So, you’ve heard the hype about rafting the Ocoee River and want to give it a try? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve created a beginner’s guide to whitewater rafting on the Ocoee just for you! In this blog, we’ll talk about how to make your reservation (if you haven’t already), what to wear (and what not to wear), trip logistics, and more.
Choosing Your Adventure
Thankfully, you’ve already accomplished the most challenging task for beginning rafting customers: finding a reputable, reliable, and entertaining company to go rafting with—us! Now, it’s time to choose your rafting adventure: the Middle Ocoee or the Full Ocoee. Both sections are available for ages 12 or older and include safety gear and transportation to and from the river.
The Middle Ocoee trip is the most popular adventure we offer, and it’s one of the most popular whitewater rafting sections in the United States! This 5-mile section is excellent for adventure-seekers of all levels. Filled with over 20 rapids ranging from class II to class IV, the Middle Ocoee is all about fast, splashy fun. This trip lasts about 3.5 hours from when you hop on the bus to head to the river to when you return to our outpost.
The Full Ocoee trip includes both the Upper and Middle Ocoee sections. This trip is 10 miles of whitewater and takes about 6 hours to complete. Starting with the Upper Ocoee section, this trip is for the thrill-seekers! Guests get to paddle several class IV rapids as well as the Olympic course, which was used for kayaking and canoeing events in the 1996 Olympics. Then, after a catered lunch (cost included), the Middle Ocoee makes up the second half of this trip.
Making Your Reservation
Once you decide which adventure is perfect for you and your group, it’s time to make the reservation. Here at Ocoee Adventure Center, you can book by calling 1-888-723-8622 or clicking this link: Rafting Trips – Ocoee Adventure Center. We also highly recommend adding Cancelation Insurance to your reservation to help protect your payment and cover you if any unexpected circumstances arise!
WHAT TO WEAR
We suggest wearing lightweight, quick-dry clothes to keep you cool and comfortable during your trip. For your legs, we recommend athletic shorts or swim trunks/shorts for the hot summer days and leggings or quick-dry hiking pants for cooler days. Sun shirts, fishing shirts, or rash guards protect your torso from the sun. And while some folks prefer to go shirtless or wear bikini tops for rafting, a tank top or t-shirt will help prevent any uncomfortable rubbing/chafing from the PFD (sometimes called a lifejacket) that we provide for you to wear.
The best shoes for whitewater rafting are tennis shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, sports sandals with a heel strap (Chacos/Tevas/Keens), or water shoes. Our helmets can usually accommodate baseball hats worn underneath them to keep the sun off your face, and sunglasses with a strap that goes around the neck to keep them secure can be great to minimize any glare off the water.
What Not to Wear
denim jeans, hiking boots, flip-flops, hoodies/crewneck sweatshirts, purses, backpacks, Crocs (sadly, sport mode won’t keep these on your feet), jewelry that you would be devastated to lose, waterproof phone bags around your neck, prom dresses, tuxedos, or cowboy hats.
Trip Logistics
With all the basic information taken care of, here’s a quick rundown of what to expect once you arrive at our outpost!
First, we ask that you arrive at our outpost no later than 15 minutes before your trip time. So, if your trip is at 1:00 PM, you’ll need to arrive by 12:45 PM. Many customers coming from Alabama or the Nashville, TN, area don’t realize we are in Eastern Standard Time, so don’t forget! Once you arrive, you’ll follow the signs to our check-in area. Pro tip: Complete your waivers online for a faster, smoother check-in process.
Many folks ask whether we have lockers or cubbies for your personal items; we do not. Your car is your locker, but your keys (and cars) will be kept under the watchful eye of our River Manager, Cam, until you return. At your trip time, the lead raft guide (Trip Leader) will call roll to make sure everyone on the trip is present. Then, you’ll receive all necessary gear (helmet, paddle, and PFD) and listen to a safety briefing before hopping on the bus for a short 10-minute ride to the put-in.
Once you’ve arrived at the put-in, you’ll meet your guide and head down the river! Finally, one of our buses will meet the group at the takeout and drive you back to the outpost where you can take a warm shower, grab some souvenirs, or both!
We hope this guide helps prepare you for your best summer adventure yet! If you have any questions, call us at 1-888-723-8622 or reach out to us on social media: Ocoee Adventure Center on Instagram, Ocoee Adventure Center on TikTok, and Ocoee Adventure Center on Facebook.