The Ocoee packs a lot into one stretch of southeast Tennessee. Whether you’re here for a full weekend or driving out from Chattanooga for the day, here’s what’s worth your time on and around the Ocoee River.

1. Fly the zip line canopy tour

Start high. The Ocoee Ziplines & Canopy Tour runs 8 zip lines and 3 sky bridges through the Cherokee National Forest, minutes from the river, and finishes on a side-by-side dual racer. It runs rain or shine, and riders just need to be 50–250 lbs. Take a look at the photos to see what you’re in for.

2. Raft Olympic-grade whitewater

The Ocoee is one of the most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the United States, and the Upper Ocoee hosted the 1996 Olympic paddling events. Guided trips with RaftOne run three main stretches:

Middle Ocoee — 5 miles of beginner-friendly Class III–IV rapids (the most popular run)
Upper Ocoee — the steeper, more technical Olympic course
Full River — both back-to-back, with lunch

No experience is required, and you can bundle rafting with the zipline on a zip + raft combo to save 10%. Just check the dam release schedule so you know which trips are running on your date.

3. Drive the Ocoee Scenic Byway

US-64 through the gorge is a designated scenic route that hugs the river the whole way. It’s worth slowing down for the overlooks, the old flume line, and the whitewater below. Learn more about where the Ocoee River is and how to get there.

4. Explore Copperhill & Ducktown

At the eastern end of the gorge, the historic copper-mining towns of Copperhill and Ducktown, TN sit right on the Georgia line. Copperhill shares a walkable downtown with McCaysville, GA — a fun spot for lunch, coffee, and a photo with one foot in each state. It’s a great add-on before or after your adventure.

5. Hike the Cherokee National Forest

The whole area sits inside the Cherokee National Forest — over 650,000 acres of trails, waterfalls, and overlooks. Pack shoes for a short hike between activities, or make a full day of it.

6. Go horseback riding or mountain biking

If you want to round out your adventure weekend, RaftOne also offers horseback riding and mountain biking in the area — an easy way to fill a second day. Details are on raft1.com.

Make a full day (or weekend) of it

Here’s a simple plan that works for most groups:

Morning: zip line canopy tour
Afternoon: whitewater rafting on a release day
Evening: dinner in Copperhill / McCaysville

People drive out from Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Knoxville for this exact day, then come back next summer with a bigger group. Book your Ocoee adventure or call (423) 250-7511.

The Best Things to Do on the Ocoee River