Local river expert Oconee Joe is getting ready to start up another season of leading paddle trips down the Oconee River Watershed.
As a conservationist and explorer, Oconee Joe’s goal is to show his clients as much area as possible on the river. That includes trips from the Classic City all the way down to the mouth of Lake Oconee near Greshmanville and Greensboro.
“We’re doing the same sections as last year,” he said. “We’re doing trips around Athens, which includes some down to Lake Oconee. That trip is about 40-50 miles, and if you include the back end of the lake towards the national forest and Dyar’s Pasture, it’s a lot of ground to cover. We ran a lot of those trips last year.”
He said this year’s schedule features several multi-day trips from Athens to the lake.
“They are currently booked out, but we are thinking about opening up some more,” Oconee Joe said. “On those trips, would start on the outskirts of the south side of Athens and paddle to Lake Oconee. It’s about a two-day, one-night trip.”
Oconee Joe and his team of guides also teach “primitive skills” that are especially useful in the outdoors. These include fire-making and shelter building.
Along the way, paddlers are bound to see a lot of different types of wildlife in their natural habitat.
“In those backwaters leading up to the lake, we see a lot of migratory waterfowl,” he said. “There’s a lot of remote habitats and swampy areas on that paddle, which features various types of birds, fish and other species of animals.”
According to the river specialist, there are only 10-12 paddlers on a typical excursion.
“It’s usually me and another guide,” he said. “We like to pride ourselves on the local history of the area, which is my forte. I teach about the local fish and the different reptiles that inhabit the area. Sometimes, I also bring on guides that know about the local botany and birding in the area we are exploring.”
Oconee Joe’s goal is to create an “immersive” environment for his paddlers to participate in.
“We want to provide our paddlers with a more intimate setting in which they can learn about the history of the local watershed,” he said. “That’s why we like to keep the groups small. It gives us a chance to interact with each other and the nearby environment. That also makes our trips educational and fun.”
The best way to get in touch with Oconee Joe is through his website at https://www.oconeejoe. com/ or by You can also contact him by phone at (706) 614-8928.
From either the phone number or website, he can set up a time or date to reserve for a scheduled trip.