Rafting the Flint River:
An Outdoor Adventure with Family with Friends #Review
By Hannah Isreal
My family of three loves taking micro adventures with friends. We often find quick magical trips within an hour of our home. Recently with several friends, we spent the day canoeing, kayaking and rafting the Flint River in Thomaston, GA, just an hour northeast of Columbus.
The Flint River Outdoor Center is open Monday – Sunday starting at 8:30 am. Along the banks here, you’ll find a campground, lodge, convenience store, and canoe outpost. The Center puts thousands of people down the Flint each year. You can choose from canoes, one- or two-person kayaks or an eight-person raft. From the service point, a driver takes you and your boats five miles north of the river to Sprewell Bluff to start your journey.
A detailed map of the Flint River, including the FROC and other popular points of interest. (Credit: Flint River Outdoor Center; used with permission)
The 5-mile ride down the river took about 4.5 hours. The water was fairly deep because of the rain the previous week, which made the rapids fast. The weather was perfect and the outdoors were very scenic. We saw turtles, hundreds of Damselflies, water striders, water beetles, butterflies, and snakes.
Halfway down, we stopped at Table Rock to picnic, bask and swim. We brought sandwiches, drinks, fruits and various snacks. Everyone tried to play against the river currents and slide in the small natural rock formations. It was such a fun time.
Our trip took us through an assortment of gentle rapids. Some felt fast and others were more measured. This made the adventure more suspenseful. The largest rapids were called the Rebel Rapids, a Class II rapid, and conquering them really did feel rebellious. My 11-year-old son kayaked down at the halfway point. He was much more adventurous than me tackling the fast rapids.
On our next adventure, we plan to bring our fishing poles. We saw lots of people enjoying fishing from their canoes or from stops along the shore. This trip is a family friendly excursion that’s full of surprises, fun and an excellent outdoor adventure. It’s a perfect group getaway or just a nice family time. #RiverLife
What to Know if You Want to Go:
For more information about the Flint Adventures in Thomaston, GA, visit ExploreGeorgia.org.
Hours of Operation: The Flint River Outdoor Center is open March-October (reservations ONLY for trips after October).
Flint River Outdoors Center
4429 Woodland Rd.
Thomaston, GA 30286
706-647-2633
