Whitewater Rafting Adventures

From March to October the Ocoee River comes alive with whitewater enthusiasts from around the world who journey to shoot the world-class rapids in rafts, canoes, and kayaks. Outdoor adventure writer Kim Urquhart calls it "a paddler's paradise ...loved for its size and power, constant flow rate and continuous waves and holes". More than 300,000 people experience the excitement of Ocoee River rafting each year. Whitewater & Waterfalls Guide

Flowing out of Lake Blue Ridge as the Toccoa River, the name changes to Ocoee at the Tennessee border. The Class III and IV rapids that highlight the river begin just west of Ducktown, TN. Rafting trips feature the Upper Ocoee, including the Olympic kayaking course created for the 1996 Olympic Games at the Ocoee Whitewater Center; the Middle Ocoee, a five mile stretch of Class III and IV whitewater; and a Full River Trip which includes both Upper and Middle sections. Full River and Upper River trips are available only on designated days on weekends in the summer. Due to the level of whitewater on the Ocoee, rafting trips are limited to adults and kids over 12 years of age. Rafting Outfitters

Tubing and Rafting the Toccoa
Float and tubing trips on the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge and McCaysville are better suited to families with smaller kids. Tubing is available on the upper Toccoa in Blue Ridge above the Lake Blue Ridge Dam, and the lower Tococa in McCaysville. There are also rafting and canoeing float trips on the Toccoa for kids over five years of age.

Rafting the Nantahala River
Several local outfitters also offer rafting trips on the Nantahala River in nearby North Carolina for kids 7 years old or at least 50 pounds. The Nantahala features beginner, Class I, II and a single Class III rapid.

Toccoa River & Lake Blue Ridge
Upper Toccoa River & Ocoee River
Waterfalls & Whitewater

Rafting