North Oconee River - Canoe/kayak launches on Greenway at:
MLK Parkway / College Avenue parking area
Dudley Park near Chicopee parking area
For more information on the North Oconee River call 706-613-3620 or email trails@accgov.com
Canoe/Kayak Launch at Ben Burton Park
River Trails
Explore the North Oconee River along Athens' first public water trail. The trail begins at the MLK Parkway/College Ave. Greenway Trailhead. River access is available via the canoe/kayak launch a short distance from the parking lot. Northbound travel is blocked approximately a quarter of a mile up river by a sewer pipe crossing, even when the river is high enough to cover the pipe due to water recirculation. The water trail travels south, down river, for approximately one mile to Dudley Park where there is river access via a canoe/kayak launch just past the Firefly Trail bridge, and up river from the Oconee St. bridge. The canoe/kayak launch at Dudley Park is approximately 300 yards from the Chicopee parking area along the lower section of the Greenway.
The remnants of Easley's Mill create a hazardous situation south of the Oconee St. bridge with submerged obstructions and water recirculation. All water trail users should exit the river at Dudley Park.
The canoe/kayak launch at Ben Burton Park is the only public river access on the Middle Oconee river within Athens-Clarke County. All other river access is private and can only be utilized at the discretion of the landowner. If you put in at Ben Burton Park you must take out at the same access or have permission to use private river access.
The boat launches are part of a series of access points that will eventually comprise the Oconee Rivers Water Trails, a system of water trails on the Middle and North Oconee Rivers that flow through Athens-Clarke County.