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THE OCOEE RIVER "UPPER" SECTION
You can now raft the 1996 Olympic Course on the Ocoee River! The Legacy of the 1996 Games to the Ocoee Region is a 5-mile stretch of powerful rapids upstream from the traditional put-in for the Middle Ocoee River.
If you have rafted the Middle Ocoee before, you will find that the Upper Ocoee provides a much different and more diverse paddling experience. From the put-in, you will float downstream through a sublime wilderness setting with scenic mountain vistas and easy warm-up rapids. As you acclimatize to the challenges of whitewater rafting, the anticipation begins to build for the longer more powerful rapids lurking downstream.
 An angry roar from up ahead soon draws your attention from the scenery as you approach the first big drop, a maelstrom named "Mikey" for its appetite (it really will eat anything). Paddle hard for those who survive the giant pour-over at "Mikey" immediately find themselves battling the continuous waves and large (unavoidable) hydraulics of the "Blue Hole" rapid.
After a few moments to catch your breathe, you will find yourself hurtling down the most distinctive rapids in the Eastern U.S., the 1800 foot long Olympic course that continues to challenge the world's best paddlers. 35 million dollars were spent prior to the '96  games to engineer this steep stretch of riverbed into a veritable whitewater heaven, where rapids like "Smiley Face," "Slam Dunk" and "Humongous" simply blend together into one unforgettable roller-coaster ride.
Haven't had enough yet? Well the Upper Ocoee saves its best for last. Just downstream from the Olympic Course, you will face "Hungry Mother," the largest rapid on the entire Ocoee River. If "Mikey" didn't eat you already, be very wary around his mother! She packs one serious punch for a grand finale you will never forget!
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