Tubing and Paddling the Cartecay River

When the North Georgia summer heats up, Ellijay heads for the water — and more often than not, that means the Cartecay River. Shallow, clear, and lined with rhododendron, the Cartecay is gentle enough for a lazy tube float yet lively enough, in spots, to have served as a training ground for generations of Georgia kayakers.

Tube, kayak, or both

For most visitors, the Cartecay is a tubing river: rent a tube from a local outfitter, get a shuttle to the put-in, and drift back toward town over a few easy hours, bumping through small riffles along the way. For paddlers, the same river has more to offer — an upper stretch with playful Class II–III rapids that makes it a beloved spot for whitewater kayakers and a classic place to learn the sport. The difficulty rises and falls with the water level, so the river can feel like a float trip one week and a real ride the next.

Where the rivers meet

Ellijay sits at a confluence. The Cartecay River and the Ellijay River join right at town to form the Coosawattee River, which then flows west toward Carters Lake. That three-river geography is a big part of why the area is such a water-recreation hub — there’s more than one current to choose from, and outfitters in town can point you to whichever suits the day and your group.

When to go

Tubing season runs through the warm months, late spring into early fall, when a hot afternoon and cool mountain water are a perfect match. Paddlers often prefer the higher flows of spring and after rain. Either way, a few hours on the Cartecay — sun on the water, mountains overhead, downtown Ellijay waiting at the end — is one of the quintessential Gilmer County summer days.

Cover photo: the Cartecay River near Ellijay, by Brian McInturff via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Sources include American Whitewater, Georgia River Network, and local outfitters. Always check current river conditions and paddle within your ability.