Ocoee River: Whitewater Rafting Adventure & Local Guides

Summary

Whitewater thrills and laughter in Tennessee’s Cherokee forest

You’ll suit up with your guide at Ocoee River’s edge, paddle through roaring Class III & IV rapids in Cherokee National Forest, and share laughs with your crew along 5.5 wild miles. Includes all gear and return transport—plus those small moments between rapids you’ll remember long after you dry off.

What’s the experience like?

Li, our guide, grinned as he handed me a helmet — “You’ll want this,” he joked, and I honestly believed him after seeing the river. The Ocoee River looked loud even before we got close, that kind of rushing sound that makes your stomach do a little flip. There was this faint smell of pine and sunscreen everywhere, and I could hear someone from another group nervously laughing while we squeezed into our life jackets. I tried to adjust mine and nearly got my hair stuck in the buckle — Li just winked and said, “You’re ready.”

The bus ride to the put-in was short but kind of jittery; everyone kept glancing at each other like, “Are we actually doing this?” The safety briefing was quick but serious — Li made sure we knew what to do if we fell out (I tried not to picture it), but he also kept things light. He pointed out a hawk circling above the trees as we carried our paddles down to the water. The river itself felt colder than I expected when I dipped my hand in, sharp against the humid Tennessee air.

I don’t remember every rapid by name, but there were moments when all I could see was white spray and feel the raft buck sideways under us. At one point, water slapped me right in the face — tasted like rocks and summer — and I heard someone behind me whoop so loud it echoed off the canyon walls. We paddled through five and a half miles of rapids, dropping fast enough that my arms started to ache (in a good way). Between waves, there were these weirdly peaceful stretches where you’d just float for a second and catch your breath. I still think about that silence right before the next big drop.

Back at Adventures Unlimited, everyone looked soaked but happy — you could tell who’d swallowed river water by their hair sticking up funny. They had dry clothes waiting for us (thank god), plus photos from the trip that made us look way braver than we probably were. If you’re thinking about a day trip Ocoee River whitewater rafting from anywhere near Chattanooga or Atlanta… honestly? Just go for it. You’ll laugh more than you expect.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Whitewater rafting on Ocoee River

• Arrive at adventure resort
• Meet whitewater guide
• Get geared with PFD, helmet, paddle
• Take short bus to river put-in
• Attend safety briefing and orientation
• Raft 5.5 miles down Ocoee River
• Navigate Class III and IV rapids
• Float to take-out point
• Return to resort by bus
• Change into dry clothes
• View photos of adventure

Top questions

How long is the Ocoee River whitewater rafting tour?

The rafting covers 5.5 miles on the Middle Ocoee section and lasts almost two hours on the water.

Is experience required for rafting on the Ocoee River?

No experience is necessary; guides provide full instruction and safety briefing before starting.

What is included in the Ocoee River adventure?

Your day includes all whitewater gear: PFD (life jacket), helmet, paddle, plus return transport to base.

What age do you have to be for this tour?

The minimum age for participants is 12 years old.

Where does the tour start?

The adventure begins at Adventures Unlimited resort in Ocoee, Tennessee.

Is lunch provided on this tour?

No lunch is included; only gear and transport are provided.

Are photos available after rafting?

Yes, photos from your whitewater adventure are available at the end of your trip.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at Adventures Unlimited resort for check-in.

What’s included

Your day includes all whitewater rafting gear—life jacket, helmet, paddle—and roundtrip transport between Adventures Unlimited resort and the river put-in so you can focus on paddling (and maybe laughing at yourself) instead of logistics.