Rescheduled again due to high water, this time to April 19, 2025.

Join us for a leisurely paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter on the Withlacoochee River. You can choose 3 miles or 11 miles.

Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, Troupville to Spook Bridge, Little River, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19

Thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.
Thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for shuttle vans.
Thanks to Valdosta Boys & Girls Club for bringing youth and boats to paddle.
Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this expedition and Phil Royce for being sweep.

When: Gather 8 AM, shuttle by 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, April 19, 2025

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
By the boat ramp, see the WWALS water trail signs about the WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

• The 3-mile trip starts along the Little River frontage recently purchased by Lowndes County for Troupville Nature Park and Nature Preserve. After the Little River Confluence, we’ll go a very short way up the Withlacoochee River to the future site of Troupville River Camp. Then down the Withlacoochee 1.3 miles past Valdosta’s cleaned up Outfall from its Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on the left bank in Lowndes County. After another mile, the early takeout is at a private boat ramp on the right bank in Brooks County, thanks to Paul DeLoach.

  
  Map: Troupville Boat Ramp to Paul DeLoach private boat ramp –WLRWT

• The 11-mile journey continues another eight miles, past Spring Branch to a mid-point lunch stop, thanks to The Langdale Company. Then we pass Millrace Creek, the notorious Sabal Trail Methane Pipeline, the US 84 Bridge, and Spook Bridge, to take out on the left bank, also thanks to The Langdale Company. Thanks to Steve Miller for a four-wheeler to get paddlers and their boats back to the paved road.

  
  Map: Troupville Boat Ramp to Spook Bridge in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).