Adventures in the Ocoee River and Blue Ridge Area, North Georgia and East Tennessee

Whitewater Rafting and Tubing

Don't just come up to your Ocoee River Cabin Rental or Blue Ridge Cabin Rental just for the cabin itself. There is much to do here in the area and in the surrounding mountain towns...so much so that there ought to be something for everyone.

During the summertime, Whitewater Rafting on the Olympic Ocoee River is an extremely popular attraction. Our rafting friends have sent roughly 300,000 people down the river each year, and that's alot for a county whose general population is only 16,500 :) The Ocoee is quite a ride...it's class III and IV rapids are suitable only for ages 12 and older. If you have kids under 12 or just feel that the Ocoee is too rough, but still want to have some floating fun, the nearby Toccoa River in McCaysville, Georgia serves as a milder alternative. Also, the Hiwassee River in the north end of Polk County offers sort of an intermediate version of rafting...that is, milder than the Ocoee but not as placid as the Toccoa.

Horseback Riding

A more year-round activity that is one of our favorites is Horseback Riding. Nothing beats seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, East Tennessee, and Southwestern North Carolina in the saddle. All of the companies we recommend have healthy, well-trained horses that enjoy travelling through the wilderness. Each company is also staffed with competent guides who are good at matching you with a horse that is compatible with your personality, making the ride as smooth and as enjoyable as possible. In the fall, some of these companies also offer Hayrides.

Adventure Trail Rides
Blanche Manor
Double D Trail Rides

Ride the Rails

A popular activity for both the young and old is to ride in a scenic train meandering along the Blue Ridge mountains. There are two trainsin the area - one that runs from Blue Ridge, Georgia north to the Tennessee State Line at Copperhill/McCaysville; the other comes from Etowah, Tennessee south to Copperhill.

Hiwassee Scenic Railway
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Fishing

Jacks River Falls is a much-acclaimed fishing destination just north of Blue Ridge, Georgia in the Cohutta Wilderness Area.Great for the fishing enthusiast

Horseshoe Bend Park just outside of downtown McCaysville, Georgia sits on the banks of the beautiful Toccoa River. There you'll find picnickers, kids playing on the playgrounds, fly fishers and just those casting out a line of hope in this serene setting.

And if you're looking for a lake, Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, Georgia or Parkesville Lake in Western Polk County are two popular options.

For those renting Overhill Lodge, there is access to the Ocoee River back behind the third dam, basically giving you a semiprivate lake area. Bring your canoe or rowboat! Also, several of our properties sit on Fightingtown Creek, where fishing is also available on-location.

Ocoee Whitewater Center

The OWC is definitely a must-see if you get the chance while up here in the area. Constructed for the 1996 Olympics (the canoe and kayak-slalom competitions were hosted here), this facility owned and operated by the US Forest service is nothing short of gorgeous. So much so, it has been the site of several weddings and other milestone gatherings. The formidable rock-clad facility sits directly on the banks of the Ocoee River, and is accompanied by a large metal bridge that leads across the river, where there are several miles of hiking/biking trails. This section is laden with large rocks, creating small shallow pools to splash around in. The facility also has a nice picnic pavilion available for reservation. This jewel of an attraction only costs $3.00 (the USFS parking pass). Click here to learn more about the OWC

Other Attractions and Adventures

Ducktown Basin Museum
Mayfield Dairy Farm (Athens, TN)
Blue Ridge Community Theatre
Swan Drive In
Lake Blue Ridge Marina

Our Friends in the Area/Links of Interest

Mountain City Guide
New Leaf Adventures - Coordinators for our beloved Cohutta 100 and 1/2 marathon races
North Georgia Outdoors and Fitness Magazine
Town and Country Furniture (Cabin Furnishings)

Real Estate Agents in the Area