Ocoee River Rafting Adventure: Class III/IV Whitewater with Lunch

Five miles of back-to-back class III/IV rapids, a safety briefing, and lunch served halfway down the river.

This whitewater rafting adventure on the Ocoee River near Chattanooga takes you through the middle section with a live guide, life jacket, helmet and paddle provided. You'll spend about five hours on the water across two stretches of class III/IV rapids separated by a riverside lunch with sandwiches, shrimp, fruit and drinks. Arrive 30 minutes early at the outpost to change and get oriented. The whole trip runs six hours. Minimum age is 12 and no prior rafting experience is required.

The experience

What do you actually do for six hours? You arrive at the outpost, change into river clothes, then board a bus for a scenic ride into the Cherokee National Forest. Your guide walks you through a safety orientation and gives you time to practice paddle strokes before you push off. The first half of the day takes you through named sections (Bush Gardens, Mikey's, the Blue Hole, Let's Make a Deal) building toward the Olympic section, which is 800 yards of continuous class III/IV whitewater back to back. That's where the real work starts.

At the halfway point, you pull ashore under a canopy of trees for lunch. The meal is build-your-own deli sandwiches, peel-and-eat shrimp, chips, cookies, fresh fruit, tea and lemonade: enough to refuel before the second push. After lunch, you head back onto the Middle Ocoee for five more miles of class III/IV rapids. The guide handles navigation and safety calls. You paddle, brace and hold on. Once you're back at the outpost, there's time to look at trip photos before you leave.

You'll be gone from the facility six hours total, with approximately five of those on the water. Life jacket, helmet and paddle are provided. The bus ride to the river and back is included, as is the guide's instruction and the riverside lunch. The outpost has spacious changing areas, a gift shop, and an onsite cafe if you want to eat before or after your trip. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early.

What’s included

• Life jacket, helmet and paddle.
• a live guide leading the full trip.
• scenic bus transport to the Cherokee National Forest and back.
• a complete safety orientation and practice time before launching.
• riverside lunch with build-your-own sandwiches, shrimp, fruit, chips, cookies, tea and lemonade at the halfway point.
• time to view trip photos after your return.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 22 May 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 54

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Quest Expeditions

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide managing navigation and safety while you focus on paddling, plus round-trip transport and meals included rather than coordinating those separately.

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Top questions

What does the Ocoee River whitewater feel like? How rough is class III/IV?

Class III/IV rapids are continuous and technical, with waves, holes and drops that require active paddling and quick reactions. The Olympic section is 800 yards of back-to-back class III/IV, and the second half of the trip is five miles of the same. You're not sitting still. You're paddling through it with the guide calling commands.

Do I need rafting experience to book this trip?

No experience is necessary. The guide gives a full safety orientation and practice time before you get on the water, so you learn what you need as you go. Minimum age is 12.

What's included in the riverside lunch?

Lunch includes build-your-own deli sandwiches, peel-and-eat shrimp, chips, cookies, fresh fruit, tea and lemonade, served under trees at the halfway point on the river.

How much of the six hours is actually on the water?

Approximately five of the six hours are spent on the river. The remaining time covers your arrival, orientation, the bus ride to and from the Cherokee National Forest, and a photo stop after you return to the outpost.

What do I need to bring or wear?

Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and bring a change for afterward. Life jacket, helmet and paddle are all provided. The outpost has changing areas and a gift shop on site.