Five Helpful Tips for Rafting on the Ocoee River

Some of our guests escape everyday life and arrive at our cabin rentals ready to leave behind the noise and stress of the city. They want the beauty and quiet of the mountains and the woods. Other guests rent cabins in Blue Ridge, GA because they are seeking the adventure, exercise and fun to be found in all the different sports and outdoor activities here. If you lean like a healthy dose of adrenaline with your coffee, white water rafting is just the adventure for you.

Blue Ridge and the surrounding tri-state area is the perfect place to try out some of the best white water rafting around. The Chattooga River, 80 miles northeast from Blue Ridge in Long Creek, SC, runs through the undeveloped Chattooga River Gorge and is the Southeast's only designated "Wild and Scenic" river on which people are allowed to raft.  To the north of Blue Ridge, 70 miles into the North Carolina mountains, is the Nantahala River whose eight miles of Class II rapids are a favorite with families.

Twenty minutes from Blue Ridge in Ducktown, TN is the Ocoee Rafting Center, which was the site of the white water events in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and the most popular whitewater rafting in the southeast!. These nationally popular Class III and IV rapids provide an excellent day's sport for the adventure seeking white water rafter. The goal of any of these day-long outings is to relax, enjoy nature's beauty, and push yourself to accomplish something rewarding.

Here are some helpful tips to ensure you have a safe and successful ride on the rapids. These will be particularly helpful to you brave adventurers who are running the rapids for the first time.

1.Pick the BEST company with the BEST guides. SCCR recommends Raft1

• Show up at least 30 minutes before your scheduled rafting time
• Pay close attention to the guides pre-rafting instructions

2.Wear the proper gear.

• Wear a bathing suit with synthetic shorts that wick or dry quickly.
• Wear water shoes... Do not wear flip-flops.
• Bring dry clothes and a towel for after your ride.

3.Wear sun block, especially on the tops of your legs and your neck.

• Wear a baseball cap to shade your eyes and face.
• If you have sunglasses, make sure you have a strap to keep them on

4.If you do not want to lose it, do not take it.

• No cell phone
• No jewelry
• No money
• Keep these items in a safe place.

5. SAFETY FIRST. Be swim ready.

• If you fall out, your guide will help get you back in the raft.
• If you cannot swim, tell the guide BEFORE the trip starts.

All river guides are well trained and experienced. Listen to your guide and you will have a great experience and a lot of fun.

When you come home to your North Georgia cabin rental at the end of the day, warm up and soak out your bones in the hot tub, and enjoy a cold drink with your friends around the fire pit or in the rockers on your wrap around porch. Re-live your recent experiences together in one of our North GA cabin rentals, and plan for your next day of adventure in Blue Ridge!