The Upper Ocoee River in Tennessee, just across the state line from Georgia was a venue for the 1996 Olympic Games. The river and river banks were modified to meet the needs of athletes and the press. This makes this location a photographers paradise with easy and close access to the river, allowing you to take images from different perspectives. This particular section of the river enjoys full sun light for most of the day, so it is easier to get high, action freezing shutter speeds. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) controls the water flow through a series of dams and will increase it on weekends to accommodate water sports. Once full water flow has been achieved, the river becomes a playground for kayakers and the many rafting business nearby.
What: Ocoee Whitewater – Rafts and Kayaks
When: Saturday, July 11, 2026
We plan to meet at the Marta Parking Lot at GA400 Exit 8 at 08:00am for car pooling or at 10:15am directly at the visitors parking lot of the facility. We plan to leave the area ~ 1:30pm and be back in Roswell ~ 04:00pm.
Where: Ocoee Whitewater lower parking lot (GPS: 35.06919736210929, -84.46609094255805)
The Ocoee Whitewater Center is still listed in Google maps, but it has been demolished.
The entrance to the lower parking lot is approximately 0.5 miles west on US64 from the former location of the center.
Admission: None, but a small parking fee. National Park Passes are honored.
Comfort: Pack a lunch. This is a remote area and there are no restaurants nearby. Plan on bringing some snacks to enjoy on one of the picnic tables. Bring plenty of water, a hat and sun protection. The site has very simple facilities, but there are gas stations in Ducktown, TN, approximately 6 miles away.
Photography Tips: A long range zoom works great for detailed shots. A midrange zoom is useful for environmental shots, pictures taken from close to the river and for taking pictures from the bridges.
A shutter speed of 1/1000 is a good starting point to freeze the action, slightly lower for more motion blur or higher for even more sharpness. A much slower shutter speed (e.g. 1/60 or slower) will blur the action for some interesting effects. You may need a neutral density filter for slower shutter speeds because the light at that location is usually bright. A circular polarizer is useful to control glare and reflections.
Wolfgang Enneker is hosting this field trip. Contact him at (470) 266-6428 if you have any questions.
Please RSVP at Ocoee Whitewater Field Trip Registration so we have a headcount of participants..
RPS Field Trip – Ocoee Whitewater– Sat. July 11, 2026
