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Ocoee Whitewater Rafting Trip
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:34 pm
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:34 pm
I want to take my kids whitewater rafting this summer on the Ocoee river, but my youngest is 10. the minimum age for the river is 12+. Has anybody ever been? How would the check his age?
9
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:36 pm to BigW
Isnt it a weight thing?
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:37 pm to BigW
Try nantahala (sp?)
allows younger kids as it is not as intense as Ocoee.
but still fun as hell 3-4 5s, alot 4s
our guide fell out twice last trip.
allows younger kids as it is not as intense as Ocoee.
but still fun as hell 3-4 5s, alot 4s
our guide fell out twice last trip.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:37 pm to fontell
Some of the other rivers have a weight minimum. Ocoee just says 12 years old...
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:37 pm to BigW
Check out the Nantahala River. Near by and much more kid friendly.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:38 pm to fontell
Yeah frick his safety. Just bring your own raft
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:38 pm to PearlsLSU
We did the Nantahala last year. They were bored. Ocoee looks much more fun/intense
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:39 pm to BigW
Ocoee is nothing difficult. Some fast water in spots but nothing that will rattle your kid.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:41 pm to Fusaichi Pegasus
quote:
Try nantahala (sp?)
allows younger kids as it is not as intense as Ocoee.
but still fun as hell 3-4 5s, alot 4s
Not the Nantahala. Nantahala has a few class threes. Nantahala Falls can be a class 4 at the right water level, but no class 5s anywhere on the river except Wesser Falls after the takeout which nobody goes down.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:42 pm to BigW
There are 2 sections to the Ocoee, one is more intense than the other. Maybe you were looking at the more difficult section.
Nantahala is fun, but very tame. If a guide fell out twice, I doubt it was on purpose. Or they were under the influence.
I wouldn't think the Ocoee section I went on would be dangerous for a 12 year old.
ETA: Wessor Falls Doesn't look too bad on a raft.
Nantahala is fun, but very tame. If a guide fell out twice, I doubt it was on purpose. Or they were under the influence.
I wouldn't think the Ocoee section I went on would be dangerous for a 12 year old.
ETA: Wessor Falls Doesn't look too bad on a raft.
This post was edited on 5/18/15 at 2:48 pm
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:44 pm to BigW
quote:
We did the Nantahala last year. They were bored. Ocoee looks much more fun/intense
Word. The OCoee is much more fun. It is like a roller coaster ride. I have kayaked it before. I'm really not sure how they would check his age, but I'm sure you would have to sign all the disclosures that he was 12.
Found this.
quote:
Yes. The Tennessee state law requires that you must be 12 years of age to go rafting on the Ocoee River. All minors are required to have a signature on the waiver from a parent or legal guardian signifying that he/she is of the proper age.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:50 pm to BigW
We went a few years ago with a few kids who were not 12. They didn't check IDs.
We all had a great time. Well worth it.
We all had a great time. Well worth it.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 2:53 pm to DownSouthDave
quote:
ETA: Wessor Falls Doesn't look too bad on a raft.
Water looks very low on that video. At normal water release that rapid is roaring. And the main reason it is class VI is because it was created by dynamite and the rocks are very jagged and sharp.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 3:02 pm to BigW
I went several times during the 1990's and it was a great time.
Don't take an underage kid. I've fallen out and felt the rapids suck me underwater for a few seconds before releasing me. Pretty scary and possibly more dangerous for a small child.
Don't take an underage kid. I've fallen out and felt the rapids suck me underwater for a few seconds before releasing me. Pretty scary and possibly more dangerous for a small child.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 3:15 pm to BigW
Have been on the Ocoee multiple times. If you are talking about the shorter, mid-section run and your kids are not tiny, then think they would be fine if placed in the interior seating sections of the rafts. There are always people in the rafts who are slackers, from tiny to very large, so I can't see a real problem with kids who are good swimmers, they might be a lot better off than adults if thrown from a raft. I don't think it would be good to go with two adults and 3-4 kids per raft, but if you have 4 older teens or adults and one or 2 kids you should be good.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 3:35 pm to tirebiter
I went last summer on the section that goes through where they had an Olympic event a few years ago. They called one rapid Godzilla because the Japanese were scared to ride it. Probably wouldn't bring a 10 year old on that part of the river, it got a little sketchy even for me
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:16 pm to BigW
Did your son do the Nantahala in a raft? If so, let him try the ducky, it will be more intense and he gets to be more involved, rather than just sitting and letting the guide do everything.
In the same area, you could also try the Big Laurel, the French Broad, the Pigeon or the Tuckasegee. They still wont be as big as the Ocoee, but are solid rivers. Intensity in that order.
A bit further of a drive is the Chattooga. This is the river Deliverance was filmed on, but don't worry you wont get raped. Its an awesome river and on par with the Ocoee. There are also lots of areas to stop and jump off rocks and natural slides. Well worth the trip
In the same area, you could also try the Big Laurel, the French Broad, the Pigeon or the Tuckasegee. They still wont be as big as the Ocoee, but are solid rivers. Intensity in that order.
A bit further of a drive is the Chattooga. This is the river Deliverance was filmed on, but don't worry you wont get raped. Its an awesome river and on par with the Ocoee. There are also lots of areas to stop and jump off rocks and natural slides. Well worth the trip
This post was edited on 5/18/15 at 4:20 pm
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:39 pm to Grim
quote:
Yeah frick his safety. Just bring your own raft
I laughed
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:45 pm to MiloDanglers
As an FYI every other year it is normal for the ocoee to have a death or two...2013 two ladies with a week if I recall correctly and somewhere around 2010 or 2011 a 12 or 13 boy drowned.
Not trying to scare you just letting you know that the ocoee can bite and bite hard even on guided tours.
Not trying to scare you just letting you know that the ocoee can bite and bite hard even on guided tours.
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