Kayak country; braving the Chattooga

Fast, furious and inexhaustible, the crescent-shaped Chattooga River rocks kayakers with its rage and enchants them with its deep shades of blue.

Wedging a border between Northeastern Georgia and the western nook of South Carolina, this white water river provides great rafting, kayaking, and canoeing.

Designated "Wild and Scenic" in 1974 by Congress, the Chattooga beckons river travelers with its sparkling rapids and lush scenery. They test their guts and outdoor skills on a waterway made famous for frightful adventure -- the 1972 movie version of James Dickey's "Deliverance" was shot at the Chattooga in the dense foliage of Sumter National Forest.

Chattooga outfitters

Commercial rafting companies offer guided tours down certain sections of the Chattooga, carrying parties of eight or ten. Savor any flat water pools you may drift through -- white water paddling leaves little room for resting, and the Chattooga is a medley of fast-moving turns.

Nantahala Outdoor Center, Wildwater Ltd., and Southeastern Expeditions are the three major white water outfitters for all-day sightseeing and rafting tours. They are also members of The Chattooga Outfitters Association, an organization that focuses on the conservation of the river and its stream banks.

Pollution and tourism potentially threaten the river's habitat. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service encourage visitors to enjoy the serenity of the protected area, but also to preserve it as "wild and scenic."

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