Cool off this Summer and find your next adventure on the Ocoee River!
The Ocoee River is a tributary of the Hiwassee River. It was an important river for both the Cherokee and Creek tribes. Most people visiting Blue Ridge today are most familiar with The Toccoa River because of its close proximity to town. A lot of people don’t realize it, but the Ocoee and the Toccoa Rivers are actually a single 93-mile-long river that flows north through the southern Appalachian Mountains from the North Georgia mountains into South Eastern Tennessee. The Rivers name changes when it reaches the twin cities of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, at the truss bridge. This is where 3 different state routes converge and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway drops passengers for some sight seeing. The river continues as the Ocoee flows through Tennessee. This is the section that is well known for its whitewater rafting. Most people may also remember that this section of river was 100% engineered and made made for the 1996 Summer Olympics. This created an exciting venue for the whitewater kayak slalom events less than 2 hours from Atlanta. The Ocoee River water flow is controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) via three dams. The ten-mile stretch is used for whitewater rafting and other water sport activities such as kayaking. The TVA uses a scheduled volume controlled release table which allows for a great control of flow ultimately making this an ideal recreational area.
The three Ocoee dams are numbered sequentially, with #1 being the farthest downstream and #3 (1996 Olympic section) being the farthest upstream. This may sound funny but upstream is actually south of where the Blue Ridge Dam is, which creates Lake Blue Ridge. So the water that you raft on the Ocoee River is the same water you can swim in at Lake Blue Ridge or fish for mountain trout on the Toccoa River! The Middle Section contains some 20 + named rapids ranging from class 1 – 4! This provides amazing recreational opportunities throughout its eight-month season (March – October). One of the largest rapids on the Middle Ocoee, "Hell's Hole," runs right beneath the bridge leading to the power station, with "Powerhouse," a significant ledge with a strong hydraulic... This makes for ONE BIG wave. For real thrill ask your guide to “ride the Bull”! Ocoee whitewater rafting schedules vary based on the releases and are planned around the best and peak times to raft. The two sections used for whitewater rafting on the Ocoee are the one-mile Olympic whitewater course released from Ocoee #3 and the “middle” a 4.5-mile whitewater rafting area downstream from the Olympic section released from Ocoee Dam #2.
Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals recommends Raft One on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Raft one wants customers to have the best adventure-filled trip they can possibly have. With over 20 years of experience on the Ocoee river, Brent and Dusty Rogers, the owners of Raft One, have worked every aspect of whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River. Adding to their diversity both brothers have taken every opportunity possible to work with or experience other whitewater rafting companies across the country.
To learn more contact Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals or Raft One in the Blue Ridge Adventure Center located in downtown Blue Ridge. 240 West Main Street across for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Raft One Outfitter provides the best Ocoee Whitewater Rafting experience and most exciting Ocoee Zipline Canopy Tours in the region!