Blue Ridge Country July/August 2020 - 35

ern Highlanders"), camped here in 1904.
Challenges: The removal of an antiquated and non-operational dam along
with making several watershed enhancements returned the Dillsboro section to
a free-flowing waterway. Ongoing efforts
monitor the sedimentation, erosion and
turbidity of the water systems.
Get Involved:
* Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (watrnc.org): "A grassroots
organization working to improve your
water quality and habitat of the Tuckasegee River Basin."

Ocoee/Toccoa River

struction is still visible in several spots during low water levels.
The name of the river is often seen
with various spellings and likely traces its
lineage back to a Cherokee word (daksiyi),
meaning "turtle place."
Factoid: Horace Kephart, southern author known for his writings on early life
and culture in Appalachia ("Our South-

The Ocoee is a tale of two rivers in one,
dropping 1,370 feet in elevation. The
headwaters in one state, calm and serene; the whitewater in another, roaring
and fierce.
Description: The 93 miles of this northwesterly flowing river are known by two
names. The 56 miles in Georgia are called
the Toccoa, and the 37 miles in Tennessee are named the Ocoee. The initial waterway in Georgia is quite calm; and the
dam-controlled Ocoee is (and has been) a

world-class whitewater destination with
three specific areas: Upper, Middle and
Lower. The Upper section is five miles of
raging water that should only be viewed
from the shore for those of us without
mad whitewater skills! The next five miles
in the Middle section are solid Class III
(some IV) with rapids named "Grumpy,"
"Broken Nose," "Moonshot," "Hell's
Hole" and "Tablesaw." The Lower waters
quietly roll into Parksville Lake.
What to do: Float the Toccoa and/or
spike your adrenalin on the Ocoee (individually or with one of the many professional rafting guide businesses). Hike or
bike the Tanasi Trail System-20 miles of
history, scenery and mountain terrain.
Visit the Ocoee Whitewater Center for
riverside views, picnics, walkways with
native plants and a pedestrian bridge over
the water.
Factoid: The name "Ocoee" is credited
to the Cherokee as their word for Passiflora incarnata-a native perennial vine now
known as the wild apricot, maypop or
purple passionflower (the state wildflower
of Tennessee).
Challenges: In the late 19th and early

70th Annual Georgia Mountain Fair
August 14th - 22nd
Music, Rides,
Crafts & Fun!

Georgia Mountain Moonshine Cruiz-In
July 30th - 31st & August 1st
70th Annual Georgia Mountain Fair
August 14th - 22nd
Gene Watson/Janie Fricke/Marty Haggard
Saturday, September 5th
Happy Together Tour 2020
Saturday, September 12th
LandFest 2020
September 17th, 18th & 19th

Concerts Camping Events

(706) 896-4191

GeorgiaMountainFairgrounds.com

JULY/AUGUST 2020

http://www.GeorgiaMountainFairgrounds.com http://escapetoblueridge.com http://escapetoblueridge.com http://www.GeorgiaMountainFairgrounds.com

Blue Ridge Country July/August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country July/August 2020