Class II–III~8 milesHalf day (~4–5 hours)2 highlight clips

Section III — Chattooga River

The classic beginner-to-intermediate run — big scenery, steady whitewater, and the legendary Bull Sluice.

Put-in: Earl's Ford Take-out: US 76 Bridge (Bull Sluice take-out) March–November (best in spring and fall) Min age 8+ (confirm current policy with SEE)

Run it with the pros.Filmed in collaboration with Southeastern Expeditions — book the same guided trip.

Book Section III with SEE

Difficulty

Class II–III

Length

~8 miles

Trip time

Half day (~4–5 hours)

Named rapids

About this section

Section III is the Chattooga's signature family adventure — a full half-day of read-and-run rapids that build steadily in difficulty, finishing with the river's most famous drop, Bull Sluice. It's the perfect introduction to Southeastern whitewater and the run most people do first. The take-out is just below Bull Sluice, so your final rapid is also your photo finish.

River history

The Chattooga is one of the original rivers protected by the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act in 1974. It flows free for about 57 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains, forming the Georgia–South Carolina border along the way.

It’s also a slice of Hollywood history: the 1972 film Deliverance was shot on these very banks. Sections III and IV are its two classic guided runs — III for a big-scenery family adventure, IV for the full Class IV–V experience.

Photo: USDA Forest Service by Preston Keres (public domain)

The rapids

Big Shoals Painted Rock Second Ledge Warwoman Woodall Shoals Bull Sluice

Big Shoals

Class II

Just below Earl's Ford

A long, rolling shoals that loosens everyone up right after the put-in. Read-and-run wave trains with a couple of friendly surf waves.

Warm-up wave trainsGreat for first-timers

Coming soon

Painted Rock

Class II

Mid-run

A boulder garden alongside the namesake painted ledge. A great place to practice ferries, eddy turns, and reading the current.

Named painted ledgeTechnical practice water

Coming soon

Second Ledge

Class II–III

Mid-run

A stepped ledge drop with a clean tongue on the right. Bigger water makes the runout livelier and the line a little more honest.

Coming soon

Warwoman

Class III

Mid-run

Named for Warwoman Creek, this is the section's first real punch — a diagonal wave train with a committing entrance and a fun, bouncy ride.

First Class III feelDiagonal wave train

Coming soon

Woodall Shoals

Class II–III

Lower run

A wide, splashy rapid that spreads out across the river. Multiple clean lines; guides use it to teach reading water and picking a route.

Coming soon

Bull Sluice

Class III–IV

At the US 76 take-out

The icon. A long, sloping pour-over into a deep pool — the classic photo moment on Section III. The US 76 take-out sits just below the pool.

The signature Section III rapidClassic photo dropTake-out right below

Bull Sluice

Running Bull Sluice backward

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