The High Country Offers Family-Friendly Water Adventures
The High Country offers outdoor activities suitable for people of all ages and athletic abilities, from golfing to river rafting – there’s something here for every member of your family to enjoy!
Explore the peaceful waters of Ovens River near Bright, offering a natural water park complete with river pool and an old gold dredge bucket. Float or kayak along its serene waters before trying High Mountain Expeditions’ whitewater rafting trips for maximum excitement!
Watauga Lake
Watauga Lake’s breathtaking expanse of azure water encased by thickly forested mountains makes it one of the region’s favorite swimming, boating, camping and hiking spots. But you may not realize that its seemingly limitless expanse of blue water is actually manmade reservoir created by TVA’s Watauga Dam.
Reservoir in Northeast Tennessee’s Appalachian Mountains and Cherokee National Forest offers some of the most breathtaking lake and mountain views found anywhere. Construction began on New Year’s Day 1948 and finished three years later; impounding Watauga River and Elk River dams created an artificial lake which became Carter and Johnson counties’ largest artificial lake while generating hydropower downstream.
Today, Watauga Lake provides many family-friendly adventures and activities suitable for any age group. Rent a pontoon boat from Cove Ridge Marina and cruise the calm waters while taking in the picturesque surroundings. Or book an exciting guided fishing tour from Watauga Lake Fishing Adventures which specialize in making fishing safe yet exciting for kids of all ages!
Of course, the lake offers anglers of all ages an exquisite fishing experience. Its sparkling waters boast abundant populations of crappie, spotted bass, trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass as well as walleye. But don’t forget to obtain your Tennessee fishing license before baiting up!
Lake Superior shorelines offer many opportunities for swimming, grilling and sunbathing, making Shook Branch Beach on the southwest corner a favorite spot. Here you’ll find 24 picnic tables lining its beautiful sandy beach for swimming fun as well as other recreational activities such as sandcastle building. This public site makes for the ideal family outing!
Watauga Lake is surrounded by charming babbling brooks and hidden waterfalls, providing the entire family with ample opportunity for hiking adventures on trails like the Appalachian Trail or Laurel Falls Trail. Hikes provide fresh air, stunning views and wildlife sightings!
Watauga River
The Watauga River offers whitewater enthusiasts an unforgettable experience of Appalachian wilderness. Beginner or expert, there are local outfitters offering whitewater rafting excursions on its rapids or more serene waters for peaceful paddling adventures.
This gorgeous mountain river runs 78 miles from its source near Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina to Tennessee’s Holston River, passing through a breathtaking, rugged, and virtually inaccessible gorge that provides whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, swimming holes, waterfalls camping opportunities along the way.
Water levels on the Watauga River can fluctuate considerably, so it is best to consult the USGS river flow gauges prior to venturing out on your expedition. Rafting and kayaking season typically starts in April and extends until November.
From a rafting perspective, the river’s upper section from Valle Crucis Community Park to TVA Wilbur Dam can be classified as Class II and III rapids; an ideal place to learn the river before embarking on its downstream journey.
Beyond this point, the river becomes increasingly challenging with Class IV-V rapids such as Anaconda and Snake Pit presenting more difficult challenges for experienced rafters and kayakers to overcome. Therefore, before beginning this run be sure to consult American Whitewater to make sure the level is suitable for your skill level before beginning this river run.
Families looking for something more primitive should visit the lower section of Watauga River. Rocky banks dotted with tall trees provide an intriguing canopy, while shallow pools and mini beach areas make an excellent place for kids to play after hiking at nearby Grandfather Mountain State Park.
The river offers access to the Profile Trail, a moderately difficult hike that travels 2.6 miles along its course to Foscoe View. Please be aware that dogs and children younger than 5 should avoid using this trail.
Ocoee River
Ocoee River is one of the top whitewater rafting destinations in America, and offers water-based activities suitable for people of all ages. Families looking for something beyond rapids can take an enjoyable tubing float trip along the Lower Ocoee, fish in Cherokee National Forest or Parksville Lake, enjoy mountain biking on one of many thrilling gravel bike trails or camp at one of several idyllic campsites located throughout this beautiful region.
The Middle Section of the Ocoee River is famed for its Class III-IV whitewater rapids. In 1996, Atlanta hosted its inaugural Summer Olympics where natural rivers hosted Olympic canoe slalom events on this stretch.
Early 1900s water from the Ocoee River was diverted through a five-mile wooden flume to produce hydroelectricity for powerhouses downstream. Unfortunately, in September 1976 a rock slide heavily damaged this flume line, allowing water to once again regularly flow down its bed since Ocoee River Dam was constructed in 1913.
Rafters using army surplus rafts emerged to navigate the new river and thus, a rafting industry began. To secure future recreational water releases from TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), an Ocoee River Council was created and legal battles waged against TVA before finally leading to passage of a Congressional Act enabling Middle Section Ocoee River runs most weekends from March through October.
The Ocoee River (known locally as Toccoa) offers flatwater canoeing and kayaking opportunities, as well as excellent trout fishing opportunities from May 7 – September 10. Weekend runs run May 7 to September 10, while daily except Tuesday and Wednesday runs run from June 2- September 5. This section of river also allows fishing trips.
Below Ocoee Dam number one, the river flows slowly with only occasional small rapids until reaching McCaysville and Copperhill in Tennessee where it becomes Ocoee River again and converges with Hiwassee River via an iron bridge spanning Georgia-Tennessee state border – providing ideal conditions for tubing or flatwater canoe trips of six miles in length.
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting is an exhilarating mountain activity perfect for all members of the family! Outfitters in Boone offer river-based adventures from scenic floats interspersed with gentle rapids to heart-pounding traverses through serious Class IV-V rapids, plus packages offering meals, transportation, lodging and a day full of thrills and spills!
At different points of the year, different waterways offer differing degrees of intensity. Snowmelt and spring showers can cause flood-like conditions on certain river stretches while summer and fall can offer tranquil waters.
Families can spend an unforgettable day on the Upper New River Gorge, taking in both scenery and adventure! Rafting begins for kids as young as 6 (with paying adult), making this full-day excursion truly memorable for your children! Lunch on the river is included for this unforgettable trip that they won’t soon forget!
Rafting on Chattooga River is an unforgettable experience, recognized by Southern Living as “#1 Thing Southerners Must Do.” Boasting steep drops, impressive hydraulics and nonstop class III and IV rapids – this National Wild and Scenic River makes for an exciting thrill ride that caters to beginners through experts alike.
Rafting down West Virginia’s Lower Gauley River will take you through some of its wildest landscapes and allow you to experience views only accessible via water. From September through October, Gauley Season brings this section of river alive with thrilling rapids – giving visitors an unforgettable wilderness experience!
If you’re ready for an intense rafting experience, the New River Center provides classes from beginner to expert level. Their rafting school will teach guests all aspects of rafting from basics such as paddle technique to safety measures and how to read a river. Once guests feel ready to head out on their own, either group rafting can be set up for them or you can hire a guide; no matter your choice they provide all rafting equipment such as paddles and personal flotation devices for guests’ use during rafting sessions; just arrive with towels, clothes changes for sun protection as well as water shoes!