Paddling Fun for the Entire Family.

If you’re looking for laid back, outdoor activities for kids in Georgia, The Little River Water Trail is the perfect family-friendly adventure for all ages and experience levels. With four input locations along a 20-mile stretch of slow-moving river, bring your kayak or canoe and let your troubles drift away.

Flowing through Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area and along the boundaries of McDuffie and Wilkes counties in Georgia, The Little River Water Trail near Washington is a Class 1 river with no whitewater sections.

Explore Georgia describes the water trails in Georgia as some of the most scenic views in the state and considers The Little River Water Trail among “Four Fantastic Georgia Water Trails for Beginners”.

A kayak or canoe paddle along the river trail and tributaries is a biodiverse and easy day trip or overnight paddle for both novice and experienced paddlers.

What is a Water Trail?

Water trails, like the Little River Water Trail, are marked routes on waterways of various lengths and, with their surrounding nature areas, are identified as suitable for paddlers, anglers, hikers and picnickers of all ages and abilities.

Water trails usually have multiple designated access points along the river for putting boats in the water or taking them out.

Little River Water Trail, a favorite among Georgia water trails is accessible at four points at Hwy 78, Holliday Park, Raysville Campground and Hwy 80. Your paddling trip can be divided into smaller sections depending on your timing or physical abilities and expectations.

One of the easiest put-in locations is GA Route 78 where the highway crosses the Little River near Washington in Wilkes County. You’ll find good signage with an easy gravel parking area and a paved boat ramp into the water. Here, the river is slow-moving enough that you should be able to paddle upstream or downstream and easily return to the boat ramp. This section of the river generally has consistent water access even in periods of low water. The water trail access is just 12 miles from Historic Downtown Washington and approximately 11 miles from I-20/Hwy. 78 Exit 172.

Some water trail access points, like the Holliday Park Campground offer campsites, showers and restrooms and in some cases canoe and kayak rentals.

Holliday Park, located on Clarks Hill Lake near Washington in Wilkes County, GA, is a great put-in location for lake-paddling, with easy parking and water access and a boat ramp. Holliday Park sits on 333 acres, perfect for, hiking, picnicking and fishing and camping, including 31 camp sites¾12 with power and water and 19 primitive. At the Holliday Park General Store, you can pay for your park pass (only $2.00) and stock up on great snacks, fishing lures, bait, firewood and anything else you’ll need for a perfect shorter and pleasant paddling adventure.

Another easily accessed put-in is at nearby Raysville Campground. If you don’t have kayaks and canoes, don’t let this stop you from experiencing the relaxing and refreshing adventures on the Little River Water Trail. Kayaks, canoes and safety equipment are available for rent at the Raysville Campground outpost in nearby Thomson.

The first marked water trail access located on Hwy. 80 is more rustic and has about a 6 ft drop from shore to water, making access for kayaking or canoeing more of a challenge. You can park on the side of the road and walk to the river for put-in, or with 4-wheelers or other terrain-friendly vehicles you can off-road drive in to the river.

In nearby Historic Downtown Washington, you’ll find shops and restaurants for provisioning your paddling trip or to pop in afterwards for food or refreshment. Around a lively town square and beyond, you’ll discover a tempting selection of restaurants and cafes, even a fabulous ice cream parlor.



Wildlife and Gold Mines

Along Little River Water Trail you may spot an abundance of wildlife including white tail deer, Eastern wild turkey, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, wood ducks, Canadian geese, turtles beaver, river otters, eagles, and more. Among granite rock outcrops, you’ll find native trees including white, red and pin oaks, river birch, and other plants indigenous to the area.

If you’re lucky, around the Raysville Campground access point, you may spot empty gold mining shafts, once a valuable resource for "stamp mill" mining of gold embedded in quartz. In its heyday in the 1850’s, this land around the Little River Water Way was rich in gold veins and the source of a prosperous gold mining industry.

 A leisurely paddle along the Little River Water Trail is a welcome respite from the summer heat, a fun outdoors adventure suitable for all ages, and an ideal way to relax and enjoy the natural beauty around us. And it’s easy to get there:

• Atlanta: 110 miles via I-20 and the Washington/Thomson/Hwy. 78 exit 172
• Athens: 45 miles via Hwy. 78 east
• Augusta: 55 miles via Hwy. 78 west