As of August 3rd, increased rainfall and cool temps might increase river-flow. See below to check in advance.
The regular schedule of recreational water releases from Ocoee #3 for rafting and kayaking is located here.
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Blue Hole, looking downriver. The Centennial Olympic footbridge is in the background and the best-known underwater tunnels are just to the left out of frame. |
Background:
Ever since 1994 or so, I've been roadtripping a lot up to Cleveland
Tennessee, where my longtime friends Dirk and Randall lived, to visit them
and go swimming in the Ocoee River Gorge. There's a great swimming hole called Blue Hole,
part of the Upper Ocoee River, where there are underwater tunnels shallow
and deep, wide and narrow; nice wide swimming holes 12-14 ft. deep; places
where you can jump in or go free-diving and look at the rocky bottom, in clear
mountain water. There are easy tunnels for the whole family to swim through,
and some that only kids (and skinny adults) can attempt, and some that no-one
I know of has succeeded in swimming through. It's a lot of fun! Great
weather, great swimming, great company, underwater tunnels....what more
could one ask for?
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Taken from the parking lot facing downriver | Facing upriver: OWC was the red building in the distance at left | OWC itself, taken from the short-term parking lot. R.I.P. |
If you're like me, though, you'll probably want to go to Blue Hole itself. At the near side of the suspension bridge there is a round flagstone "plaza." Stairs and a ramp descend down to it from the old short-term visitors' lot, and a path, now blocked, used to lead to the back of the Center. You'll see a paved ramp heading down to the river and the Old Copper Road trail, and that is how you access Blue Hole and the underwater tunnels. Blue Hole is easily visible looking upriver from the suspension bridge, and the best-known tunnels ("swiss-cheese rock") are at the far end of that section, in the middle, as the water gets shallower heading there from Blue Hole. Look for a bunch of holes in the rock. If you go up to Blue Hole this summer or any summer, be sure to drop me a note in email if you have any comments or suggestions. It's a great place to go swimming or snorkeling!
If you'd like to make it an overnight trip, the closest motels
are in Ducktown, TN; you passed them if you approached from the east but they're a little pricey.
There are also various lodges, campgrounds and cabin-rental
places in the Cherokee National Forest. Thunder Rock Campground,
across the river near TVA's Ocoee #3 powerhouse, is only about 2 miles
from Blue Hole and costs $12/night for a spot. No permit or fee is required for
"primitive" camping up in the mountains within the National Forest,
but there are bears and stuff.
For more information about primitive camping, go
here.
In the event I don't stay with friends in Cleveland, TN, I
generally get a room in town there. There are numerous options at the I-75 exits.
If you'd like to picnic at Blue Hole, a bridge by the lower
"day" parking lot leads to a small picnic area across the river
from the parking lot. These tables and a larger covered pavilion are first-come first-served.
Dates | Plans | Comments |
---|---|---|
May 14, 2025 | Wednesday-only recon trip scrapped | It was rainy and cool across the region. |
May 27 or 28, 2025 | Tuesday or Wednesday trip scrapped | The river remained too high for swimming, with over 2,000 cubic feet of flow reported on Ocoee Dam #3's website. |
June 3, 2025 | Tuesday trip made! |
This was a bit of a scouting trip to see any changes since last year, and Anton and his GF Moon came along. Water was 74F, which felt pretty chilly. Great to see Jackson, Paul, Mattie and co., I just wish you'd gotten there earlier! Combined photos and videos from this trip and some following trips are in this Facebook album. Videos from all summer will be loaded into this YouTube playlist for Summer 2025! |
June 11, 2025 | Wednesday trip made in lieu of Tuesday! |
Bright sunshine, chilly water... Well, it wasn't too bad. Great to see Memphis and Savannah again, who I'd met last year, and also new-to-me folks Jordan, Rafe and Jaylen. Combined photos and videos from the first three trips are in this Facebook album. Videos from all summer will be loaded into this YouTube playlist for Summer 2025! |
June 18, 2025 | Wednesday trip made! | I've added a few photos and just one surface video to this combined Facebook album. It was good to see Caleb there for the first time in several years! |
July 4, 2025 | One-day holiday trip made! | Great weather and pretty crowded on the holiday, with water at a perfect 84F...until a thunderstorm rolled through and chased away the looky-loos! Nice to meet Colin, Nick and some others on this go-round. No photos this time, but videos have now been added to my YouTube playlist for Summer 2025! |
July 15, 2025 | Tuesday trip made! |
I was joined by my friend "Hippie" Chris on this visit. Great to hang out with a group of folks from Ukraine, Sam the tunnel explorer, and a sizeable group of cross-country track kids from North Cobb Christian School. Pics and videos are now uploaded to
this Facebook album
Six videos are now posted in my YouTube playlist for Summer 2025! |
July 22, 2025 | Tuesday trip postponed | I needed a break from the Sun and the heat! |
July 29, 2025 | Tuesday trip made! |
Great, very warm day with abundanr sunshine and water temps topping out at around 88F. Great to meet Alex, Treyton, David and Alex (different Alex), and also some folks from prior visits.
Videos have been uploaded to my YouTube playlist for Summer 2025! |
August 5 or 6, 2025 | Tuesday and/or Wednesday trip unlikely due to weather | Forecast high is only around 80F with a high chance of rain. Rather abrupt change from sunny with highs in the 90s! Contact me at pellaz1@comcast.net if you're interested in coming along. |
August 12 or 13, 2025 | Tuesday and/or Wednesday trip planned | Contact me at pellaz1@comcast.net if you're interested in coming along. |
August 19, 2025 | Tuesday trip tentative | Contact me at pellaz1@comcast.net if you're interested in coming along. |
Later in September, 2025 | Potential trips, maybe on weekends | If the weather stays warm into late September and the river isn't too full, some late-season trips are possible. Weekend trips are possible after rafting season ends. Contact me at pellaz1@comcast.net if you're interested in coming along. |
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