Whitewater Rafting - From March
to October the Ocoee River comes alive
with whitewater enthusiasts from around
the world who journey to shoot the
world-class rapids in rafts, canoes, and
kayaks. The Class III and IV rapids that
highlight this river begin just west of
Ducktown, TN. The Ocoee Whitewater
Center is a federally operated put-in
that is used by both commercial
companies and individuals. In 2002
nearly 300,000 people made the journey
from this site to the take-out more than
5 miles further down the river. Some
Ocoee Rapids:
Grump, Gonzo Shoals, Broken Nose (Vegomatic),
Second Helping, Moon Shot Double Suck,
Double Trouble (Maypop), Squeeze Play,
Tablesaw (Buzzsaw), Diamond Splitter,
Slingshot, Hell's Hole
Lake Blue Ridge - Sparkling
Lake Blue Ridge has over 100 miles of
shoreline and is one of the purest lakes
in the TVA System. Offered here is
swimming, boat rentals, jet skiing,
fishing, and picnicking. Hike around
Lake Blue Ridge through the
Chattahoochee National Forest. Walleye,
smallmouth bass, white bass, and
bluegill are the most sought-after
species of fish on the Lake. There are
even larger lakes nearby, including
4180-acre Lake Nottely and 7000-acre
Lake Chatuge.
Toccoa River - The beautiful
whitewater Toccoa River, from which Lake
Blue Ridge is formed, is very popular
for trout fishing, tubing, and canoeing.
The Toccoa River Canoe Trail is perfect
for beginners who are looking for a few
rapids and some beautiful scenery along
the way. The put-in is located at the
Toccoa Ranger District's Deep Hole
Recreation Area, a U.S. Forest Service
campground off of highway GA 60 south of
Blue Ridge. The canoe trail begins on
the north bank of the river, flowing
west and north toward Blue Ridge. The
entire float from Deep Hole to Sandy
Bottoms is 13.8 miles.
Trout Fishing - In addition to
the Toccoa River, there is plenty of
good fishing for trophy-size trout on a
number of rushing streams in the Blue
Ridge Mountain area, including
Fightingtown Creek, Rock Creek, Cooper
Creek, and Noontootla Creek. If you
really want to catch a nice trout, make
a daytrip to the Chattahoochee National
Fish Hatchery. Located off of Highway 60
between Morganton and Dahlonega GA, the
fish hatchery raises a million rainbow
trout each year to stock the tailwaters,
streams, and lakes of the North Georgia
Mountains. Visitors can tour the
hatchery and visitor center. Take your
own gear and be sure to have a Georgia
fishing license. The hatchery offers
special group tours and sponsors annual
fishing functions for kids and seniors.
The Hatchery is located near other Blue
Ridge mountain attractions, including
Deep Hole and Cooper Creek recreation
areas.
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