The Chattooga River begins in the mountains of North Carolina as small rivulets, nourished by springs and abundant rainfall, high on the slopes of the Appalachian Mountains.  The water drops a half mile in elevation over fifty miles as it winds its way to Lake Tugaloo where the river ends between South Carolina and Georgia. The Chattooga is one of the few remaining free-flowing streams in the Southeast, and the setting is primitive with dense forests and undeveloped shorelines on most of its route.  On May 10, 1974, Congress designated the Chattooga a Wild and Scenic River - a honor reserved for rivers with outstanding scenery, recreation, wildlife, geologic, and cultural values.

The trails in North Carolina are short, and pass steep cliffs near the headwaters of the Chattooga. In this area, there are cascading falls with sandbars and quiet pools which are ideal spots for picnicking and swimming.  In South Carolina, the trails are longer and extend from Ellicott Rock to SC Highway 28. The hiker is exposed to every facet of the river environment: deep coves, rapids, and ridge lines in the state. It takes about two days to hike the nineteen miles of trail in South Carolina