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Chattooga
Class IV–V~7 milesFull day (~6–7 hours)1 highlight clip

Section IV — Chattooga River

The Southeast's classic Class IV–V run — Seven-Foot Falls, Raven Chute, and the famous Five Falls.

Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River
Put-in: US 76 Bridge Take-out: Tugaloo Lake (Lake Tugaloo boat ramp) Spring and fall (dam-controlled release schedule) Min age 13+ (strong swimmers; confirm policy with SEE)
Run it with the pros.Filmed in collaboration with Southeastern Expeditions — book the same guided trip.
Book Section IV with SEE
Difficulty
Class IV–V
Length
~7 miles
Trip time
Full day (~6–7 hours)
Named rapids
9

About this section

Section IV is the reason the Chattooga is on every serious paddler's list. It stacks up — Seven-Foot Falls, Raven Chute, and then the Five Falls in rapid succession: Entrance, Corkscrew, Crack-in-the-Rock, Jawbone, and Sock-em Dog. This is a guided, safety-focused trip with scouting and a whole lot of adrenaline. The finale rolls into the flatwater of Tugaloo Lake.

Whitewater rafters on the Chattooga River

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

Seven-Foot FallsRaven ChuteThe NarrowsEntrance FallsCorkscrewCrack-in-the-RockJawboneSock-em DogShoulder Bone

Seven-Foot Falls

Class IV
Just below US 76

A clean seven-foot drop that sets the tone for the day. Scout from the left, punch the tongue, and ride the boil line out.

Clean vertical dropFirst big move of the day
Coming soon

Raven Chute

Class IV–V
Upper run

A narrow, high-volume chute through a rock slot. The line is short, but there is no room for error — commit and stay square.

Tight rock slotHigh-consequence line
Coming soon

The Narrows

Class II–III
Mid-run

A winding boulder slalom between rock walls. Technical read-and-run water that leads into the Five Falls.

Coming soon

Five Falls

Entrance Falls

Class IV
The Five Falls

The gateway to the Five Falls. A powerful entry drop that feeds the pool above Corkscrew.

Coming soon

Corkscrew

Class V
The Five Falls

The crux. Water corkscrews through a twisting slot and explodes at the bottom. Mandatory scout from the rocks — this is the one everyone remembers.

The crux of the Five FallsMandatory scout
Coming soon

Crack-in-the-Rock

Class IV
The Five Falls

A diagonal seam that feeds a tight channel between two boulders. Line it up early and commit to the slot.

Tight boulder channelPrecision line
Coming soon

Jawbone

Class IV–V
The Five Falls

A steep, powerful drop with a hydraulic that earns its name. The right line threads the clean side of the hole.

Powerful hydraulicSteep and committing
Coming soon

Sock-em Dog

Class IV
The Five Falls

The final rapid of the Five Falls — big crashing waves and a strong recovery pool to celebrate in.

Coming soon

Shoulder Bone

Class III
Lower run

A rolling Class III finale before the flatwater float to Tugaloo Lake. Time to breathe and re-live the Five Falls.

Coming soon

Trip highlights

A few standout moments from Section IV.

Section IV flip
Section IV flip
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Book Section IV with SEE