BLUE RIDGE WHITE WATER RAFTING AWAITS!
Tucked away in the mountains of northern Georgia, Blue Ridge is a historic railroad town on the border with Tennessee. Its downtown area is clustered with cozy cabins, family-friendly restaurants, and craft breweries, making it the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Blue Ridge white water rafting is famed for its splashy rapids, thrilling rides and family fun, as well as being a gateway to the waterfall hiking trails of Chattahoochee National Forest.
Blue Ridge is the doorstep of one of the United States’ best whitewater rafting rivers, the Ocoee River. In all, it’s a 93-mile-long waterway that flows through the Appalachian Mountains. For its first 56 miles (as it makes its way through Georgia), the river is known as the Toccoa. The river’s name changes at the Georgia-Tennessee border, where the towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill meet, becoming the legendary Ocoee River.
The Upper Ocoee is renowned for its challenging Class IV rapids that famously hosted slalom events during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. It offers world-class whitewater rafting opportunities for thrill seekers of all levels – this is one of the United States’s most exciting whitewater rafting destinations. This heart-pounding five-mile stretch churns with nearly nonstop rapids like “Broken Nose” and “Hell’s Hole”. The TVA regulates water flow to the Upper Ocoee, so it’s best to embark on a weekend Blue Ridge rafting trip to experience this iconic run at its best.
The Middle Ocoee pleases beginners and families with its gentler Class III rapids across another picturesque five-mile float. Mellow stretches allow rafters of all ages to relax and revel in the stunning mountain scenery of the Ocoee River Gorge. Our knowledgeable guides expertly navigate through the rapids while sharing fascinating stories about the region’s history and wildlife. While each section of the Ocoee offers a half-day of heart-pounding excitement, our double-header Blue Ridge rafting trips allow you to fully experience the river’s Class III-IV rapids.
Tennessee requires kids to be at least 12 years of age to raft the Ocoee River but you can still go white water rafting in Blue Ridge if you have younger paddlers in tow. The serene waters of the Toccoa River in north Georgia provide the ideal adventure for young families wanting to experience the thrills of whitewater rafting.
With its gentle current and peaceful surroundings, tubing down the Toccoa River is a relaxing way to enjoy quality time together and take in the natural beauty of the region. As you drift downriver, you’ll pass verdant forests, towering rock formations, and tranquil pools perfect for taking a refreshing dip. With no rapids to contend with, children as young as 5 can join in the fun.
Water release on the Toccoa River is controlled by TVA, with the 1.5-mile float trip taking up to one hour under natural conditions. After water is released, everything moves much faster and these Blue Ridge rafting experiences may be as short as 20 minutes. No matter how long it takes, floating the Toccoa has become a cherished summer tradition for many families in the Blue Ridge Mountains region.
