WhitewaterGeorgiaBzhuzha River

Bzhuzha River

Also known as: Bjuja, Bzhuzha

Cited as one of Georgia's most beautiful rivers; forested Guria gorge near Bakhmaro

Steep snowmelt creek III-IVPoint-to-point
Kayak
Typical time
- (day run)
Experience thrilling rafting on the Aragvi River in Ananuri, Georgia, with a vibrant group.

Is there water?

Whether there is a river here on your dates, and what kind of water it is.

Water-level regime

Snowmelt and rain-fed steep creek; flashy; dam-affected top section

Runnable window

Spring high water (roughly Apr-Jun); rain-fed spikes (est)

Best season

Spring snowmelt (the Bzhuzha Race is held early May)

Water temperature

Cold snowmelt

Guria high rainfall; flashy levels

Grade & who can come

Grade at a normal level
Grade 44 (Advanced) - continuous class III-IV creek with a class IV+ top gorge below the dam. Confirm.

A river changes grade with its level. These grades describe a normal flow - in flood the same run is harder, and often a different run entirely. Check the gauge before you commit.

Local grading

III-IV continuous with one solid IV in the gorge; top section IV+ (paddler reports)

How it is run

Kayaking (expert creek)

Splitting the group

Expert kayak only; not a commercial raft run; the Bzhuzha Race is an extreme venue

Accessibility & group fit

Experienced whitewater kayakers only

The run

Crux rapids

Steep continuous drops; class IV+ gorge below the dam; one solid class IV rapid

Portages & hazards

Steep drops; scout the gorge; dam-affected flows

Named section

Middle Bzhuzha (dam gorge to Ozurgeti area)

Crowds

Very low; niche expert kayaking

Access & shuttle

No permit cited

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Put-in & take-out

Near Ozurgeti (200 m); dam upstream put-in

Shuttle & transport

Self-arranged or local transfer

Camps & huts

Ozurgeti / Bakhmaro area lodging

Gear

Full creek-kayak kit, helmet, expert self-rescue

Operators

Georgian National Kayaking Federation; Two Blades Adventures

Hazards & exits

Hazards

Continuous class IV+, dam releases, cold flashy water

Emergency exits

Limited road access in gorge; Confirm rescue

Guiding

Self-supported expert kayaking; race organized by GNKF / Two Blades Adventures

This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand river run report. Coordinates are approximate.

Also in Georgia

Paddle Bzhuzha River with your crew
Manta plans the run, the shuttle and what the non-paddlers do so a mixed group all get a great trip.
Plan a paddling trip