The best Georgia whitewater rafting is close to Blue Ridge. The Ocoee River is in Polk County Tennessee adjacent to Fannin County Georgia. Just two hours north of Atlanta and barely across the Georgia State line the best whitewater in the Southeast awaits.
Get off that couch and into a raft for some wholesome activity and outstanding whitewater river rafting action. The Ocoee River is entirely inside of only one county! This is because the river’s name changes as it enters Polk County Tennessee from Fannin County Georgia. Later it merges with and becomes the Hiwassee river while still in Polk County Tennessee. Upstream of the Georgia-Tennessee state line the river is named the Toccoa River. Toccoa comes from the Cherokee word “Tagwâ′hĭ,” meaning beautiful.
The entirety of the Taccoa-Ocoee river was located in the Cherokee Nation until the late 1830s. Thus Ocoee comes from the Cherokee word “U-wa-go-hi,” meaning apricot place. The wild apricot is the common name for Passiflora incarnata also know and passion flower or fruit. Of course this makes since considering the Ocoee River is located within the Cherokee National Forest. However today the Ocoee River is best known for whitewater rafting rather than wild fruit. However many wild fruits still grow in the gorge the Ocoee has carved over thousands of years.
The Toccoa-Ocoee river begins its journey deep in the Chattahoochee National Forest with headwaters near Suches Georgia. Numerous small trout streams flow together to form the Upper Toccoa. Those creeks include Coopers Creek, Rock Creek, and Noontula creek. This water flows unimpeded until it reaches the dam forming Lake Blue Ridge. The lake is located in Fannin County near Blue Ridge Georgia. This Dam is about 15 miles south of the Tennessee state line and is the first of four dams and power generating facilities located on the Toccoa-Ocoee river.
Just below Ocoee #3 Dam the fun really starts with a ten-mile section whitewater on the Ocoee River. Just minutes from Blue Ridge Georgia this is the best whitewater near Atlanta.
The Ocoee River the best ten miles of whitewater rafting near Atlanta. While there are other rivers this one has the best class III and class IV continuous fun. Located minutes from Blue Ridge Georgia rafting make a great part of your family vacation or weekend getaway.
Come experience the difference rafting with Paddleman at Ocoee Adventure Center. We offer premium rafting trips on the Middle Ocoee and the full ten miles of Ocoee River whitewater. All of our trips feature time for river play and surfing. We don’t rush you down the river like the other guys. Get the most for your rafting dollars at OAC. So go rafting with the best Ocoee rafting company.