Coosa River Whitewater

The Lower Coosa segment, known as Coosa River Whitewater, has turbulent waters and Class III rapids. The fall line, the last stone underlayment supporting the Alabama uplands before the rivers grind deep into the plains on their way to the Gulf of Mexico, is an exciting place on any river in Alabama. It's especially loved on the Coosa River near the city of Wetumpka, whose very name means Rumbling Waters in Creek tongue.

The six miles of class I-III rapids, the eddies and standing waves bring people from everywhere to this run on the Coosa to flip, whirl and dive. And on top of that, there are the people who actually wanted to do those things as well.

One of the special things about whitewater on the Coosa is choice. With just one time through with an expert guide from a Wetumpka outfitter, you'll see that every peril has its not-so-perilous alternative. Take the notorious Moccasin Gap for example. Really good kayakers that use a play boat take the wave to the right of the enormous rock set into the river. If you have a long boat or aren't there to be a public spectacle, the class II drop to the left of the rock is for you. If you're a real novice, land your boat on the upstream side, haul it over the rock, and put back in on the quiet downstream side. Be sure to take advantage of the rock as a place to swim, paddle, picnic and sight see as wave after wave of visitors alight and leave like starlings.

The Coosa River Whitewater Festival is a three-day annual event sponsored by the Coosa River Paddling Club (CRPC), held in Wetumpka, Al. | Elmore County. Since 1985, the Whitewater Festival, which includes kayaking competitions, activities for amateur boaters, and live entertainment, has taken place on a section of the Coosa River between Jordan Dam and the city of Wetumpka. The festival is a charitable event, with proceeds benefiting groups devoted to environmental protection and the development of historic sites and trails along the river. The Whitewater Festival invites artists to create a design which focuses on various aspects of the festival including: canoes, kayaks, paddling, and the Moccasin Gap Kayak Competitions. Natural aspects of the Coosa River, such as plants and/or wildlife have at times been incorporated into some of the past designs.