Statenville to Sasser Landing, Alapaha River, plus Turket Creek Waterfall 2022-07-09

Paddle with WWALS down the blackwater Alapaha River over some rapids, with side trip to Turket Creek Waterfall.

[Jennings Defeat, Turket Creek Waterfall, Statenville Boat Ramp]
Jennings Defeat, Turket Creek Waterfall, Statenville Boat Ramp

Bring a rope for each end of your boat, for towing and carrying. Shortly after the GA-FL line are the notorious shoals Jennings Defeat, so named because even the founder of Jennings, Florida, portaged around them. Last time WWALS went through there, only three boats paddled through those shoals.

[Fend off the rocks, 30.6089300, -83.0623214]
Fend off the rocks, 30.6089300, -83.0623214, 2019-07-06

If there is a lot of rain before we paddle, there be many waterfalls along the Alapaha River banks. Near journey’s end, we will paddle a quarter mile up the Alapahoochee River to Turket Creek Waterfall, which could be three or seven feet high, depending on river water level.

Turket Creek Waterfall 2015-06-14
Picture: John S. Quarterman; Lisa showers at Turket Creek Waterfall, 2015-06-14.

Turket Falls, as it is otherwise known, even appears in a Julie Bowland painting in the WWALS z-fold brochure for the Alapaha River Water Trail.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:45 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, July 9, 2022

Put In: Statenville Boat Ramp, 206 GA 94 West, Statenville, GA 31648, right bank, west of river, north of highway bridge, in Echols County.

GPS: 30.704437, -83.03468

Take Out: Sasser Landing

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat, paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup. Mosquitoes can be bad at dusk so come prepared.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. You can pay the $10 at the outing, or online:
https://wwals.net/outings

We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/#join

Event: facebook, meetup

Duration: 7 hours

Paddle: 10.36 miles + Turket Falls, 5 hours.

Shuttle: 11.7 miles, 30 minutes.
This outing includes the traditional WWALS shuttle. Everybody takes their boats to the put-in, most people drive to the take-out, and the drivers pile into one or two vehicles and go back to the put-in.

Host: Shirley Kokidko

Contact: Shirley Kokidko

Backup: in case of high or low water is: Cancel

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!