Penholloway Swamp/Cogdon Lake

Penholloway Swamp/Cogdon Lake is a boat access point on the Altamaha River in Wayne County, Georgia. The Altamaha is a major river system flowing 134 miles to the Atlantic Ocean with an average flow of over 14,000 cubic feet per second. This is a significant waterway suitable for various boating activities, with a gentle average gradient of 0.6 feet per mile that creates moderate water conditions rather than whitewater rapids.

The access site provides entry to one of Georgia's most important river systems for recreation and wildlife. The Altamaha River basin drains nearly 14,000 square miles and supports diverse ecosystems including swamps, bottomland forests, and coastal marshes. Boaters should be prepared for a major river environment with substantial water volume and current, particularly downstream where tidal influences become more pronounced as the river approaches the coast.

Paddlers and motorboat operators using this access should understand that the Altamaha is a working river with variable conditions depending on rainfall and dam releases upstream. Water levels and current speed can fluctuate significantly, and the river's size means commercial and recreational traffic may be present. The area around Cogdon Lake provides a launching point for both day trips and extended expeditions through this important coastal Georgia waterway.