Listed in the top 10 best whitewater rivers in the country, the Ocoee River is a great spot to spend your summer weekends in Tennessee. In 1996, it was home to the Olympic Whitewater Competition, and with the summer games beginning soon, this makes a great day trip from almost anywhere in the state. The river has closely spaced rapids offering rafting trips that vary in degrees of challenge levels. The Middle Ocoee offers the most rafting activity and is perfect for half day trips down some of the rapids like Vegematic, Powerhouse and Tablesaw. There are more than 20 companies that operate guided tours on the river, but we suggest you check out Trip Advisors top rated companies of Cherokee Rafting, Outdoor Adventure Rafting (OAR) and Quest Expeditions to be your guide.
A day of paddling down the rapids will be sure to work up your appetite, so stop into Ocoee Dam Deli & Diner. A family owned and operated restaurant in the Ocoee River Valley, they serve up some delicious food with a side of great service and southern hospitality. Try their Blow-Me-Down Dam BBQ sandwich or one of their Dam Burgers, but make sure to save room for a dessert like the 4x4 Brownie smothered in warm Reese’s Peanut Butter—YUM! And make sure you stick around for their live Bluegrass music every Saturday night starting at 7pm.
So before heading out for this adventure, we want to make sure you are looking your best. Check out the latest TriStar Adventures gear for your rafting trip down the Ocoee!
Ashleigh Gallop is a guest blogger from Chattanooga. Follow her on Instagram, @as_drake