Ocoee River raftingTwo of the most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the U.S. are in East Tennessee, according to 2014 data compiled by the American Outdoors Association.
The Ocoee River, in Polk County, topped the list, and Colorado's Arkansas River ranked No. 2. Finishing third was the Pigeon River in Cocke County, located between I-40 and the eastern boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Ocoee River was home to the 1996 Olympic whitewater games. Tourism expenditures in Polk County for 2013 totaled $27 million and generated $3.7 million in state and local taxes.
Read more from our news partner at KnoxNews.com.