Carolina Ocoee

Ocoee River Wild Flowers

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Ruths Golden Aster growing on rock cropping in the Ocoee River.

Ruth’s Golden Aster –  Ocoee River Wild Flower Spotlight

As you raft down the Ocoee River keep and eye out for the Ruth’s Golden Aster (Pityopsis ruthii). This gorgeous little flower only grows along the Ocoee River and the Hiwassee River in Polk County, TN.  

Preferring full sun this wild flower grows in the rock cracks and crevasses along the rivers edge and on the rock croppings in the middle of the river.  The Flowers grow on stems about 8 to 12 inches tall and have narrow green leaves that have silver hairs covering them. They bloom a brilliant yellow, August thru September, so they are easy to spot while rafting most any section of the Ocoee River. 

Ruth’s Golden Aster is on the federal endangered species list due to habitat loss and the encroachment of competing plant species. Efforts to save the flower are underway and include greenhouse propagation, habitat preservation and removal of the competing vegetation.

One of the best spots to see the aster is on the Middle Ocoee Rafting Trip. Just past Double-Suck Rapid there is a rock island in the middle of the river.  A plaque on the stone island informs guests about the rare wild flowers and warns guests not to walk or pick the flowers as part of the conservation effort. 

If you see this wonderful specimen on the river please take only pictures and help us get the word out about this native wildflower. 

Golden Aster blooming on the Middle Ocoee River.

Ocoee River Wildflower

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Lady Slipper Orchid - Ocoee River Wildflower

Lady Slipper Orchid – Ocoee River Wildflower Spotlight

The lady slipper orchid is one the most beautiful wildflowers found in the Cherokee National Forest. It blooms May thur early July and is dotted through out the Ocoee River George.

Growing 8 to 12 inches tall this orchid is easily identified by its unique appearance. Its petals are shaped like a bulging pouch that resembles a lady’s slipper.  The blooms can last up to six weeks and are a blush pink color.

These rare plants require acidic soil so the best place to see them is near stands of pines trees. This makes the hiking trails around the Ocoee White Water Center a great place to look for them. There are trail options for both beginners and experienced hikers. Trail guides can be found  inside the Ocoee White Water Center.

Lady slippers are slow growers and can take up to seven years to fully mature.  They also require a special fungus for proper development and nutrition so if you see one of these beautiful ladies take only pictures and help us spread the word about this amazing wildflower.

Ocoee River Championships

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Ocoee River Championships

Ocoee River Chamionships

 

The first (of hopefully many) Ocoee River Championships (ORC) are going to be held on the Olympic section of the Ocoee river.  On August 24th – 26th of this year the Olympic section of the Ocoee will host a new kind of whitewater event reminiscent of what this section of the river was created for. Within these three days there will be world class contests in slalom, freestyle, downriver, boater cross, squirt, SUP, rafting, and ducky cross.

For the first time in nearly two decades the Olympic venue at the Ocoee Whitewater Center will cater to a world class whitewater event. This section of river was designed and altered for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games to host the whitewater events. Since then has the river bed has been dry, only running on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day for whitewater rafting.

This event will be much like a festival with outdoor vendors, food, and awesome whitewater. So unplug and bring the family to the Ocoee river to see some of the top names in our sport battle to be the best at the first ever Ocoee River Championships.

To get more information about the Ocoee River Championship check out there web page.

5 Questions You Should Ask When Booking A White Water Rafting Trip

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5 Questions You Should Ask When Picking A White Water Rafting Company

When choosing a rafting company to go rafting with it can be difficult to find any differences between outfitters. Let me tell you though that there is a wide variety of trips that are offered. Not every company puts the same attention to quality, service, experience and safety. So here is a short list of questions you should ask for the answers to when picking a rafting company.

1. HOW MANY ROOKIES DO YOU HAVE THIS SEASON?

What you are wanting to know is how many first year guides does this outfitter have and what are the chances that you will get one of these guides. In our industry this is called the raft guide lottery. You don’t want a new guide learning how to run rapids with you as the guinea pig. There are companies that are mostly new guides and then there are some with none.

2. HOW MUCH TIME ARE WE GOING TO SPEND ON THE RIVER?

This is an important question. On the river that we operate on, the Ocoee River, there are outfitters that give a 45 minute trip and then there are companies that give a 2 hour trip. That can be over a 100% more time on the river. When asking this question you will want to emphasize time on the water and not the whole trip time.

3. HOW FAR IS YOUR OUTPOST FROM THE RIVER?

It is better when an outfitter is close to the river. This gives you a shorter bus ride to the river and allows for more of your trip to be spent on the river. You should look for a company within 10 miles of the river you are rafting. There are companies that have over an hour ride just to get to the river.

4. WILL YOU GET PICTURES OF OUR TRIP AND AT HOW MANY RAPIDS?

Every company should get pictures of you going down the river and if they don’t you should be worried. What you really want to know is about how many pictures and at how many different locations. Also you will want to know if those pictures are going to be available for you to view and purchase when you get back to the outpost.

5. WILL WE GET TO SURF AND PLAY ON THE RIVER?

There are two parts to this question. First does the company allow playing and surfing on the river and second does the company have guides that can play and surf in the rapids. There are outfitters that strictly do not allow anything other than a straight down the river trip. Avoid these companies, there is a lot of fun that can be had in white water and you want to experience all of it. The companies that do allow playing and surfing don’t always have guides that can do it. So what you want to look for is a outfitter that allows playing and that has highly experienced guides.

We hope that this list will help you in finding the best outfitter on the rivers you are hoping to raft.

Happy Rafting!

Top 10 Reasons to Go Rafting with Carolina Ocoee

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Top 10 Reasons to Go Rafting with Carolina Ocoee

Top 10 Reasons to Go Rafting with Carolina Ocoee

  1. The Best Guides on The River

    Our guides are some of the best on the Ocoee River, with a average of over 10 years of experience on the Ocoee River alone. They work hard to give every guest the best river trip possible.

  2. Family Owned

    We are a family owned and operated whitewater outfitter. Rafting with us helps a small mountain family and not a shareholders stock price. We are directly involved in the day to day workings and we love what we do.

  3. Small Trip Focused

    We are a small outfitter with a focus on running high quality trips. Our trips are typically no more than 6 boats big. This allows us to get to know our guests and give them the right trip for them, and not just a generic trip.

  4. Highest Quality Equipment

    We use and maintain only the highest quality gear and equipment. In our industry keeping and maintaining the right gear, in good condition, is incredibly important. We are the only outfitter on the Ocoee river that exclusively uses Hyside rafts (the most durable and maneuverable raft available).

    *Always be wary of a outfitter with old worn out equipment.*

  5. Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff

    From the time you call to make a reservation to when you leave us after your trip you will find our team helpful, knowledgeable and courteous. We love whitewater rafting and are excited to share that with everyone we can.

  6. More Whitewater

    We schedule for more time on the river than the average outfitter. This means more time rafting, surfing, sightseeing, laughing, splashing, and having the time of your life.

  7. Best Location

    We are located between Ducktown and the Ocoee Gorge. This puts us only a few miles from the Ocoee Gorge so you have a short bus ride to and from the river. As well as being convenient to Atlanta, Knoxville, and the beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

  8. Safety Focused

    We maintain a high focus on providing the safest trip possible. We work hard to balance safety and fun in a responsible way. While we cannot absolutely insure your safety we take every opportunity to lessen the risks without weakening your experience.

  9. We Love Whitewater

    It is that simple. We do this because we love it and want to share it with everyone. When we are not working on the river we are out playing on the river. This is not a job for us, but a passion.

  10. It Is A Lot Of FUN!

    Whitewater rafting is fun, exciting, and can be life changing. Come share this adventure with us.

    *Warning whitewater rafting can be addicting. We assume all responsibility for this.*

Get The Most Out Of Your Trip To The Ocoee River

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Ocoee River Area

The Ocoee River located in southeastern Tennessee in the Cherokee National Forest is the most popular whitewater destination in the country.

White water rafting down the Ocoee River is an experience like no other with over 20 named rapids over 10 miles, creating a one of a kind experience.

Like most hidden treasures, the Ocoee River is typically thought of as located in the middle of nowhere, with nothing outside of rafting to do. Well this is just not true.

This article will highlight all the great things to see, experience, and taste in the Ocoee Area.

 

Seeing and Experiencing the Ocoee River Area

1. Mountain Bike the Tanasi Trails

Located in the area around the Upper Ocoee is a group of awesome mountain biking trails with something for all skill levels. Park at the Ocoee Whitewater Center (where the 1996 Olympic canoe and kayak events where held) and go into the welcome center for information on the trails and area. The Tanasi Trail System offers short and long runs as well as easy to difficult rides. Can’t bring your bike, then go checkout the guys at Cycle South (423) 548-1122 in Copperhill, TN.

2. Rock Creek Gorge Waterfalls Hike

A moderate trail hike that takes you in to the Rock Creek Gorge Scenic Area. The Rock Creek trail is spotted with several waterfalls and creek crossings.  At only 1.6 miles (each way) it makes for a easy half day hike.

3. Swimming at Blue Hole

During the summer the upper section of the Ocoee River only releases on the weekends, so on the weekdays the area is spotted with little swimming holes. Up river of the Ocoee Whitewater Center is a trail that follows the river to a large swimming hole called Blue Hole. The water is crystal clear with rock croppings to jump off of and under water tunnels to swim through.

4. Fish The Toccoa River 

The Toccoa River flows from Blue Ridge, GA to Copperhill, TN then turns into the Ocoee River. Like all mountain streams, trout are the game and fly fishing the choice method to catch them. The area from Horseshoe Bend Park in McCaysville, GA down is not fished as heavily as the rest of the river making it the perfect area to catch fish. Want a guide to get the most out of fishing the Toccoa? Contact the guys at  Blue Ridge Fly Fishing.

5. White Water Rafting on the Ocoee River

Most likely this is why you are in the Ocoee River area, but are you going to get the most out of your trip. The full river trip is by far the best way to go, with 10 miles of white water and a riverside lunch in between. Sunday is typically a slower day allowing for a more personal trip. When ready to book your trip contact Carolina Ocoee.

 

Where To Eat

1. The Copper Station

Located in Ducktown, TN this little sandwich shop is doing it right. Serving up awesome pizzas, hot and cold subs, paninis, and salads. All bread is baked each morning and everything is made to order. Copper Station is by far the most popular spot to eat with the guides at Carolina. For something special ask for the Carolina Special, it is a chicken florentine pizza with buffalo sauce and bacon added (not on the menu, you must ask for it).

2. El Rio Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

Located in Copperhill,  El Rio serves up awesome Mexican food in a great atmosphere. When we are looking for a place to eat well and catch up on the world of sports, El Rio wins every time. As one of the only places that serves alcohol, it is the best place to wet your whistle.

 

Where to Stay

1. Ocoee Nights Cottages

Nestled right outside of the Cherokee National Forest, Ocoee Nights is conveniently located to everything in the Ocoee River gorge. Locally owned by Olympic kayakers Joe Jacobi and Lisa Jacobi who live and play in the area. They have two rustic historical cabins with lots of charm, that have a real home away from home feel.

2. Persimmon Creek Campground

A campground farm hybrid with lots of charm located a short drive from the river and trails. Camping near the Ocoee River is a great way to be fully immersed in the outdoor experience this area provides. Persimmon Creek Campground offers hook ups for RV’s as well as sites for tent campers. The owners put a lot into there property and it shows from the duck and fish filled pond to the on-site milled wood structures.

3. Mountain Escapes

If you are looking for a vacation home with awesome views and and all the modern convinces, these are the guys to go with. With lots of options in the Ocoee area, as well as the Blue Ridge area, they can help find the perfect fit for you. Mountain Escapes is headquartered in Ducktown, TN and takes a lot of pride in their local town and area activities.

 

For more lodging options in the Ocoee River area check out our lodging page.

 

We hope this will make your trip to the Ocoee more fruitful and show you why we love this area so much.

 

 

9 Questions Guides Get All The Time

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9 questions river guides get all the time

9 Questions River Guides Get All The Time

As guides, we are taking people down the river everyday and most of them have never been rafting before. We get a lot of questions. This is a list of some of the questions we get all the time. Some are pretty funny and some border common sense.

1. Are we going to get wet?

wet

2. Do I have to paddle?

paddle

3. Do we go rafting if it is raining?

rain

4. Can we run the dam?

dam

5. Can I take my phone with me on the raft?

phone

6. Can I fall out of the raft?

swim

7. Does the river run in a circle?

circle

8. Do we have to wear a PFD (personal flotation device)?

pfd

9. Does the raft run on a track?

Tracks

 

What White Water Rafting River Is Best For Me? (Infographic)

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It can be hard to decide which white water river to go rafting on?

So, we put together this infographic comparing three of the south’s most popular dam released rivers to help you decide.

Best 2

Which river do you think is best for you?

Presidential Quotes on Rivers and Nature

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Here are a few presidential quotes on rivers and our environment to celebrate this Presidents Day. In searching for these quotes is seemed that our waters, lands, and wild places have always been a love of our leaders (although some more than others).

1. “… the time has also come to identify and preserve free flowing stretches of our great rivers before growth and development make the beauty of the unspoiled waterway a memory.”

   – Lyndon Johnson, Message on Natural Beauty

 

2. “Clean air, clean water, open spaces — these should once again be the birthright of every American.”

   – Richard Nixon, Annual Message to Congress on the State of the Union, 1970

 

3. “The spiritual uplift, the goodwill, cheerfulness and optimism that accompanies every expedition to the outdoors is the peculiar spirit that our people need in times of suspicion and doubt…No other organized joy has values comparable to the outdoor experience.”

   – Herbert Hoover, Speech to National Conference on Outdoor Recreation, 1925

 

4. “I see an America whose rivers and valleys and lakes hills and streams and plains the mountains over our land and nature’s wealth deep under the earth are protected as the rightful heritage of all the people.”

   – Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

5. “The land, the earth God gave to man for his home … should never be the possession of any man, corporation, (or) society … any more than the air or water.”

“Laws change; people die; the land remains.”

   – Abraham Lincoln

lincoln

 

6. “An unspoiled river is a very rare thing in this Nation today. Their flow and vitality have been harnessed by dams and too often they have been turned into open sewers by communities and by industries. It makes us all very fearful that all rivers will go this way unless somebody acts now to try to balance our river development.”

   – Lyndon Johnson, remarks on signing the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, October 2, 1968

 

7. “The supreme reality of our time is … the vulnerability of our planet.”

“National parks and reserves are an integral aspect of intelligent use of natural resources. It is the course of wisdom to set aside an ample portion of our natural resources as national parks and reserves, thus ensuring that future generations may know the majesty of the earth as we know it today.”

   – John F. Kennedy

 

8. “Leave it as it is . . . The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.” 

   – Theodore Roosevelt

 

9. “As we peer into society’s future, we – you and I, and our government – must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage.”

   – Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address to the Nation, January 17, 1961

 

10. “The public must retain control of the great waterways. It is essential that any permit to obstruct them for reasons and on conditions that seem good at the moment should be subject to revision when changed conditions demand.”

   – Teddy Roosevelt, 1908

Teddy

 

11. “We have too long treated the natural world as an adversary rather than as a life-sustaining gift from the Almighty. If man has the genius to build, which he has, he must also have the ability and the responsibility to preserve.”

   – Gerald R. Ford, Remarks at dedication of National Environmental Research Center, July 3, 1975

 

12. “Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”

    – Theodore Roosevelt

 

13. “There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer.”

   – Calvin Coolidge, Speech given by telephone to a Boy Scouts gathering in New York, July 25, 1924

 

14. “We can no longer afford to consider air and water common property, free to be abused by anyone without regard to the consequences. Instead, we should begin now to treat them as scarce resources, which we are no more free to contaminate than we are free to throw garbage into our neighbor’s yard.”
   – Richard Nixon, Annual Message to Congress on the State of the Union, 1970

 

15. “If we’ve learned any lessons during the past few decades, perhaps the most important is that preservation of our environment is not a partisan challenge; it’s common sense. Our physical health, our social happiness, and our economic well-being will be sustained only by all of us working in partnership as thoughtful, effective stewards of our natural resources.”

   – Ronald Reagan, Remarks on signing annual report of Council on Environmental Quality, July 11, 1984

Reagan Quote

 

Hope you enjoyed this, on this Presidents Day. Please feel free to add in the comments your favorite presidential quote on the greatness of our country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Ocoee River

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1. Only 11% of the Ocoee River has whitewater for Ocoee River rafting.

Ocoee River Area

For the 93 miles that the Ocoee River flows the sections below Ocoee Dam #3 and Ocoee Dam #2 are the only parts of the river that have substantial whitewater rapids. There are most likely more rapids that where submerged by the creations of the lakes behind these dams.

 

2. The middle Ocoee River was dry until September 1976.

Dry Ocoee River

The the water on the middle section of the Ocoee River was diverted down a five mile wooden flume to a powerhouse down stream to make hydroelectric power. In September of 1976 a rock slide heavily damaged the flume line allowing water to consistently flow down the river bed for the first time since the Dam was constructed in 1913.

 

3. The Ocoee River is the only natural river used in a canoe and kayak Olympic games event.

1996 Ocoee Olympic River

For the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, GA the Ocoee River was used to hold the whitewater canoe and kayak events. To make this possible a 1,640 foot section of the upper Ocoee was narrowed by two-thirds to increase the current and create eddies and drops. This section of the river offers one of the most exciting rides on the Ocoee River, highlighted by the last two rapids “Godzilla” and “Humongous” which are back to back.

 

4. The middle section of the Ocoee River is the most popular whitewater rafting in the country.

Ocoee River is the most popular in the country

Consistently the middle section of the Ocoee River is floated by more people than any other whitewater river in the country. With over 200,000 commercial guests rafting, and 10,000 privately boating, the middle Ocoee provides a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people.

 

5. It took an act of congress to get water for white water rafting on the Ocoee.

 

Ocoee river flume line

In 1983, the completion of the repaired flume line was getting ready to come back on line and water was set to disappear from the river bed once again. Congress acted to save the whitewater recreation that rose while the flume was being fixed. An agreement was negotiated to provide 116 days of water release for the next 35 years, with the outfitters paying a total cost recovery for all power lost to TVA.

 

6. Ocoee is a Cherokee word meaning wild apricot.

passion flower ocoeeThe word Ocoee is Cherokee for Passiflora incarnata which is commonly known as wild apricot or maypop. The Cherokee people knew the Ocoee River gorge as the “apricot place” for all the beautiful wild apricot vines that once grew there.

 

7. Only 40% of the Ocoee River is called the Ocoee River.

40% Ocoee - 60% Toccoa

The Ocoee River is only known as the Ocoee for the 37 miles that it runs in Tennessee. The 56 miles of river in Georgia are named the Toccoa River. The Toccoa section of the river is quite calm giving way to activities like tubing and fishing.

 

8. From source to mouth the Ocoee River drops 1,370 feet in elevation.

Ocoee River Elevation Drop

For the 93 miles that the Ocoee/Toccoa River flows from the confluence of Canada and Mauldin creeks to the Hiwassee River it drops from 2,120 ft of elevation to 750 feet. The upper Ocoee section has a average of 50 feet per mile drop for its five miles.

 

9. The middle Ocoee River has no recorded class IV rapids during normal water levels.

Ocoee Rapids

The current scale for rating rapids was created by a non-profit group called American Whitewater. According To their website the middle section of the Ocoee does not have any class IV rapids under normal water levels. They have “Broken Nose”,”Double Suck”and “Table Saw” rapids classified as class III+ and 15 other rapids rated as solid class III.

 

10. The Ocoee River is currently not scheduled to have a water release after the 2018 season.

Save the Ocoee

The agreement between the outfitters and TVA is set to run out after the 2018 season. As of now an agreement is trying to be made so that there is a future past this point, it may take another act of congress. Please help us procure the Ocoee River past 2018 by visiting Save the Ocoee to see how you can help.