Whitewater Rafting will be Your Ultimate Summer Experience
One of the “coolest” ways to enjoy Mother Nature with your trusted compadres while staying fit and maintaining a safe distance from others is by tackling the white waters near Blue Ridge.
Whether you are tackling the world-class rapids of the Ocoee (on the Tennessee side) or the gentle waves of the Toccoa (on the Georgia side), Blue Ridge/McCaysville is home base for enjoying the ride.
![Watersports Tubing](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=8b939ab364f8c849e123827bc082002f 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=fa699a57d7aba4a952557679ffea3a57 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=42e442b6e632f657ab10390b23fc763f 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=88b74d42e4d8d90ff541df1218aa434b 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=7d147b43f87058f864d8f19a249049bb 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=38feb1335976a22c2c26b7b1c00d50a7 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=aec50f988b51a8fb5a4abb50b83f6af7 1920w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/WatersportsTubing.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=872176ee0e3c9d7237b249528442ed20 1980w)
On the Georgia Side …
On the Toccoa, you’ll opt for rafting, tubing or kayaking (either a hard-top or an inflatable vessel) – there are no official “white water rapids” here. You can bring kids as young as three years, and this will be your option for kids under 12 since Tennessee law requires children to be 12 years before rafting the Ocoee. A Rolling Thunder River Company is your ideal outfitter for a rafting adventure in McCaysville. Toccoa Valley Campground in Blue Ridge has rafts and kayaks, in addition to tubes, with full shuttle service.
But there are numerous other options for kayaking and tubing the Toccoa River. Download a full list of outfitters here.
![Ocoee Whitewater Hero](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/website-resized-heros-and-pix/OcoeeWhitewaterHero.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c2b154fc01f4230da89caa5c919fb80d 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/website-resized-heros-and-pix/OcoeeWhitewaterHero.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b3d5cac58653ce864dd01ce2da30e204 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/website-resized-heros-and-pix/OcoeeWhitewaterHero.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=cf10f56e05fa3bd08c96e4faf6f9b1b9 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/website-resized-heros-and-pix/OcoeeWhitewaterHero.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=3fa0b200d18a6d38372c212cab611b12 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/website-resized-heros-and-pix/OcoeeWhitewaterHero.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=6fd6a2968a81d959c33034cc7f3c6132 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/website-resized-heros-and-pix/OcoeeWhitewaterHero.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=3ade121fc22b994d0a124380fc4059b0 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/website-resized-heros-and-pix/OcoeeWhitewaterHero.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=3ec9f8a9d3ff4c447467e13f5951cf0b 1920w)
On the Tennessee side …
If you’re looking for waves, then check out the Ocoee adventure options. The Upper is famous for its use as a venue for the 1996 Olympic whitewater events. On the five-mile stretch, your guide will take you over the most intense rapids of the river. Just take note, the TVA only releases water to this section on Saturdays and Sundays, so plan accordingly and well in advance.
The middle section is also five miles, but the easier class III waves makes this a better solution for beginners or those looking for adventure without the “thrills.” There is also a section of the river made for taking a break and splashing in the water outside your raft. Ahhhhh!
Finally, if you want the full experience, you can take one trip that links both river sections together for the ultimate white-water trip.
![](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=8858b8e323ca5046ad89f8abafb82f60 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=339c0c2dd89c1f46de7a308c3ed5055b 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=3f696811847de4603720d8d390c602cd 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=2e8547dc5d5798f08b7595d456601fd2 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=8e5a1c4b2638f2698c0336bfe661919f 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=6d4539d02e1d2fde199e3960dfd66469 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=1fc72f8b7bece7084875d71d5ad71a11 1920w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=8e1b6af975bb37dfde78d4ef415cd23f 2560w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/Outdoor-Rec-Rafting-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=e689fb6f6858661bb8870ac0db3ff411 3600w)
Outfitters
Ocoee Rafting
Ocoee Rafting is the oldest outfitter on the river and offers rafting trips plus zip line adventures. Book a two-hour Middle Ocoee River Rafting Trip and a two-hour Zipline Canopy Tour with Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge and save $25 per ticket. Professional photos are always taken and available for purchase. 800-251-4800.
A Rolling Thunder River Company
Rolling Thunder is located in McCaysville and has been running river tours for over 40 years, taking out more than a million people. Full service kayak, tube and canoe rentals with shuttle. Also trips on the Nantahala River. 800-408-7238.
Carolina Ocoee
Located in Ducktown, you can enjoy their 20 years of experience on the Ocoee or Nantahala Rivers. Professional photos are always taken and available for purchase. 828-341-5241.
Ocoee Adventure Center
The Ocoee Adventure Center Outpost is easy to find on Highway 64 near Copperhill. The center offers a variety of adventure packages for outdoor fun, including Ocoee River rafting, lake kayaking, mountain biking and more. 888-723-8622.
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