The Ocoee River in Southeast Tennessee is one of the most popular whitewater destinations in the country, and for good reason. It runs cold and clear through the Cherokee National Forest on scheduled TVA dam releases, so the whitewater is reliable all season instead of depending on rain. The river splits into distinct sections, and the one you choose changes the whole day. Here is how the Lower, Middle, Upper, and Full River compare, who each one is best for, and how to pick a good outfitter once you know where you want to be.
Bigfoot Outfitters does not run rafting trips. We are the lodging on the river, so we get this question constantly from guests planning their stay. Here is the honest rundown.
Lower Ocoee, calm water and easy floats
The Lower Ocoee sits below Ocoee Dam Number 1 and runs mellow Class I and II water. This is the float and swim section, not the whitewater section. It is where you tube, paddle an inflatable kayak, or drift on a stand up paddleboard while watching fish move under you. Kids and anyone who wants the river without the adrenaline belong here.
Bigfoot Outfitters has private river access and a take out point on the Lower Ocoee right on the property, which is one of the easiest float setups in the corridor. For guided tube and kayak floats on the Lower Ocoee and the nearby Hiwassee, see our tubing, kayaking, and SUP page.
Middle Ocoee, the classic whitewater run
The Middle Ocoee is the trip most people picture when they think of rafting the Ocoee. Five miles of nearly continuous Class III and IV rapids, a guide in every raft, and famous drops like Grumpy, Broken Nose, Double Suck, Double Trouble, Table Saw, Diamond Splitter, and Hell Hole. It is a real workout with plenty of splash, but first timers do it every day with a professional guide. Most outfitters set a minimum age around 12 for this section, and it can shift with water levels.
Time on the water runs roughly an hour and a half to two hours. In summer the Middle runs most days of the week. In spring and fall it usually runs weekends only.
Upper Ocoee, the Olympic section
The Upper Ocoee is shorter, steeper, and more technical than the Middle. It holds the whitewater course built for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, which still runs today. Rapids like Mikey’s, Callahan’s, Humongous, and Godzilla give it a more demanding, continuous feel. It typically runs a limited number of days, mostly weekends from late spring into early fall, so it takes a little more planning. Groups that have already run the Middle and want a step up tend to love it.
Full River, the complete day
The Full River combines the Upper and Middle into one continuous trip, close to ten miles of water and most of a day on the river. Many outfitters break it up with a riverside lunch between the two sections. If you want the biggest day the Ocoee offers and the most time on the water, this is it.
How to choose your section
Match the section to your group, not the other way around. Want a relaxed float with kids, go to the Lower Ocoee. Want the classic whitewater trip with a first timer or two in the boat, take the Middle Ocoee. Already comfortable and craving something more technical, run the Upper Ocoee. Want the whole thing, book the Full River. Check the release calendar before you commit, since the Middle, Upper, and Full each run on their own schedule through a season that stretches from roughly March into early November.
How to choose an outfitter
Several reputable, Tennessee licensed outfitters run the Ocoee. Look for professional guides, well maintained gear, a clear safety briefing, and strong recent reviews. Book directly with the outfitter, and book early for summer weekends and holidays, which sell out weeks ahead. Our Ocoee River whitewater rafting page walks through what to expect and how to plan a trip.
Stay on the river while you raft the Ocoee
Make it a weekend instead of a drive. Bigfoot Outfitters sits on 35 acres along the Ocoee in Benton, Tennessee, with cabins, lodge rooms, private river access, hiking nearby, and an on site disc golf course. Book your rafting trip with a local outfitter, then base your whole trip here. Browse cabins and lodging at Bigfoot Outfitters and plan a two night stay so you have time for the river, a hike, and a night by the fire.
