Water Trail Best Practices

Georgia River Network recommends following these best practices when building a water trail:

• Water trail is sponsored, maintained and promoted by a local government, local nonprofit entity or partnership.
• Publicly accessible areas that paddlers can legally access and safely unload boats and park vehicles.
• River access sites are spaced apart so that the section of river may be paddled in a few hours or a full day (3-5 miles apart).
• Depending on the length of the trail, water access to publicly available overnight camping sites.
• Information about the water trail provided to paddlers through Georgia River Network’s Georgia River Guide mobile app, a website and/or illustrative maps created by the sponsoring entity.
• Signage/ kiosks placed at all water trail access points that include: river etiquette information, paddling safety information, and a map of the water trail.
  
• Install mile markers, road signs at bridges or signs along the river to help paddlers identify where they are on the river in case of emergency. Also consider training for local 911 dispatchers. 

If your group has questions about best practices, please contact Georgia River Network Community Programs Coordinator, Andrea White, at andrea@garivers.org.

Find out how to have a National Water Trail Designated in your Community.