Not every great river day has to involve Class IV rapids. The Ocoee corridor has two rivers built for exactly the opposite — long, lazy floats through some of the most beautiful country in the Cherokee National Forest, where the biggest decision you’ll make all day is whether to grab a snack or just keep drifting.
The Lower Ocoee River runs right past Bigfoot, and the Hiwassee River is just a short drive away. Tubing, flatwater rafting, kayaking, SUP — it’s all here, and it’s all doable for kids, grandparents, and anyone in between.
Lower Ocoee River Tubing & Float Trips
The same Ocoee River famous for its Olympic-level rapids turns into something completely different downstream. The Lower Ocoee runs Class I and II — gentle enough for a tube, calm enough that you’ll actually look up and notice the mountains around you.
Float trips on the Lower Ocoee typically run about an hour on the water, with guides in kayaks keeping an eye on the group the whole way. There’s no minimum age, though kids need to weigh at least 50 lbs to fit a standard life jacket (or you can bring your own). Trips end right back at the outpost — no complicated logistics.
This section of river finishes at our outpost here at Bigfoot, making it one of the most convenient float trips in the area. Grab a bite, rinse off, and you’re done.
Lower Ocoee River Tubing — Quick Facts:
- River class: I & II (very manageable, guide-accompanied)
- Duration: About 1 hour on water, 1.5 hours total
- Price: From $20-30 per person to Nancy Ward Takeout or longer Ocoee Dam #1 to Nancy Ward run
- Minimum age: None (50 lb minimum for life jacket, or bring your own)
- Take-out: Right at Bigfoot Outfitters
The river runs on scheduled dam releases, which means consistent rafting conditions throughout the season — a major reason outfitters operate here at scale.
Lower Ocoee River Flatwater Rafting
The same Ocoee River famous for its Olympic-level rapids turns into something completely different downstream. The Lower Ocoee runs Class I and II — gentle enough for a tube, calm enough that you’ll actually look up and notice the mountains around you.
Float trips on the Lower Ocoee typically run about an hour on the water, with guides in kayaks keeping an eye on the group the whole way. There’s no minimum age, though kids need to weigh at least 50 lbs to fit a standard life jacket (or you can bring your own). Trips end right back at the outpost — no complicated logistics.
This section of river finishes at our outpost here at Bigfoot, making it one of the most convenient float trips in the area. Grab a bite, rinse off, and you’re done.
Lower Ocoee River Tubing — Quick Facts:
- River class: I & II (very manageable, guide-accompanied)
- Duration: About 1 hour on water, 1.5 hours total
- Price: about $20-30 per person for Nancy Ward Takeout or the longer Ocoee Dam #1 to Nancy Ward run
- Minimum age: None (50 lb minimum for life jacket, or bring your own)
- Take-out: Right at Bigfoot Outfitters
Kayaking & SUP on the Lower Ocoee and Parksville Lake
Want to paddle on your own terms? Kayak and SUP (stand-up paddleboard) rentals are available for use on Parksville (Ocoee) Lake or the Lower Ocoee River. SUPs are a full-body workout if you want one, or just a fun way to float around and take in the view if you don’t.
The lake is ideal for beginners and families — flat water, no current, easy to manage. The Lower Ocoee adds a little more variety, with mild current to keep things interesting without anything that will knock you off.
Both options are available through outfitters right in the Ocoee River Corridor, all within a few minutes of Bigfoot.
Kayak & SUP — What’s Available:
- Inflatable kayaks (solo and tandem)
- Sit-on-top kayaks
- Stand-up paddleboards (SUP)
- Locations: Parksville (Ocoee) Lake and Lower Ocoee River
Hiwassee River Kayaking, Tubing & Float Trips
About 30 minutes from Bigfoot, the Hiwassee River is East Tennessee’s best-kept float trip secret. A 5.5-mile designated State Scenic River run near Reliance, TN, it’s lined almost entirely with forest — no development, just trees, clear water, deer on the banks, ospreys overhead, and turtles stacked on every log.
The Hiwassee runs Class I-II, with a handful of fun but very manageable rapids broken up by long, calm stretches where you drift and decompress. A day on the Hiwassee takes 2 to 3 hours in a raft or kayak, or 3-plus hours if you’re on a tube (tubes can’t be steered, so they take longer). Most families opt for inflatable kayaks — called “duckies” — because they’re easy to handle, nearly impossible to flip, and let younger kids captain their own boat, which is half the fun.
The put-in is at the Powerhouse Boat Ramp near the Apalachia Powerhouse, and the take-out is back in Reliance. Outfitters shuttle you upstream by bus and provide all the gear.
Hiwassee River Kayaking — Quick Facts:
- River class: I-II (occasional Class III when water is high)
- Distance: 5.5 miles
- Duration: 2-3 hours (kayak/raft), 3+ hours (tube)
- Put-in: Powerhouse Boat Ramp, near Apalachia Powerhouse
- Take-out: Reliance, TN
- Outfitters: Hiwassee Outfitters, Webb Brothers (in Reliance since 1936)
- Shuttle: Included from Reliance
Hiwassee River SUP & Flatwater Paddling
The Hiwassee’s long calm stretches between rapids make it surprisingly good SUP territory for experienced paddlers. The catch: you need to be able to handle a board in moving water, since the rapids — while small — will challenge your balance in a way flat water won’t. Most rentals on the Hiwassee are kayaks and rafts, so if you want to bring your own SUP, check with the outfitters about private shuttle options (Webb Brothers typically charges $10-20 for a private shuttle with your own gear).
For the classic flatwater paddling experience on the Hiwassee, inflatable kayaks are the outfitter-recommended choice for beginners and families. They’re stable, forgiving, and genuinely fun on this particular stretch of river.