen Foster Friday night and waiting for all at the boat ramp Sat am.