Groups explore the valleys of Appalachia in an exhilarating, unique way with Rolling Thunder River Company in Georgia.

“Our McCaysville location is unique because groups can choose to go from mild to wild all at the same place,” said Bobbye Miller, owner. “The Toccoa River is a float trip ideal for tubes or kayaks. The Ocoee River is a whitewater rafting mecca for the adventurous. Some groups may have participants who are not quite ready to try adventurous whitewater rafting — they can enjoy an easy float trip down the scenic Toccoa River while others in their group tackle the rapids of the Ocoee River. They all start and finish at the same center.

Whitewater rafting with Rolling Thunder River Company in McCaysville, Georgia
Whitewater rafting with Rolling Thunder River Company, McCaysville, Ga.
Credit: Rolling Thunder River Company

“Or, some groups like to do both during their visit, choosing to tube or kayak in the morning and raft in the afternoon. It’s a full day of fun on the water.”

The dam-controlled Ocoee River produces the most continuous stretch of Class III and IV rapids of any river in the United States, making it a popular destination for adrenaline junkies. Rafting on the Ocoee is offered for both half- and full-day trips, and there are two separate sections rafters can tackle — the upper and the middle.

For groups looking for something on the mild side, the Toccoa River offers leisurely float trips for tubing, kayaking and canoeing through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The river is actually the headwaters of Tennessee’s Ocoee River, but the name changes to the Toccoa River when it crosses the line into Georgia.

Whitewater rafting with Rolling Thunder River Company in McCaysville, Georgia
Whitewater rafting with Rolling Thunder River Company, McCaysville, Ga.
Credit: Rolling Thunder River Company

“Rolling Thunder wants its guests to leave with a new appreciation for the beauty of the mountains and the rivers that run through them,” Miller said. “We want to share our passion for whitewater rafting and create new fans of the activity. Rolling Thunder has been leading rafting trips on some of the most scenic and challenging rivers in the Southeast for over 40 years.”

For more information, call 800-408-7238 or visit rollingthunderriverco.com.