Frequently Asked Questions

This river trip from Powers Island to Paces Mill in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is 3.3 miles in length. This stretch of the Chattahoochee River is known to be the most beautiful, with some rocks and gentle rapids. As always, the weather, recent rains and dam water releases affect the depth and speed of the river. We ask that you stay to the right side of the river during your trip for the safest and most direct route. Remember that the amount of time that it takes for your unique trip down the river may vary. In general, the trip takes 2.5-3.5 hours depending on what equipment you are using and other factors.
See our COVID-19 precautions on the booking page.
No. Due to COVID-19, the national park service restrooms in the parks are closed. We do not have ice or water for sale. Please plan for these prior to your trip.
You should be prepared to carry the tubing or kayaking equipment that you rent for your trip. You will carry it across the parking lot and down the path to the put in location on the water. We are terribly busy on summer weekends and holidays and so if you want assistance with your equipment, there may be a short delay as we help all our customers get to the water safely.
Yes. We follow weather guidelines and the river conditions provided by the National Park Service. If it is not safe to go out, we cancel the trip and provide you with a complimentary “rain check” to use in the future.
You must book and pay your reservation 2 weeks in advance to have the option of a refund. We issue a “rain check” good for anytime in the future when a tube or kayak river trip is cancelled due to river conditions or the weather.
Children must be at least 5 years old for tubes and kayaks.
The boats are stable, but there is still a chance of a kayak flipping, especially if you try to stand up in them, which we do not recommend. Always enter and exit your tube or kayak safely. Do not drag your tube on the ground, which can damage it and cause it to deflate.
Yes. The parks that we operate from are public access, so you are welcome to bring your own equipment to any of our locations. We do not shuttle personal equipment. You will need to make your own arrangements for any of your personal equipment (e.g., tubes, cooler tubes, kayaks) that you are not renting from Shoot the Hooch.
Shoot the Hooch customers who are renting tubes or kayaks from us are permitted to purchase our shuttles. We do not offer a shuttle service for non-customers.
Yes. We provide the life jackets with our rentals and help fit them on you before you go out on the water.
A life jacket is included with Shoot the Hooch tube and kayak rentals. We do not sell life jackets to non-customers.
No. Shoot the Hooch does not rent or sell paddles for tubing trips down the river.
No, Shoot the Hooch does not provide air pumps for public use nor do we inflate equipment for the public. Shoot the Hooch’s air pumps are used to inflate tubes and cooler tubes that our customers rent.
Yes. You are required to make a reservation and make payment prior to showing up to our shuttle location or put-in location (if you are driving yourself). We cannot guarantee that we can assist last-minute or same-day reservation seekers. Weekends are especially busy during the summer and reservations are the only way we can guarantee the equipment will be available.
No. You need to complete your reservation and payment online at shootthehooch.com prior to showing up and meeting with Shoot the Hooch staff at the shuttle location or put-in location (if you are driving yourself). Be sure to bring a digital or paper copy of your reservation receipt so that staff can check you in quickly at either of those locations.
You meet the Shoot the Hooch shuttle at Paces Mill – NPS: 3444 Cobb PKWY SE, Atlanta, GA, 30339. When you pull in at that address, turn left (instead of right which takes you to the boat ramp). Then go straight ahead and look for the Shoot the Hooch blue and white shuttle with our name on the side on the right by the NPS Fee Station. If our shuttle is not there at the time you arrive, it is likely in process of returning from a trip and will be there shortly. You should seek out the Shoot the Hooch staff member in a lime green shirt at the location to check in.
The put in location is at Powers Island NPS, 5450 Interstate N. PKWY Sandy Springs, GA 30328. We are located at the very back of the parking lot catercorner from where you first enter. Note: If you are not taking Shoot the Hooch’s shuttle and opt to drive yourself, please arrive early, or make alternate arrangements, so that you can be assured of getting parking on busy summer weekends. Shoot the Hooch is not responsible if you are unable to secure parking during busy park weekends.
The take-out location is at Paces Mill – NPS: 3444 Cobb PKWY SE Atlanta, GA, 30339. The trip ends at the location where you originally parked (if you took the shuttle). As you approach the end of your float or paddle on the right-hand side of the river, just look for one of our staff members in a lime green shirt.
You are permitted to bring anything but glass containers or Styrofoam coolers. Many people opt to rent a cooler tube ($25) so that they can bring their own cooler and float it down the river. We provide the cooler tube. You bring your own cooler with ice and drinks.
Many people opt to rent a cooler tube ($25) so that they can bring their own cooler and float it down the river. In this case, you bring your own cooler with ice and drinks. We provide the cooler tube with a strap to tie up to it during your float down the river.