Atlanta, GA · river · best for intermediates
Chattahoochee River — Powers Island
The 'Hooch is Atlanta's backyard river: cold, clear dam releases, mild shoals, and a green corridor through the metro. Flows swing hard with Buford Dam releases — always check before driving.
Send it
Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions
Wind
6 mph
gusting to 8 mph
Air temp
92°F
1% chance of rain
River flow
2,090 cfs
runnable 700–5,000
Best day to paddle this week
Today · 95
Today
95
92°
Best
Thu
55
98°
Fri
51
96°
Sat
85
94°
Sun
77
95°
Mon
84
91°
Tue
88
93°
Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.
Wind, next 12 hours
mph| Hour | Wind (mph) | Gusts (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| 5p | 6 | 7 |
| 6p | 6 | 8 |
| 7p | 7 | 9 |
| 8p | 3 | 7 |
| 9p | 1 | 4 |
| 10p | 2 | 2 |
| 11p | 1 | 1 |
| 12a | 2 | 3 |
| 1a | 2 | 2 |
| 2a | 2 | 3 |
| 3a | 4 | 4 |
| 4a | 2 | 2 |
Is this flow normal for August 19?
Today's 2,090 cfs is 9% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.
The median flow on this date is 1,920 cfs, across 69 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.
Why this score
- Wind — 6 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0
- Heat — 92°F — bring more water than you think-3
- River flow — 2,090 cfs — in the runnable range±0
Launch notes
Put in at Powers Island, take out at Paces Mill for the classic 3-mile run. Water is cold year-round; dress for immersion.
Do your own homework
We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.
- Paddler discussion on Reddit
Trip reports and local warnings, straight from the source
- Search American Whitewater
Rapid classifications and gauge-linked run descriptions
- Satellite view and access roads
Check parking, put-ins, and what the banks actually look like
- Video from this water
The fastest way to see the character of a run before you drive
- USGS gauge 02336000
Full hydrograph, historical flows, and station metadata