Get Outdoors: Watersports

Start your morning with a ”choose your own adventure” by kayaking either Betty’s Branch or the historic Augusta Canal. Betty’s Branch is an easy trip and one of the most popular places to kayak. The reason for the popularity is because the abundance of wildlife and spectacular scenery. You can also launch and return to the same ramp at Riverside Park. Kayak rentals are available at Riverside Park through Outdoor Augusta Riverside Rentals. They also offer guided tours. Contact them directly for more information. 

The Augusta Canal trip is also perfect for beginners and another local favorite. Start at the headgates of the canal at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Paddle down the canal taking in the wildlife and historic mills that shaped the Augusta industrial revolution. End your trip at Lake Olmstead. Because this trip ends at a different location, you will need to park your car at the finish line or a shuttle is offered through Savannah River Kayak Rentals for a fee. Savannah River Kayak Rental offers rentals at the headgates and offers a discounted shuttle fee if you rent your equipment from them.

Guided tours are also available with Cole Watkins Tours for both the Betty’s Branch and Augusta Canal routes with Cole Watkins Tours.

After lunch, enjoy the afternoon on Clarks Hill Lake by renting a pontoon boat from Clarks Hill Marina or a jet ski from Keg Creek Water Sports. No matter which you choose make sure you, are on the lake for one of the most spectacular sunsets you have ever seen!