Ocoee’s Sunburst Rafting Inc. is predicting a white-hot whitewater season this spring and summer – as long as things don’t get too hot. “It looks like this will be one of the best summers ever for Ocoee rafting with all the rain we have had in the last couple of months,” said Josh White, a river guide with Sunburst Rafting. “We’d like to see a nice gradual warm-up so we can preserve water and get the longest season possible,” White said. “I don’t want to get too excited but I have never seem the river running this fast in the nine years I have been here.”
As of June 1, 2010, several of the Ocoee’s river drainages had average or above average snow-pack levels, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Although there are several companies that are allowed to send rafts down the river with river guides, it is Sunburst Rafting that gets the highest marks year after year. Sunburst Adventures pioneered the first commercial whitewater rafting trips on the Ocoee River. “While we set the standard for quality ocoee whitewater rafting trips, we don’t dare rest on our laurels!” said Josh White. After 32 years, we continue to offer superior service, quality facilities, and what we consider to be the best whitewater rafting guide staff on the Ocoee River! Our hand-picked, enthusiastic staff loves whitewater. Season after season, our expert guides deliver rafting trips full of wet, wild, and zany fun, balanced with tidbits of knowledge about the Ocoee River. Every aspect of your whitewater rafting journey is guaranteed to be filled with attention to detail, and a sizable dose of raft guide humor.
Located in the Cherokee National Forest, in Southeast Tennessee, the Ocoee River is a veritable hot bed of challenging whitewater rafting action. The Upper Ocoee River was even chosen as the course for the 1996 Olympic Summer Games! The Middle Ocoee River section is no slouch either, as it offers 5 miles of non-stop Class III and Class IV raging rapids. Nervous? Don’t be! While we can’t hold your hand on your whitewater rafting trip, our friendly office staff will walk you through the reservation process to ensure your experience with us runs smoothly, start to finish. Trip dates fill up quickly, so be sure to call 1-800-247-8388 to set up your whitewater rafting adventure on the Ocoee River!
Sunburst Adventures is THE ORIGINAL ocoee rafting outfitter on the Ocoee River. We are proud of the fact that we are still going strong after 32 years. Of course, we feel that we offer the best whitewater rafting trips on the Ocoee River. Other outfitters make the same claim, and in fact, there are some that are very good. If we are absolutely filled to capacity, we’ll be glad to refer you to another high quality outfitter.
“Our guides love whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River.” said White. “Any of our guides will tell you that, while they obviously have fun doing their job, it is far more rewarding to hear someone new to the Ocoee River experience rave about the great time they had with their friends. We constantly strive to make sure the Ocoee River impresses our guests the same way the river has made lifelong impressions on our staff.”
The Ocoee River offers the most exciting Tennessee whitewater rafting in the state. The Middle Ocoee River offers a bit of a thrill among nearly continuous whitewater. Notable Class III and IV rapids include:
Grumpy (Grumpy attempts to boot members off the raft right from the beginning. The abrupt start will challenge even the seasoned whitewater enthusiast. Grumpy rapid is a Class IV Rapid that quickly indicates the wild journey that lies ahead. ), Tablesaw: (The entire river is channeled into a narrow chute creating turbulence. The rapid, named for a large rock that bisected the current creating a rooster tail, no longer features the rock or roster tail due to flooding. Eddies adorn both sides of the chute making for great eddy hopping conditions.), Hell’s Hole: (Sights of the Powerhouse and bridge identify the beginning of the decent on Ocoee River’s most famous rapid. Rafters are encouraged to approach the hole from the left following eddies. It is not uncommon to see many paddlers surrounding Hell Hole. )
The Upper Ocoee River offers riders a more invigorating 5-mile ride with fewer, tougher rapids to overcome. The Class III and IV rapids along the Upper are sparse, but powerful. The distance between Mickey’s and Roach Motel makes up the Olympic challenge course.
Mickey’s: (Mickey’s is known as the largest rapid above the Olympics course, and is visible from the island in the middle of the river. To the right of the island is a chute that will fork, forcing riders to choose between a 5 foot ledge drop into a deep hole to the right, or a rocky descent down a four foot ledge. )
Humongous: (Humongous is the largest rapid on the Upper Ocoee’s Olympic course. The constricting river creates a large wave train which bisects at a large rock. Each side of the rock offers rafters a challenge. The left side will showcase eddies leading up to the riverbanks. The right side proves to be more challenging, as its eddies matched with large waves create a water plunging hydraulic. )
Roach Motel: (You will find Roach Motel shortly after passing through Humongous. The river will narrow and will drop three times into large offset holes. It is encouraged to stay right, as to avoid the largest center hole.
The Lower Ocoee is ideal for rafters looking for a calmer, family-friendly ride, and features mostly Class I and II rapids. Contact Sunburst today to reserve your spot on the water. )
