We currently operate remotely out of a property in the Dames Ferry area of Jones Co, a short bus ride from Juliette. This model returns OOE to its roots, meeting customers at an access point (usually the takeout) for the tour they’ve booked.
As far as “where we are,” the Hitchiti Experimental Forest and the Piedmont Nat’l Wildlife Refuge are our backyard, and some of the most beautiful shoals on the Ocmulgee call to us from our doorstep. As remote as our home base may feel, we’re only a 20 minute drive from downtown Macon, and the dining, breweries, shopping, and music that can be found there
Yes, we can! We have a large fleet of kayaks and partner with our friends at Oconee Outfitters for group sizes over thirty paddlers. In total, we can put over 80 people on the water in rental boats at one time. We have a 10% discount for groups of ten or more if the payment is made with one check or on one credit card. Call us to talk about group discounts and special trips. 478-733-3386.
Strictly speaking, no. All participants are expected to sign a waiver and must be 18 or older. All river enthusiasts under 18 must be accompanied by an adult or have prior guardian approval in writing. We expect parents and guardians to exercise common sense. A 3-year-old probably is going to lose interest and get fussy, but a 4-year-old may be captivated by the river. You know your child best. If you think your child is ready for this, we’re all for it. We have small life jackets designed for children 30-50 pounds. Upper age limit? As long as you can safely get in and out of the canoe or kayak and are willing to undertake the adventure, we applaud you!
We accept all major cards, but cash and checks work very well, too. It is best if you book using our website and you will need a credit card for that, but call if you have questions about the booking or if you plan to book for a group of ten or more.
No confirmed reports… In all seriousness, we have never spotted a single gator through any of our endeavors on the Ocmulgee River from just below the dam at Lake Jackson to the Spring Street Bridge in Macon.
There are snakes along the river, but they are more scared of you than you are of them, and it is very doubtful that you will see them. They hear you coming and they disappear.
No one knows for sure, but the Creek Indian confederation lived near present-day Macon in Ocmulgee Fields. The name of the river probably comes from the Hitchiti words “oki,” which means “water,” plus “molki,” which means “bubbling” or “boiling.” It’s pronounced “Oak-mull-gee.”
Expect to have a good time. Every expedition down the Ocmulgee River is different. Each time you go, you notice something different, you see something different. Each expedition is an experience. From us, you can expect door-to-door service.
This is not a theme park ride; you can expect to see wildlife (birds, frogs, all types of fish, deer, turtles, wild hogs, possibly a snake). Use common sense and don’t try to feed the animals. If you’re lucky, you get to see a bald eagle or an osprey or two! Expect to get wet. That’s not a bad thing. Especially on a hot day, the river is very refreshing. Your canoe/kayak may turn over. Don’t panic. It’s okay. You simply turn it back over when you get to a shallow or sand bar. You’ll laugh about it later. On some of our trips, you will go through shoals. Some people call them rapids, but they’re really not, although when you go through them and come out on the other side, your adrenaline is pumping and you’ll swear that you’re ready for real rapids — or at the very least the Summer Olympics. Read the descriptions of our trips for a good feel of what each offers and decide which suits your group. If you still have questions, reach out via email or call. Let us know what sort of expedition you are looking for and we will match you with the perfect one. Custom trips are also available.
There’s not a lot you need to concern yourself with in terms of paddles, personal flotation devices (aka life vests), or a canoe or kayak. We’ve got you covered on all of that. But there are a few personal items you might want to take with you to make your time on the river enjoyable. We provide dry bags for your cell phone so you can take pictures along the way.
Recommended items.
• Sunscreen
• Water
• Snacks/lunch
• Water shoes (or a pair of old sneakers)
• Towel (but you can leave that in your car)
Optional items you might consider bringing.
• Sunglasses
• Hat (ball cap or sun hat)
• Ziplock bag (or if you want to get fancy, a Dry Bag) to keep your keys/wallet/stuff dry; we can also keep your keys safe with us if you prefer
• A plastic poncho in case it rains
• Soft drinks
• Small cooler is fine, but please, no alcohol
Most guides become guides because they love being outdoors and sharing that joy with their customers and not for the money. If you feel as though your guide has provided you with a safe and enjoyable trip, a tip of between 10% and 20% of the cost of the trip is always appreciated.
Paddling is a sport, and it does involve effort and sustained activity. Nothing will make the boat move except for you. This is important to understand, but it’s also necessary to know that it’s relatively easy. We take kids as young as 6 all the way up through great-grandparents! It is very rare that the wind is blowing too hard to take a trip out, but if we don’t think you can handle it, we won’t go.
With thoughtful consideration, we have revised our cancellation policies. The policies below reflect our dedication to providing a stress-free booking, planning, and travel experience for our guests.
All our guests will receive a full refund for cancellations made more than 1 week prior to your trip date (minus a $10 per person booking fee). Within 1 week, your trip fees are nonrefundable.
Although we rarely cancel trips, we reserve the right to cancel a trip for any reason. This includes too few participants, weather, logistical problems, or circumstances which make the operation of the trip inadvisable.
Cancellations are at the discretion of the OOE guide and office manager. If for any reason, these individuals decide that the trip would be unsafe or not possible as planned, they may cancel at any time. If another operator is involved, this cancellation may be their decision as well.
We collect a $10/person non-refundable booking fee for all half & full day trips, and a $25/person booking fee for multi-day trips. Whether you cancel or we do, the booking fee is non-refundable. Not charging you for your trip will be the limit of our liability (subject to our cancellation policy). We will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees, or other trip-related expenses.
We are a small, locally-owned Georgia company with only 150 days a year to run our trips, and are unable to issue refunds for last minute cancellations as it will simply be too late for us to fill the spaces that we have set aside for you. Please read our cancellation policy thoroughly and give us a shout with any questions.
If you decide to cancel your trip with us, please consider transferring your payment to a gift card. That way you can join us in the future, whether it’s this summer or a future season, providing an easy way to postpone your vacation plans while continuing to support our small, locally-owned business.
We do appreciate your supporting our small business and look forward to giving you and your group a wonderful time on the Ocmulgee.
