Chattahoochee River Stream

The Chattahoochee River rises in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia and flows southwest, eventually joining with other rivers to form the Apalachicola River that empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The river is roughly 430 miles (about 690 kilometers) long and is a major watercourse in the southeastern United States.

In its upper reaches the river flows through mountain and forested terrain and is known for trout fishing and whitewater sections. Through the Atlanta metropolitan area the river becomes a corridor for recreation, with the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area offering trails, river access and picnic sites, while large reservoirs such as Lake Lanier provide boating and watersports.

The river has long supported settlement, agriculture and industry in the southeastern United States; it provided early mills and transport and later became central to regional water-supply and hydropower infrastructure. The Chattahoochee is also at the heart of multi-state water-allocation discussions among Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

The river flows from northern Georgia southwestward, forming part of the border between Georgia and Alabama in places and then entering Florida where it becomes the Apalachicola River and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. The city of Atlanta lies in the river’s middle watershed and the Chattahoochee corridor is a regional recreational resource.

• Varied river zones: The river has an upper trout-fishing zone in the Blue Ridge Mountains, extensive reservoirs in the middle reaches, and a biologically rich coastal estuary at its mouth.
• Reservoir and water supply: Lake Lanier was formed by Buford Dam in the 1950s and is a major water supply and recreational reservoir serving the Atlanta region.

What to See#

• Lake Lanier: A large reservoir created by Buford Dam on the upper river that serves as a major recreational area and Atlanta’s water supply source.
• Chattahoochee National Recreation Area: A stretch of protected river corridor immediately north of Atlanta offering walking trails, picnic areas and river access managed for recreation.
• Apalachicola estuary: The estuary system where the river joins the Apalachicola River and flows into the Gulf of Mexico, noted for fisheries and productive coastal wetlands.

Major access points in Florida include parks and boat ramps along the river’s lower reaches near the Florida-Georgia border. For headwater visits, travel to northern Georgia towns such as Blue Ridge. Consult local park services and river guides for specific put-in points.

• Paddlers and fishermen should be aware of seasonal flow variations and check Army Corps of Engineers advisories for reaches near Florida-Georgia line.
• For quiet riverside recreation in Florida's panhandle, visit early morning before boat traffic increases.
• If following the river's course, be aware it forms state boundaries - regulations for fishing and boating vary by state.