Quick answer

Arrive at 1000 Bay Avenue in Uptown Columbus 30 minutes early, wear quick-dry clothes and shoes that strap on, and leave valuables in the car. The outfitter provides helmets, life jackets and paddles (plus wetsuits in cold months). After a safety talk you ride to the put-in below North Highlands Dam and spend about 2 to 3 hours on the river. The Classic is open to ages 7+; other trips require age 12+.

Updated September 22, 2026

The timeline

Your trip, step by step

Plan about 3 to 3.5 hours door to door for a Classic, and closer to 4 for a Challenge or Carnage.

Book & signReserve online and complete the outfitter's waiver ahead of time. Everyone on the trip needs one, including rentals.
Park & arrive earlyGet to 1000 Bay Ave 30 minutes before launch, plus about 15 minutes to park Uptown. The Front Avenue parking garage is a good bet.
Check in & gear upStaff fit your helmet, Type V Coast Guard-approved life jacket and paddle. Wetsuits and splash jackets are free when it is cold.
Briefing & launchYour guide covers paddle commands, how to sit, and what to do if you swim. Then it is a short ride to the put-in below North Highlands Dam.

Warm up at AmbushThe first rapid comes quickly. Listen for "forward," "back," "left back," and "get down."
Run the rapidsPemberton Falls, Waveshaper, Good Wave and, on high-water trips, Cutbait. Guides pick lines and set up surfs.
Float & swimCalmer stretches let you catch your breath, and sometimes hop in for a swim when the guide says it is safe.
Finish UptownYou take out in Uptown Columbus. Photos from the trip photographer are available to buy online afterward.

Safety

How safe is it?

Whitewater is an adventure sport and you should expect to get wet and possibly swim. Here is how risk is managed.

Trained guides

Every raft has a guide. The outfitter cites more than 40 years of experience and industry-standard risk management, and staff can decline anyone who appears unsafe to participate.

Real safety gear

Helmets and Type V U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs for everyone. Local ordinance requires life jackets on this stretch of river.

Flow-matched trips

Trips are matched to dam releases. Families run at base flow; big-water trips run only when releases support them.

If you fall inKeep your feet up and pointed downstream, hold onto your paddle's T-grip, look for your guide and the raft, and swim toward the boat or rope when told. Never stand up in moving water; foot entrapment between rocks is the main hazard in any river.

Do not go on the river on your ownThe dam can release large volumes of water with little warning. The river can rise quickly, and the upper course has powerful hydraulics. Unguided paddlers should be experienced, check Georgia Power's release schedule, and wear a life jacket.

Seasons

Rafting all year

Columbus has one of the longest rafting seasons in the country. Here is what each season feels like.

Spring	Mild temps, fewer crowds, higher chance of bigger natural flows after rain.
Summer	Hot days, warm water, peak demand. Book weekends early.
Fall	Comfortable temperatures and the best balance of weather and availability.
Winter	Wetsuits and splash jackets are free. Quiet river, lower prices on lodging.

Wide view of Chattahoochee rapids below the historic mills in Uptown Columbus — Photo: WhitewaterColumbus.com, August 2012.

What to expect From parking lot to take-out.