TBT: Ocoee River

The Ocoee River gorge is one of the scenic highlights of southeast Tennessee. The Ocoee Scenic Highway (US 64) closely follows the river upstream for 15 miles from the mouth of the gorge at TVA's Ocoee Dam No. 1 to the Ocoee Whitewater Center. We explored the gorge from the road and hiked a short section of trail upstream of the Ocoee Dam No. 3 powerhouse in late October 2011.

Ocoee Dam No. 1 was completed in 1911

Parksville Lake

Big Frog Mountain (4222' 9.5 miles)

Another view of Parksville Lake

Highway bridge over Greasy Creek

Ocoee River above Parksville Lake

Another view of the river

Heart-leaved Aster (Aster cordifolius) along the roadside

Ocoee Dam No. 2 with diversion flume was completed in 1913

Another view of the flume

Another view of Ocoee Dam No. 2

Rock bolts above US 64 at Ocoee Dam No. 2

A relative trickle of water overtops the dam

Reservoir from under the suspension bridge at Ocoee Dam No. 2

Ocoee Dam No. 3 Powerhouse was completed during World War II

Eleven foot diameter penstock

A closer view of the penstock

Surge tank atop the hill

The Ocoee No. 3 powerhouse contains a single generator

A trailhead is located behind the switchyard at the Ocoee No. 3 powerhouse. The trail heads upstream toward the site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events at the Ocoee Whitewater Center. The gravel trail is fairly wide with a consistent grade. We hiked upstream about a mile before turning around.

Ocoee River from near the switchyard

A bit too shallow for watersports

View across the river to US 64

Typical trail conditions

Ocoee River gorge from the trail

Natural rock sculpture

Fall foliage from the trail

By the time we arrived at the Ocoee Whitewater Center, it was closed for the day. However, we did get to see the whitewater course that was constructed for the 1996 Centennial Olympics.

Pedestrian bridge over the Ocoee River at the Ocoee Whitewater Center

Part of the Olympic whitewater course

View upstream from the bridge

Moon above the sunset

Entry to the Ocoee River gorge is free.

The Cherokee National Forest webpage for the Ocoee River is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=35090.