River Description:
A lot of people just PnP at the Olympic Section. This is a description of the full river.
The first stretch of the Upper Ocoee is primarily Class II tree dodging, but it's one of the prettiest sections on the river. Putting on kind of feels like going through a jungle. Much of the riverbed is cluttered with low-lying bushes and dimunitive trees, forming a maze of sorts. After a little less than a mile, you will reach the first named rapid below the put-in. The left channel is often called _David's Pride_, and features a double-drop into a pool. The right channel is called _Tombstone_ and is recognizable by the large tombstone-shaped rock on the left side side of this channel. Either way, be sure to catch _Dee Dee's Secret,_ the popular playspot with a marvelous surfing wave and two ledge-holes found directly below Tombstone. Dee Dee's Secret can be difficult to find, especially if you run David's Pride -- you will have to weave your way through the bushes on the right in order to find it. There is a challenging ferry some people like to do from a river right eddy roughly adjacent to Tombstone rock, across most of the length of the channel to the left of the rock. Be mindful of how shallow it is just above and to the left of the rock, and avoid ending up sideways in the pourover next to it.
On and off Class II-III continues downstream. There are a lot of technical eddy moves, stern squirt spots, and some catch-on-the-fly waves. There will be a brief lull with a huge round rock to the left that is great for rock splats if no strainers are caught in it. The river subtly channelizes at this point, signaling the first major rapid(s) on the run. By following the flow, you'll be set up for the left of these channels, a drop called _Alien Boof_. It's the most popular route for kayakers because the boof is so satisfying an photogenic, but never run by commercial rafters because of a fatality. Alien deserves a solid class 4 rating because of the technical, unconventional nature of the boof. If you get out of your boat to scout it or have someone show you down, it's relatively clean and straightforward, but trying to boat scout or run it blind is a bad idea. I'd estimate the main drop is about 6-8 feet. It's roughly to the right of center, and you boof with a right to left angle. You can't go straight like pretty much every other boof on the Ocoee or you'll dry out (which isn't the worst thing in the world, just not a pretty line); too far to the left puts you into a pinning pocket that caused the rafting fatality. There's also a slot line to the right which is even weirder than the main line, affectionately called 'Laxative' (it kind of looks like a toilet flushing), which is sometimes run for wave wheels.
From the Alien scouting spot, you can see a sketchy middle channel which is pitoning heaven and then a further channel to the right where much of the river is flowing. This is called _Mikey's_ and you ferry to the left channel from the calm water above Alien and run it. The commercial rafting companies take this channel, which is somewhat telling in that the main line is a lot wider than Alien. I would say the drop is definitely easier than Alien and roughly III+, though your mileage may vary. Mikey's is another rapid that can't be boat scouted - luckily there is a trail to scout it on the right and from the island in the middle of the river. A few giant rocks split the channel yet again. The last updated description mentioned 'a right to left move above and around the rocks near the top of the drop' but there's still a lot of sketchiness that makes the line impossible to scout from the right, so only go if you can see what it looks like or are following someone you trust. Rafters and most kayakers go to the right of the jumble. Here, you'll find the speed pick up as you approach a horizon line. There are two eddies tucked into the right bank that you can use to scout and let rafters pass. The second of these should be used for boat scouting and I think either work to get out and scout. Just below the horizon line is a clunky slide. The cleanest line is between the two humps, with a bit of a right to left angle - which is helpful for running the drop but even more to set you up to miss a huge rock jutting out from the right bank in the runout. The biggest thing is lining it up - there's nothing to punch or boof (while taking this raft line, at least).
There's a brief lull after Mikeys/Alien before the next class IV. This stretch from here through the Olympic Course and Roach Motel, is the first time the Upper Ocoee feels bigger than the Middle. Most of the rapids on the Middle are shallow and technical. There are holes you need to avoid but you know they're coming and there's plenty of space to get around them. The hardest 'rapids' (depending on how you categorize the Olympic Section) on the Upper are each very distinct in character, but are all generally longer, wider and characterized by more spontaneous hole-dodging than the Middle. _Let's Make a Deal_ (a.k.a _Blue Hole)_ is the start of this change in tone. The traditional lines here are pretty hairy in honor of the Middle, but also in honor of the Middle, there are still some chill lines you can take. The river channelizes once again, but by following the flow you're set up where you want to be. In the approach, you'll see the river open up more as the middle island ends. After a brief intro, with a hole that might surf you a little, three big rocks just above the horizon line mark the start of the rapid. Most people go to the left of the middle rock - either driving onto it for a massive boof that will almost certainly flip you in a short boat or riding the flow to the left. I think it's possible to go down the other channels, but I'm not sure what those lines are like. From here it's a maze of holes to dodge (or not). Middle is hairiest and left or right will get you around the worst holes. Use caution... a rafter drowned in a sieve here (I believe to the right). The runout has one of the best front surfing waves on the river so take a minute to give it a go.
At the bottom of Blue Hole, you will notice a large suspension bridge signifying the start of the Olympic Course at the Ocoee Whitewater Center. Here you can scout, portage, put-in, takeout, etc. The first drop after the suspension bridge is called _Brave Wave_(aka Best Ledge), with a large tongue on river right that goes lands in an offset wave (and a ledge to the left that I haven't seen anyone run). After Brave Wave, there is a small wave train with some really awesome, glassy surf waves just before _Smiley Face_ _. '_ 7UP' is the last wave above Smiley, a little more frothy ('carbonated') and hairy because you'll need to roll quickly if you flip here. Smiley is named for a smiling face spray painted on one of the larger rocks in the middle of the rapid, visible only at low water. In fact, this is the only graffiti not removed from the riverbed in preparation for the Olympics. The weird, offset hole is to the left of the rock right of center, and is the new home of the Ocoee Rodeo. You can sneak to the right of the rock if you want. Behind the rock are some great eddy lines for stern squirts, known as 'Pop-tart.' After Smiley's, waves and eddies abound. If you mess around on the right, be wary of a fairly wide, trashy pourover just below the bridge (called 'Vitamixed', because that's what happens to you if you get stuck in it...) leading directly into _Slam Dunk_\- the tallest single drop on the course. Slam Dunk is even weirder and more offset than smiley almost more a convergence of currents created by two steep pourovers on either side. The one to the left is probably the best boof on the course. To river right is a great place for cartwheel initiations. It won't hold you, but you will flip.
Run the slot in the center and eddy out into one of the large eddies on either side. A wave train called _Conveyor Belt_ leads into _Callihan Ledge_, a shallow ledge created as a rodeo spot and named for a spraypainted name on the rock ledge. Run to the left or right of the midstream shoal. _Humongous_ is next. It is the largest rapid on the course (and by hardest on the river if you take the right channel). The river constricts, forming a large wave train which is then split in two by a large rock with a television camera mount. The left side is a fast wave train with eddies extending from the river left bank, the first of which is known as 'Watermelon Seed Eddy.' (Just under the bridge, there is an excellent front surfing wave and a huge hole some people surf, known as 'The Lab.') The right channel features very small eddies that plunge into a trashy 'wave' known as 'Godzilla'and the worst hole on the river, 'Humongous.' There have been many bad swims on both sides of this rapid, including several during the Olympics, but Humongous is notorious because it's so hard to get out of. Save your energy if you're in a creek boat but there's a slim chance in a short boat if you get stuck. There are two relatively clean lines through Humongous, clipping it to the left or threading the needle using a narrow tongue between the stickiest parts. After Humongous (the last major rapid on the Olympic Course), go right to takeout or hike back up and do it again. Hang left if you're heading downstream. Class II-III continues for several hundred yards. The river narrows and channelizes again, indicating the start of _Roach Motel_. This rapid is reminiscent of Tablesaw on the middle in that it's narrow but the chaotic waves that flush are replaced by offset, trashy holes. The traditional line through the first sequence of holes is to thread the needle from left to right (although some boof the hole to spice it up). There's a brief lull at which point you can head far left for a rock boof or avoid the rest to the right, but you will probably have to use the backwash of some of the holes to help make your move. Again, like most rapids on the Ocoee you can sneak the worst parts (by staying right for pretty much the whole rapid). Be sure to avoid the numerous small bushes and trees growing in the riverbed from this point until the campground.
After more paddling through bushes, you will be able to see the Thunder Rock bridge and the Ocoee #3 Powerhouse on the left. That signals the last major rapid on the Upper Ocoee, _Edge-of-the-World_. Just after the Thunder Rock Bridge, there is a long horizon line that spans the river as it drops about four feet into a scary keeper hole. This is one of the most dangerous spots anywhere on the Ocoee river because of the highly retentive hole forming at the base of the drop, especially at levels above 1800 CFS. If you don't know where to run this drop, visit the Thunder Rock campground before you go to the put-in. To skirt this drop, paddle down the Class I-II natural streambed on river right. The left side of the turbine chute, across from Edge-of-the-World, is reinforced with concrete. You want to run the drop directly across from the concreted-in section, and you don't want to miss the main slot.
There are a lot of clean lines through the bushes that keep you away from the worst part of the hole, but be mindful of strainers. A safe bet is to follow the rafts to the widest channel. Hug far left of the channel, just to the right bushy of the bushy island that forms it. This drop is adjacent to the manmade outflow chute that releases the water for the Middle Ocoee from the Ocoee #3 Powerhouse. Edge-of-the-World will probably kick you to the left, upstream toward the turbines.
In the runout of Edge of the World is the Thunderground campground and, in my opinion, the prettiest section anywhere on this river. Because the river is now almost perpendicular to the ledge it looks like there are all these small waterfalls cascading in from the right. The left is shady and covered with greenery and trees and the river is bubbly. There are so many perfect little eddies tucked into pockets on either side of the river (the ones near the ledge are excellent but sticky in that you have to push yourself off) and in between, you usually either get a sunny glow or feel the rain melt on your face - the perfect end to a day or interlude before playing on the Middle.
River History:
Originally managed by the Eastern Tennessee Power Company, the Ocoee River was dammed to build hydroelectric plants. The Ocoee No. 1 and Ocoee No. 2 Dams were built between 1910 and 1913 featuring a wooden flume that diverted the waters of the Upper and Middle Ocoee along an elevated path, concentrating water pressure for the hydroelectric powerhouses. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) purchased the power system in 1939, and in September 1976, the wooden flume diverting water on the Middle Ocoee was shut down for reconstruction and, once again, the river ran unabated. The river attracted lots of attention, as boaters flocked to the Middle Ocoee to run its five miles of continuous whitewater rapids. Rafting companies sprang up while the TVA hurried to repair the flume and again divert water from the Ocoee. After much resistance and a Congressional Act, TVA agreed to schedule 116 days of recreational whitewater releases per year on the Middle Ocoee. Whitewater racing events have been held on the Ocoee since 1978, bringing the river to the attention of the world. The Ocoee has also been called the birthplace of freestyle kayaking, hosting the first-ever Ocoee Rodeo at Second Helping in 1983. The Ocoee has become one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the world, attracting over 250,000 visitors annually.
The Upper Ocoee riverbed had remained dry throughout most of the 20th century, which allowed for the manipulation and construction of a world-class racing course. The Ocoee Gorge is wider at this point, allowing ample room for spectators. With the Ocoee approximately 100 miles north of Atlanta, all three of these factors made the Upper Ocoee the ideal place to host the 1996 Summer Olympics Whitewater Slalom competition. The Ocoee would be the first natural river used for Olympic whitewater competition, but this upper stretch was shallow and too wide to generate the desired intensity for whitewater slalom. Course designers rechanneled the riverbed to create an Olympic course one-third the width of the original riverbed. To estimate the effects of this rechanneling, the design team used a 300-foot, 1:10-scale physical model for calculation purposes, and to minimize the time and cost for experimental boulder placement, the amout of water required for full-scale testing, and disruption to the river. Sandstone boulders harvested from the area shaped the course banks and venue, some weighing up to seven tons each. The design team developed the concept to build a river within a river. They used levees or banks to create the narrow 'inner' whitewater course. This allowed the 'outer' river to be used for viewing areas during events and to convey high flows during floods. The project of rechanneling the original riverbed took less than two years to complete, and created what would soon be called 'America's Olympic River.' July 1996 brought over 15,000 visitors and more than 1,000 volunteers and staff to the banks of the Upper Ocoee River.