A treaty of 1816 between the United States and the Cherokee extended the South Carolina boundary to its current location.

At some point, the Savannah River eroded its northern headland until it captured the Chattooga and diverted its waters to the Atlantic.

During Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the wind force and waters knocked big boulders off the banks of the river.

Known as the "Crown Jewel" of the southeast, the Chattooga was the first river east of the Mississippi to be granted the Wild & Scenic designation, and is still the only one that is commercially rafted.

One of the largest tributaries in the Chattooga basin that flows mainly through private lands is Stekoa Creek, which flows primarily southeast for approximately 18 miles (29 km)[1] from its headwaters in Mountain City, Georgia, through Clayton, Georgia, to its mouth at the Chattooga River.

This is due primarily to raw sewage leaking from the City of Clayton's old sewage collection system, overflowing storm drains, runoff laden with sediment, poor agricultural practices, failing septic systems, and illegal dumping.

[3] Non-profit organizations, such as the Chattooga Conservancy, have made improving water quality in Stekoa Creek a top priority.

Early spring is also a great time to go rafting, kayaking, or canoeing because of the higher flows and cooler temperatures.

The Chattooga is a free-flowing river (no upstream dam to control the flow) which quickly responds to rainfall or drought conditions.

The Chattooga headwaters are located in the Whiteside Mountain area on the Blue Ridge escarpment near Cashiers, NC.

The West Fork, sometimes incorrectly referred to as Section 1, is ideal for tubing and class II float trips.

The decision has proved controversial due to the excessive number of deaths that have occurred on the river in this area.