6 HOURS
10 MILES
OLYMPIC SECTION
CLASS IV
LUNCH INCLUDED
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT UPPER & MIDDLE OCOEE RIVER RAFTING
FULL-DAY UPPER & MIDDLE OCOEE RIVER RAFTING OVERVIEW
For whitewater adrenaline-seekers, the best opportunity on the east coast is Ocoee river rafting trips. A full 6-hour day of high-intensity floating includes both Upper and Middle Ocoee river rafting, with each section delivering set after set of legendary Class III & IV rapids. Starting on the the Upper Ocoee River – 5 miles of whitewater that includes the famed 1996 Olympic Slalom course...and that’s just before lunch! Then buckle up to take on the continuous heat of the Middle Ocoee section – another 5 miles of 20 action-packed rapids. World-class paddling requires world-class guiding, and Cascade Outdoors has the most experienced team on the water.
FULL-DAY PRICING FOR OCOEE RIVER RAFTING
$110 PER PERSON
$105 PER PERSON (GROUP RATE)
We can easily accommodate up to 50 guests. Group discount is applied at checkout.
STATE PARK FEES
A 10% TN State Park Management Fee is added to every trip.
RAFTING PHOTOS ADD-ON
For an epic image of river rafting and your trip down the Ocoee, pictures are available for purchase by individual photo or entire albums.
what gear & transport is included?
We’re here to make sure your first guided white water rafting experience is just as stellar as every send after. That’s why our guided rafting trips set you up for success from the very beginning – with top-notch safety gear and premium equipment. Here’s what you get when you float with the best:
- Raft
- Life Jacket / PFD
- Helmet
- Paddle
- Transportation to/from river
TRIP TIMES, SEASON & MEETING PLACE
Saturdays & Sundays only.
| DATE | TRIP TIME | CHECK IN BY |
|---|---|---|
| May 16 - Sept 13 | 9:00 AM | 8:30 AM |
MEETING PLACE & AMENITIES
1248 US-64, Ocoee, TN 37361
Arrive 30 minutes before your adventure down the Ocoee River Tennessee starts at our small, but mighty outpost. Tucked away in the trees, our mid-capacity digs and private parking area offer guests seclusion – away from the high season chaos.
Clean bathrooms, showers, and changing areas keep everyone comfortable – while communal picnic tables offer a space to hang. For more information about what to bring, view the checklist below.
Need Ocoee River directions and driving guidance?
LUNCH DETAILS ON THE FULL-DAY TRIP
Rapids are cool but full-day guided rafting trips without sandwiches? Blasphemous.
We’ll hook you up with just the right adventure fuel – a spread of sandwiches, chips, fruit, and drinks that taste even better when enjoyed riverside.
We can accommodate vegetarians – please contact us with any specific dietary requirements.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
Floating the Middle Ocoee River is an action-packed adventure suitable for both whitewater beginners and more advanced rafters.
For you and everyone else to get the most out of your experience, we ask that you check a few boxes first – especially the white water rafting age limit for Tennessee and the weight limit for white water rafting.
- Max. weight 265-275 Ibs per guest
- Relatively good health
- Competent swimmer
- State law requires kids to be at least 12 years old
WHAT TO WEAR & WHAT TO BRING
When you’re going whitewater rafting, what to wear is really important. While we recommend wearing fuller-coverage sun gear (that you don’t mind getting wet!) it is not advisable to don bikini-style or equivalent bottoms. Our crew will be the first to tell you – “raft-booty” is real...and brutal.
WHAT TO WEAR (& BRING)
Close-toed water shoes
Fuller-coverage sun protection
Shorts
T-shirt/workout shirt
Dry clothes
Towel & toiletries
Medical necessities
Sunglass retainers
Plastic bag
Water
Sunscreen
WHAT NOT TO WEAR (OR BRING)
❌ Jewelry
❌ Flip flops (or non-water shoes)
❌ Bikini bottoms (without shorts!)
❌ Pets
❌ Cell phones
❌ Cameras
UPPER OCOEE PUT IN & MIDDLE OCOEE TAKE OUT
Upper Ocoee river rafting is the peak of whitewater experiences on the east coast. Home to the 1996 Olympic Slalom course, this trip is the most fun for those with intermediate technical rafting experience. Compared to the Middle Ocoee section, Upper Ocoee rafting is a level up – sending you down steeper, faster water with high-intensity moments.
UPPER OCOEE PUT-IN
Ocoee Dam #3
MIDDLE OCOEE TAKE OUT
Just below Ocoee Number 2 Powerhouse
UPPER OCOEE RIVER RAFTING
The Upper Ocoee River OLYMPIC COURSE
Upper Ocoee river rafting is the peak of whitewater experiences on the east coast. Home to the 1996 Olympic Slalom course, this trip is the most fun for boaters with intermediate technical rafting experience. Compared to the Middle Ocoee section, Upper Ocoee rafting is a level up – sending you down steeper, faster water with high-intensity moments.
why it’s called the olympic section?
The Upper Ocoee River is often associated with the 1996 Olympics Whitewater events – setting it in stone as a premier rafting destination. A naturally 200-foot wide section of the Upper river was narrowed to 70 feet, creating a fast water system with large, technical Class III & IV rapids. Today, it remains the only natural river to host an Olympic whitewater event.
While the Ocoee River Olympics section attracts enthusiasts worldwide, it’s home turf for our talented guides.
OCOEE RIVER RAPIDS
UPPER OCOEE + OLYMPIC SECTION RAPIDS OVERVIEW
The Upper Ocoee rapids are a shorter and steeper stretch of 12+ high-impact Class IV rapids that hit fast and don’t let up. After a brief warm-up through Bush Gardens, the river turns technical as it surges through the Olympic section and finishes with the horizon-line drop of Edge of the World. It’s a compact run that rewards focus and confident navigation — with lunch (and bragging rights).
START: BUSH GARDENS
A section of dry ground with trees and shrubs that becomes a float-able waterway when the dams release.
EARLY RUN: MIKEY'S LEDGE
Identified by a gnarly 6-foot drop to pick up your pulse rate and set the stage for a ride through the bouncy billows of Blue Hole.
THE STAR: WORLD CLASS RAPIDS
Best Ledge drops you off at the start of the famous Olympic section, where the river constricts and the water picks up pace before hitting the take-no-prisoners, back-to-back rapids of Godzilla & Humongous.
UPPER FINISH: LUNCH & EDGE OF THE WORLD
It’s food with a view – riverside lunch while you watch other rafters tackle the Olympic Section on the Ocoee River before crossing over the Edge of the World.
ADVENTURE CONTINUES: MIDDLE OCOEE
So begins your adventure down the Middle Ocoee River – where 5 miles of continuous Class III & IV rapids deliver a rush around every corner. From Grumpy’s Ledge to Double Suck, Table Saw to Hell's Hole, the waves keep coming and you just get wetter!
UPPER OCOEE RAFTING
Olympic Section vs Middle Ocoee: Difficulty & Fit
Upper Ocoee river rafting and Middle Ocoee river rafting are distinctly different whitewater experiences. While the Upper Ocoee features heavy-hitting, high-difficulty rapids, the Middle Ocoee section sends boaters through continuous rapid systems with moderate difficulty.
UPPER OCOEE: STEEPER & Intermediate
The Upper section is steeper, with faster water requiring more technical paddling techniques. It’s fastest and most narrow passage is known as the Olympic section, where the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics whitewater event took place. Those with intermediate skill levels or higher will enjoy the technical elements delivered by the Upper Ocoee, especially the Olympic section.
MIDDLE OCOEE: MORE CONTINUOUS & BEGINNER-FRIENDLY
The Middle Ocoee is action-packed and suitable for novice whitewater rafters and first-timers.
LOOK EARLY & BOOK EARLY
Ocoee River Release Schedule Basics
The Ocoee River Release Schedule is determined by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), with river conditions fully dependent on scheduled dam releases. Without them, water levels fall below what’s needed for commercial rafting. Trips timed shortly after a release benefit from higher flow and faster, more dynamic rapids. If you’re planning to go white water rafting on the Ocoee, we recommend reviewing the current Ocoee River release schedule in advance.
Early booking is encouraged, especially for peak summer weekends when availability fills quickly.
RAFTING SAFETY TIPS
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE RIVER
We take every measure possible to ensure your experience with whitewater rafting is safe. All Cascade Outdoors guides have received extensive annual training in River Safety, Whitewater Rescue, First Aid, and CPR. But, most importantly, they are highly experienced, confident rafters who are able to communicate safety measure effectively to every guest. Ahead of each trip, boaters participate in a high-level overview provided by their guide, along with rafting safety tips and guidance that comes from hundreds of trips down the Ocoee.
Please review the participation requirements for rafting on the Ocoee River before booking your trip.