Ocoee whitewater rafting: an affordable vacation option less than a half-day away
If you’re searching for an affordable two-day trip that combines adventure recreation with scenic beauty, consider a whitewater rafting trip to the Ocoee River in eastern Tennessee.
Less than an hour drive from Chattanooga, the Ocoee River offers whitewater options, the Upper river section, the Middle Fork or a daylong combination that includes rafting the entire river.
The Tennessee Valley Authority owns and operates three hydroelectric dams on the Ocoee, a 93-mile river that begins in Georgia where it’s known as the Toccoa River. It ends at the Hiwassee River, a major tributary of the Tennessee River.
TVA diverts water from the Ocoee into a five-mile wooden flume constructed more than 110 years ago. Water flowing through that flume is used to generate electricity at three powerhouses downstream on the Ocoee.
TVA officials must balance the need for the Ocoee to generate electricity with the river’s important recreational role that generates a significant portion of Polk County, Tennessee’s $33.1 million received annually from tourism.
According to the Polk County Chamber of Commerce, approximately $8.7 million comes from lodging and an additional $8.2 million from commercial rafting revenue.
In addition to rafting, the Ocoee River watershed offers world-class biking trails and more than 250 miles of scenic hiking trails.
Chamber officials say more than 200,000 commercial rafters enjoy the Ocoee each year, using one of 23 licensed outfitters.
Those outfitters set their season based on TVA’s schedule of releasing water into the Ocoee riverbed, with weekend rafting available on the Middle Fork in April and May, and full river trips available from late May through August on weekends. Weekday full river runs are available on weekends from May until early September.
The full river run includes both the upper and middle river stretches. It’s a full-day trip, beginning with the more challenging upper stretch with its class IV rapids. The five-mile middle stretch features class III and lower rapids at normal water levels and is preferred by novice rafters.
The upper stretch includes the .25 mile Olympic course, used in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games for whitewater events.
The two sections are separated by a dam, where full river runners stop for a lunchtime break before completing the middle stretch.
TVA maintains an Ocoee River Release Schedule, regularly updated to show changes necessitated by weather conditions or power generating needs.
Commercial outfitters offer the Middle section rafting trips for an average of $50-$60, with the 10-mile full river trip averaging from $90-$120 per person.
All participants embarking on a commercial Ocoee whitewater run must be at least 12 years old.
For more information on this affordable, adrenaline-rush vacation option, or to see a full listing of outfitters, log onto www.ocoeecountry.com.