Cherokee National Forest

America Outdoors outfitters offer kayaking, hiking, fishing, and rafting (including 4.5 miles of non-stop whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River) in the Cherokee National Park.

Each year millions of people visit Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest.  It is a place of scenic beauty that provides opportunities for anyone interested in nature and history.  The Forest stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border.  The 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee.  It lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachian mountain range, one of the world's most diverse areas.  These mountains are home to more than 20,000 species of plants and animals.

Because of the Cherokee's majestic mountains, tumbling streams, and diverse vegetation, recreation opportunities are plentiful.  Discover the 30 developed campgrounds, 30 picnic areas, 700 miles of trail, hundreds of miles of cold water streams, seven whitewater rivers, including the Ocoee River, thousands of acres of dispersed opportunities, and abundant populations of wildlife that are here for your enjoyment.

Included in the forest is the Ocoee Whitewater Center.  A sleepy river set in a lush, rocky river gorge, the Ocoee River was carefully modified into a channel to enhance its rapids.  During the 1996 Summer Olympics, the Ocoee Whitewater Center opened its doors as a premiere whitewater venue for athletes from all over the world.