There are so many things to do after/ or before your whitewater rafting trip. Things like hiking, fishing, sightseeing and our favorite WATERFALLS!!! Check out a few things to do while you are here..
- BENTON FALLS: From the lake area you can take a hike Benton Falls trailhead. This trail is a 1.6 mile trail to Benton Falls, which is one of the areas most easily accessible waterfalls. If you want to continue on you can transition to Clemmer trail then to Scenic Spur to catch a glimpse of rainbow falls, along with multiple smaller creeks and waterfalls on the way. Be warned, this turns into about a 14 mile round trip hike if you start at McCamy Lake. If you choose to take a day to make this hike, please plan accordingly. This is personally one of my favorite side activities to spend a day when we are unable to go rafting.
- GEE CREEK FALLS: This short hike takes visitors to a small but popular waterfall. This trail lies almost entirely inside the congressionally designated Gee Creek Wilderness. Trail length to the falls is just over 1 mile from the trailhead, making it a 2 mile round trip hike.When you get to the falls(at one mile) you can cross the river and continue to follow the trail along the creek. If you count the number of times you cross the river (including the first crossing on the bridge), you will cross the stream eight times before the trail will disappear and you will have to turn back. This is a beautiful hike that follows the creek the entire way. You will see huge boulders and lush vegetation along the way. The concrete structures you see along the way were at one time used for mining quartz in the area.
- CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST :The Cherokee National Forest is your destination for outdoor recreation. Enjoy a scenic drive through the mountains, the pursuit of wildlife, the thrill of whitewater, a night under the stars, or solitude on a back country trail.Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of east Tennessee, the Cherokee National Forest is divided into northern and southern sections by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 650,000-acre forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee and adjoins other national forests in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia.Visitors come to explore the more than 600 miles of trails including 150 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, hundreds of miles of cold water streams, 7 whitewater rivers, 3 large lakes managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, 11 congressionally designated Wilderness areas, 30 developed campgrounds, 45 developed day-use sites, and the abundant populations of wildlife. The national forest provides habitat for 43 species of mammals, 154 species of fish, 55 species of amphibians, and 262 species of birds. https://tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org/entries/cherokee-national-forest/118dcadc-ac8a-4646-8f4a-3492a3df94b8
- PARKSVILLE LAKE: The oldest man-made lake in the Cherokee National Forest, it was created in 1910-11 with the building of Ocoee Dam Number One (Parksville Dam). Sometimes known as Lake Ocoee, this 1,930-acre is popular for water skiing, pontoon boating, jet skiing, swimming, and picnicking. It has two public boat launches located along Hwy 64. Just below the dam is Sugar-loaf Park where visitors can picnic and view a scale model of the Olympic canoe and kayak course. Location: Located along Hwy 64 between Ocoee, TN and Ducktown, TN. https://www.tennesseeoverhill.com/outdoors/parksville-lake-ocoee-recreation-area/
- OCOEE WHITEWATER CENTER:In 1996 the world’s eyes were on the Ocoee Whitewater Center (OWC) as it hosted the world’s first Olympic whitewater event on a natural river. Today the Ocoee Whitewater Center offers something for everyone. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=35096
We love our guests so if you haven’t booked a whitewater rafting trip you can today on our website!! https://cherokeerafting.com/book-now/