Whitewater Rafting & Tubing

Whitewater Rafting in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains

Ocoee Rafting - www.ocoeerafting.com - 800-251-4800. Enjoy miles of whitewater rafting on Class III and IV rapids on one of country's premier rivers!

Rolling Thunder - www.rollingthunderriverco.com - 800-408-7238. Whitewater adventures on two premier rivers - the family-friendly Nantahala River, and the more adventurous Ocoee River.

Whitewater rafting the Nantahala River (min. age is 7 years old) - est. 90 minutes from Blue Ridge: Nantahala River Gorge is only 70 miles north of Blue Ridge, Georgia and offers a great ride for families and senior citizens. This adventurous river is a particular favorite of families with younger children since it is ideal for beginners. Age limit is 7 years old, or 60 lbs. The Nantahala River has become one of the most popular rivers in the Southeast for family rafting adventures and group outings. It is the perfect introduction to the sport of whitewater rafting. It offers Class II rapids on an 8-mile journey through North Carolina’s gorgeous mountain terrain.

Whitewater rafting the Ocoee River (min. age is 12 years old) - 20 minutes from Blue Ridge: www.ocoeerafting.com - 800-251-4800
With big, closely spaced rapids, the Ocoee River is one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the nation. Chosen as the venue for the whitewater events of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, the Ocoee River provides a continuous stretch of Class III and IV rapids. Only 20 minutes from Blue Ridge, located in Ducktown, TN.

Whitewater rafting the Chattooga River - located in Long Creek, SC, approx. 80 miles from Blue Ridge http://www.southeasternexpeditions.com/
One of the wildest and most beautiful whitewater rivers in the country, the Chattooga was the first river in the Southeast to be designated "National Wild and Scenic" by Congress for it’s rich Native American history, excellent scenery and numerous recreational opportunities, and was used as a location for the movie Deliverance. Offering many degrees and levels of whitewater adventure, from Mini Class (min. age 8 years old) for families and seniors to Section III trips (min. age 10 years old), used as location for the movie Deliverance, to Section IV trips (min. age 13 years old) where you will experience "house-sized" boulders, sheer cliffs, and waterfalls" for the more experienced whitewater rafter, there is adventurous fun for everyone at every level!

Tubing:

Float down the Toccoa River in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains on a tube and enjoy the cool, clean water. Tube rentals are available as well as transportation to pick you up at the end of your ride.

Our favorite is The Toccoa Valley Campground (706 838-4317) which operates a popular tubing operation during summer months. It’s on Aska Rd. Look for the CLEAN pink tubes! They also have rafts and the popular funyaks!! www.ToccoaValleyCampground.com

Toccoa River Adventures in McCaysville, GA is just a short drive from Blue Ridge up Hwy 5. Drive to McCaysville, GA and turn left at the main light and you’ll see signs to their shop. Toccoa River Adventures offers tubing rentals, funyaks and many more water sports rentals to enjoy on the Toccoa River. The lower Toccoa River ride is different from the Aska trips on the upper Toccoa River, so you need to give this a try. In addition to tubing, they offer canoeing, kayaking, funyaks and rafting. Plus they have a boat store to buy, sell and trade canoes, drift boats, rafts and kayaks. Make sure you ask them about their group rate specials and they accept all major credit cards for your convenience. 340 Toccoa Ave, McCaysville, GA 30555. 706-492-5280

Rolling Thunder River Company: Tubing, canoeing, kayaking, relaxing on the gentle and easy Toccoa River. The Toccoa River is perfect for those people who just want to relax and enjoy the gentle flow of the water. Colorful inner tubes, kayaks and canoes provide a cool and refreshing way to have fun and relax on a hot summer day on the Toccoa River. www.RollingThunderRiverCo.com

Kayak and Canoe Clinics:

There are several local instructional clinics to help you improve your skills. Most of the clinic links below have an introductory/beginner, intermediate, and advance program to help all experience levels.

Right here on the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge! - You cannot get any closer than Canoe and Kayak Ventures at 706-455-7972. They are within minutes of our cabin rentals. The Toccoa River feeds north and becomes the Ocoee River, so you will enjoy this local kayak and canoe clinic option as you make your way to the other nearby clinics to improve your skills while having a blast!
Ducktown, TN – 20 minutes from Blue Ridge - Kayak Clinic is held on a variety of local rivers depending upon the participant’s skill level. The kayak clinics provide instruction on a variety of class I to IV water which is all very close to the facility. The skilled and fun instructors will select the water class to suit any ability level and the boat/equipment is included along with transportation to and from the river. So call Ocoee Adventure Center to make your reservation 1-888-723-8622 or click the following link to learn more about the kayak clinics. Ocoee kayak clinics

On the Chattooga River in Clayton, GA – 55 minutes from Blue Ridge -Located in East Clayton, GA - Canoe or Kayak clinics available on most weekends for around $195 and you must be over 12 years of age. Southeastern Expeditions, Inc. Phone: 1-800-868-7238_Southeastern Expeditions Kayak or Canoe Clinics

Kayaking and Canoeing:

North Georgia’s rivers provide some awesome paddling adventures for canoeing and kayaking. The river difficulty ranges from the tame Class 1 to challenging Class V. Kayak and Canoe enthusiasts can enjoy everything in between like Class II moderate rapids, clear passages and a few small drops to Class III with moderately difficult rapids with large and irregular waves. Class IV is intense and powerful and Class V is for the expert only.

Ocoee – is only 20 minutes from Blue Ridge and used for the 1996 Summer Olympics kayaking events. The Toccoa River below Lake Blue Ridge dam turns into the Ocoee River once you cross into Tennessee. The Ocoee is a paddler’s paradise and offers challenging whitewater rapids to satisfy everyone.

Cartecay – is 20 minutes away in nearby Ellijay and offers intermediate and novice paddlers moderately technical flat-water to Class III whitewater rapids with plenty of areas to play in between. You can put in on either side of the bridge on Lower Cartecay Road or put in at highway 52, paddle up 1 mile to Lower Cartecay Road then take out on Stegall Mill Road.

Chattooga – famous for the dueling banjos portion of the classic “Deliverance” and some wild whitewater action (Class III and IV) between the Georgia and South Carolina border. Just 55 minutes from Blue Ridge.

Tallulah – is very technical (experts only) and only for the select few who do not mind walking down 500 steps to the put-in for a few weekends in April - November with rapid speeds of 500 to 700 cubic feet per second. Just 1 hour from Blue Ridge.