The Nantahala River winds its way through a gorge in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains where traditions run deep. These mountain folks strive to keep the oldways alive while embracing new traditions. Christmas is a special time of year where families gather and...
If you’ve ever been hiking in the Nantahala National Forest, Cherokee National Forest, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ve probably come across rocks stacked on top of each other like an ancient cairn. Cairn is Gaelic for “heap of stones.” Stacked rocks...
Remember those hot summer days swimming in the lake, or fishing from the banks of the Ocoee River, with the sound of cicadas singing from the trees? And later that night around a campfire in the Cherokee National Forest or Great Smoky Mountains as katydids lulled you...
Summer is quickly winding down and the crisp air of fall will arrive before you know it. Have you taken a road trip, yet, through the awe-inspiring scenic Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina? Or the Nantahala National Forest and the Cherokee National...
1. So Much Whitewater, So Close Together The southern Appalachian Mountains are covered in beautiful whitewater rivers. From southeast Tennessee to West Virginia there are over a dozen world class whitewater rafting rivers to enjoy. This means that if you are in the...
Swimming At Blue Hole When the Upper Ocoee River is running it is some of the best whitewater in the country, but when the power company turns it off to divert it for electricity it becomes a riverbed of awesome swimming holes. The most popular of these swimming holes...
The closest town to the Ocoee River is Ducktown, TN. This makes Ducktown a great starting point for Ocoee River Rafting and all the outdoor activities the Cherokee National Forest offers. The Ocoee River became famous when it hosted the 1996 Olympic whitewater events...
Ruth’s Golden Aster - Ocoee River Wild Flower Spotlight As you raft down the Ocoee River keep and eye out for the Ruth’s Golden Aster (Pityopsis ruthii). This gorgeous little flower only grows along the Ocoee River and the Hiwassee River in Polk County, TN. ...
image by – G Johansen
Ocoee River Championships The first (of hopefully many) Ocoee River Championships (ORC) are going to be held on the Olympic section of the Ocoee river. On August 24th - 26th of this year the Olympic section of the Ocoee will host a new kind of whitewater event...
Carolina Outfitters
715 U.S. Hwy 19
Topton, NC 28781
Reservations: 828-488-6345
E-mail: raft@carolinaoutfitters.com