Polk County, Tn., and Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park welcome visitors to enjoy their premier rivers—the Ocoee River and Hiwassee River Blueway—for the 2022 recreation season.
The Middle Ocoee and Hiwassee River are now open for limited weekend trips. The Upper Ocoee River begins its full recreation schedule with more challenging whitewater trips this weekend starting on Saturday.
Despite the recent fire at the Ocoee Whitewater Center, fire damage did not impact any rafting operations and the Ocoee River is open for rafting. For updates about the Ocoee Whitewater Center fire and trail closings surrounding the site, visit USDA.gov for information on the Cherokee National Forest.
For more information and to plan your visit, go to ocoeecountry.com.
Media-only photos available for use with credit here.
The Ocoee River is Southeast Tennessee’s iconic whitewater river and provides recreational opportunities for paddlers of all skill levels. The river is dam-controlled at three levels creating three sections—the upper, middle and lower—each offering very different paddling options.
The Upper Ocoee provides five miles of challenging whitewater and should only be attempted by the most experienced paddlers or with a commercial rafting outfitter. The Middle Ocoee is the most popular section of the river, boasting five miles of nearly continuous Class III-IV whitewater. After the river spills into Parksville Lake, it calms down for tubing and relaxing paddles. The Upper Ocoee River begins its recreation schedule on Saturday, May 7, and will run on Saturdays and Sundays until Sept. 10.
The Upper Ocoee River runs parallel with a section of the historic Old Copper Road, a 47-mile road that was constructed in 1853 to connect the copper mines in Southeast Tennessee’s Copper Basin to the railroad terminus in Cleveland, Tenn. The 12 miles that wind through the Ocoee Gorge is known as the Ocoee National Forest Scenic Byway, the nation’s first National Forest Scenic Byway.
The Middle Ocoee is now open for guided trips on Saturdays and Sundays from April through Memorial Day. As of Memorial Day, May 30, it will run Thursday through Monday until Labor Day, Sept. 5. The week of September 26-30, the river will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the whitewater schedule on Saturdays and Sundays until Oct. 30.
To schedule your trip with a professional outfitter, visit TimeToRaft.com.
The Hiwassee River passes through the Cherokee National Forest and the historic Tennessee towns of Reliance, Delano, Charleston and Calhoun before emptying into the Tennessee River at Blythe’s Ferry. Along the way, the waterway winds through Southeast Tennessee’s scenic landscape and numerous cultural heritage sites, including the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park in Birchwood and the historic town of Charleston, one of the most significant Trail of Tears sites in the eastern United States. Four outfitters in the area offer raft, funyak and tube rentals between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year, with limited weekend trips available now.
Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park was the first river managed in the State Scenic River program. A 23-river mile section, from North Carolina to U.S. Hwy. 411 north of Benton, was declared a Class III partially developed river. This stretch of river offers canoeing, rafting, fishing, hiking and nature photography. A scenic portion of the John Muir trail winds through the river gorge. Numerous public access sites provide boat launch ramps.
The lower stretch of the river is flat water, perfect for SUP, paddling and motorized boats. All types of boats can navigate this stretch of the waterway, moving between many inlets and islands, and fishing is abundant in the main channel, inlets and creeks along the way. Agriculture and industry line the banks of this section of the river, with a few marinas to provide food, drinks and fuel.
Located within a short drive of the Hiwassee River, the towns of Athens, Benton, Cleveland, Decatur and Etowah offer options for dining, shopping and overnight stays in Southeast Tennessee.
SAFETY FIRST: While the Ocoee and Hiwassee rivers are exceptional whitewater settings, users should be aware that even slow-moving waters can be potentially hazardous for those unskilled and unfamiliar with the basic techniques of floating or water safety. Please use appropriate watercraft on all waterways and do your research about what to expect before launching out on any waterway.
Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park in Delano, Tenn., helps manage the Ocoee and Hiwassee rivers, as well as Gee Creek Campground and several hiking trails. For more information, contact the state park visitor center at 423-263-0050 or visit TNstateparks.com.