Whitewater rafting guide servicesAce Funyaks 423-338-0100Adventures Unlimited 800-622-0667Big Frog Expeditions 877-776-2633Cascade Outdoors 800-338-7238Cherokee Rafting 800-451-7238Eagle Adventure Co. 800-288-3245Endless River 800-224-7238High Country 800-233-8594Nantahala Outdoor Center, 800-232-7238Ocoee Adventure Center, 888-723-8622Ocoee Inn Rafting 800-272-7238Ocoee Outdoors 800-533-7767Ocoee Rafting800-251-4800Ocoee River Rats 800-846-7287Outdoor Adventures 800-627-7636Outland Expeditions 800-827-1442Quest Expeditions 800-277-4537Raft One Whitewater 888-723-8663Rolling Thunder 800-408-7238Sunburst Adventure 800-247-8388Whitewater Express 800-676-7238Whitewater Tennessee 800-533-7767Wildwater800-451-9972Hiwassee River float servicesHigh Country Adventure, 800-233-8594Hiwassee Scenic Outfitters800-338-8133Ocoee Outdoors 800-533-7767Webbs, Float Service 888-368-7468– Compiled by Jim Tanner
When most people think about life on the water in the Chattanooga area, the first thing that comes to mind is spending time on the lake or walking along the Riverwalk downtown as the peaceful Tennessee River moves slowly downstream.
But there’s another side to life on the water that’s a bit wilder and appeals to a more adventurous sort of person. Top-class whitewater kayaking and rafting are available within a short distance of Chattanooga, and there are many ways to get in the raging water and have a lot of fun getting wet.
The Ocoee River in Polk County is one of the most famous whitewater rivers in the country and was the site of the Olympic whitewater competition for the 1996 Atlanta Games. In addition, there are other whitewater creeks and rivers — such as North Chickamauga Creek and the Hiwassee River, as well as the Taccoa and Cartecay rivers in Georgia and the Nantahala River in North Carolina — for rafters and kayakers of various abilities.
Outdoor Chattanooga offers several resources and advice to plan a rafting trip down the Ocoee or other nearby rivers.
For those who want to take up the sport of whitewater kayaking, the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club offers roll classes and paddle school to teach the sport in a fun and safe way.
Olympic gold medalist Joe Jacobi, recently named CEO of USA Canoe/Kayak, makes his home near the Ocoee in Ducktown, Tenn., and he is trying to use his position and his organization to bring more people into the sport and teach them how to enjoy an exciting trip down the river.
Jocobi says he wants to see his sport grow and have more people learn how to enjoy life on the area rivers.
“It’s a great thing for people of all levels,” he said. “Even though I come from an Olympic background, I want more people to have fun and exposure to competitive paddlesports.”