Take I-20 from either Atlanta (about 2 hours west) or Birmingham (about 90 minutes east) to US 431 south. (OR.... 431 North comes off of I-85 at the east end of Auburn, Al.)
Go thru Weedowee, GA. Turn right on County Highway 15 at the EXXON station south end of town.
drive until 15 dead ends at County Highway 15. Turn right.
look for a dirt road on the right about a half mile down. That is county road 898. The sign identifying it is about 100 feet up the hill after you turn on it.
This is not a road for a city boy in a fancy car. It has serious ruts that can break a strut or axle if you don't know how to approach and cross them.
Follow until you get to the river. Once there, it is one of the most serene sites I have been to, with crystal clear water, and black sand sitting on TOP of river sand, with plenty of shiny yellow sparkly things on that. Water is from inches deep to about 6 feet in the corner at the south end.
Agree with needing a good size truck or jeep to cross the river. Water in December is still a good 18" deep in the middle.
NOTE: If I am reading the claim map correctly, it starts DOWNSTREAM of the old bridge, and heads UPSTREAM from there. DO NOT DIG THE CROSSING! Its hard enough already.