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If you read any of my blog posts, I hope that this is it! That’s because we just returned home from the best weekend ever at Wildwater Chattooga, and I am so excited to tell YOU all about it! Whether you are traveling solo, with a friend or loved one, or enjoying family travel (like us), this adventure is sure to leave you feeling inspired, grounded, and more deeply connected with yourself, your family, and this earth.
It all started when Wildwater Chattooga invited us to come and spend a weekend with them at their Chattooga River location in Long Creek, South Carolina. We got everything scheduled for Labor Day weekend which gave us an extra half day on both sides to travel and hit up some other fun stops along the way.
Wildwater generously provided our lodging and experiences, but as always, all opinions (and excitement) are our own. Thanks for following along as I share this fantastic destination with you and for supporting our family’s adventures. Also, the photos of our family on the rock, in the raft, and jumping into the rapids are courtesy of Whetstone Photo. All other photos are my own.
In the coming weeks, I plan to get up a few other posts about this entire road trip, complete with an itinerary I made that was a game-changer for us, so stay tuned!
Wildwater Chattooga
Now, if you are familiar with Wildwater, you probably immediately think about their river rafting trips, but they have so much more to offer! I will talk all about whitewater rafting here in a bit but first wanted to share a little bit more about Wildwater and everything they offer with you as they celebrate their 50th year in business!
About Wildwater
From their five locations spread across the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wildwater offers river rafting (both gentle and whitewater), zipline canopy tours, kayak and SUP outings, Jeep tours, teambuilding, railway tours, and more!
Two locations even offer to lodge (and we aren’t just talking hotel rooms). Visitors can stay in everything from YURTs to luxury cabins and from treehouses to cottages.
Wildwater Locations
While this blog post will specifically talk about our visit to the Wildwater Chattooga River location in northwest South Carolina, I want to quickly want to mention their other locations that are just to the north in both Tennessee and North Carolina.
Wildwater Nantahala: Has Yurt and Lodge accommodations, rafting for ages 7+, Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours for 8+ as well as a kid zip (ages 4-12), Jeep Tours, Railroad Tours.
Wildwater Asheville: The Adventure Center has two zip courses (including a kid zip) and is home to Treetops Adventure Park with over 70 zipping, jumping, swinging, and rappelling style challenges.
Wildwater Ocoee: Ocoee River Rafting (ages 8+) and The Ocoee Basin Canopy Tour offer both mountain views and a deep forest experience.
Wildwater Pigeon: Raft the upper section of the Pigeon River (ages 8+) or the lower section (ages 4+) and take on the Pigeon River Canopy Tour, complete with a zipline crossing 150 feet above the river below. Jeep Tours are also offered at this location.
Wildwater Chattooga: You have a whole post here dedicated to this location, so read on to learn about the river rafting, ziplining, SUP Tours, Kayak Tours, and more offered here in Long Creek, South Carolina.
Visiting Wildwater Chattooga
Wildwater’s Chattooga River location is where it all got started back in 1971. Quick, do the math!
Yep, 50 years ago, Wildwater put their raft in the water and hasn’t stopped since. A true pioneer in white water rafting, they were the first to offer trips on the river. Being the oldest whitewater rafting outfitter in the region has given Wildwater first-hand experience and knowledge of the Chattooga River, a free-flowing Wild and Scenic River that is necessary to provide the best (and safest) experience for guests.
This is why people return to Wildwater year after year and now generation after generation. We were so impressed with the staff and all of the people who play a part in keeping an operation like this going. It’s a true gift to be able to do it and make someone feel right at home/part of the team at the very same time.
And while it started with just one raft and a couple of oars, the operation has now grown to offer a Canopy Tour and Lodging as well.
A Quick History
I mentioned that the business has been around for 50 years, but even more fascinating is that the location has been around for over 100! Once home to Long Creek Academy, established along with the Main Building being built in 1914, this campus has a number of historical buildings that are actually used to this day.
In fact, the Sullivan Building, which is where you check in for your trip, shop for gifts, etc, was once a girl’s dormitory erected in 1917. Wildwater bought the property right around the time they started offering their commercial rafting trips, and it’s been in good hands since.
They have since added a number of additional accommodations to offer guests. I find things like this fascinating!
Lodging at Wildwater Chattooga
Alright, so now let’s talk about our trip! I have mentioned this time and time again, but walkability & nearby accommodations are very important to me when it comes to trip planning. The last thing we want to do after a big adventure is pack up the car and drive somewhere.
So, I was very happy to hear that Wildwater Chattooga has lodging right there on location. A trip like this is so much more enjoyable when you are just a quick walk away from everything.
For our visit, we stayed in Earl’s Ford, one of their cottages in the woods. It has a queen bed upstairs in a loft and a futon for the kids downstairs, and was the perfect size for us. We were so busy with activities that we didn’t spend a whole lot of time there, but it provided a nice clean, and cozy place for us to unwind and clean up after our adventures!
My favorite part was the oversized deck, where I enjoyed my coffee in the mornings and some wine at night. It was so peaceful just to sit and hear the sounds of nature!
There are 4 of these cottages (2 duplexes) to choose from, and Wildwater Chattooga also has an adorable treehouse that sleeps 2. There is also a luxury house that sleeps 12 and a luxury house that sleeps 8. Matt and I were already dreaming up future trips with friends! Wouldn’t this make such a fun guy’s or girl’s trip?
They recently built 4 new luxury cabins that we would probably choose to stay in next time. They sleep 4, with two bedrooms and queen beds, and have a larger floorplan / newer kitchens & bathrooms. This location also offers group YURTS which are perfect for retreats, youth groups, and such.
The Zip Lining Canopy Tour at Wildwater
The Chattooga Ridge Canopy Tour was our first order of business when we arrived Saturday afternoon, and it was a great way to kick off our visit! This 3-hour tour is composed of 11 zip lines (with water crossings) and 3 sky bridges! Zippers (is that a word) must be 8 years old with a minimum weight of 60 lbs and a maximum weight of 250 lbs. We had never really ziplined before either, and while we were all just a little nervous, our guides started with the basics and made us feel confident right off the bat!
All tours start off at Ground School, two platforms and a zip line located not far off the ground. It’s here that they show you the basics and practice the ziplining basics. From here, you climb on up to your first platform, which is the easiest, and then it builds from there, with the last two being both the longest and the fastest! There is even one line where two people can go side by side.
Every time I looked over at the kids, they were grinning ear to ear. To be honest, Abby was very apprehensive in the days leading up to this. But, after 5 minutes, she was so confident and hooting/hollering down the lines, just beaming. As a mom, it was really cool to watch her face a challenge, rise up and then want to do it again!
I think it’s safe to say we are HOOKED! Haha, had to say it. It’s true, though!
We are looking forward to hitting the canopy tours at the other Wildwater locations in the future!
Rafting the Chattooga River with Wildwater
Have you ever been white water rafting?
We had NOT, but Matt and I have always talked about wanting to try it. Now that the kids are 10 & 12 we are realizing that bucket list adventures like this are actually a real possibility! The thing is that we really didn’t have any experience rafting ourselves, let alone the knowledge to teach our kids. So, maybe that is why it felt daunting. But the great news is that it does not have to be!
Experience is not required to raft the Chattooga River with Wildwater Ltd! They teach you everything that you need to know to safely and confidently take on a white water rafting adventure! The minimum age requirement at the Wildater Chattooga River is 8 years old, and at that age, they can take on Section 3 (like we did) and even a class 4+ rapid. At their Nantahala River location, the minimum age is 7 years old, and at the Pigeon River, children as young as 4 years of can try their hand at river rafting.
We did the 7-hour Section III Chattooga River Whitewater Rafting Trip, and it was even better than I thought it would be! I had a feeling that I would love the actual rafting part but didn’t realize how beautiful the river itself was. That is in part because it is a designated Wild & Scenic River. Let me tell you what that means!
About the Chattooga River
in 1974, after being brought to the river by locals who loved it, then Georgia governor, Jimmy Carter, gave the Chattooga its Wild & Scenic designation. In a nutshell, that means that things can’t be built along its banks. You see it as it was hundreds of years ago when the Cherokee called the banks of this river home. As you paddle down the river, you can’t help but feel amazed at the tall and mighty trees aligning the banks with Georgia on one side and South Carolina on the other. Can you imagine the stories that they could tell?
In addition to the Wild & Scenic designation, it is also not dammed, letting nature do the work and therefore making the river just feel more alive. What an honor it was to be able to experience some time on one of the longest and most beautiful free-flowing rivers east of the Mississippi.
Can I share a little story? Do you know what movie was filmed along Sections III and IV of the Chattooga River? HINT: Dueling banjos.
The movie Deliverance was filmed here back in 1971, and it was actually the filming that inspired Wildwater founder Jim Greiner to get on the water himself! He fell in love with rafting, and the rest is history. Read more at Visit Oconee, SC.
The movie did spill the beans about this untouched gem nestled safely within the forest which is what eventually led to the river being designated Wild & Scenic. What wonderful forward-thinking that was!
Rafting Options at Wildwater Chattooga
In addition to 7 hour Section III rafting trip that we took, which is undoubtedly the most popular option, they have a mini trip that is about 4 hours and a Section IV trip for guests ages 12+. Matt also is very interested in their overnight trip along Section IV. I have mentioned it before, but backpacking is big on our family bucket list right now.
FUN FACT: Did you know that Matt hiked the Appalachian Trail for an entire summer? I think he covered 500 miles! He really wants to take the kids backpacking.
So, our Section III trip started with a walk down to the river bank. This is approx .25 miles, and everyone pitches in to carry the gear! Once down there, you are given a basic lesson in terms, commands, safety information, etc, and then it’s time to hop aboard your raft, with your knowledgeable guide, of course!
The first couple of rapids are small and where you really work on technique and getting the hang of things! The trip never feels rushed and actually stops a few times where you can get out and even eat lunch (included in your trip).
About a third of the way through, you approach Bull Sluice, which is the Class 4+ rapid and the most difficult one that you will tackle on this outing. The group gets out prior, looks at it, watches the group leader’s raft go down, and then you can decide if you want to do it. I think almost everyone does, and that is their goal. Having done it, I encourage you to do it too! It was such an adrenaline rush and left all of us to feel proud!
I feel like really need to include several of the photos here because our facial expressions are killing me. And kudos to our guide, Brendon, for keeping it together when we were barely hanging on. And by we, I mean Matt and I. The kids were as cool as cucumbers. I even see Abby looking directly at the camera. There is more to the post after those Bull Sluice photos, so keep on reading!
They also have a photographer there who will take photos of your raft conquering Bull Sluice as well as a group photo. Then you have the opportunity to jump INTO the rapids! That was actually the most nerve-wracking thing for me, but it was amazing! The kid just jumped right in.
I looked like a chicken, but I did it!
After Bull Sluice, you do a portion of Section IV, stopping again and just enjoying your time on the water. There are a couple of big rapids still to tackle, and I have to confess that Matt and I did fall out of the raft on one. I think we were the only ones to fall out of any raft the whole day, but it was no biggie! We got pulled back into rafts and kept ongoing. If you fall in the river, you’re just in the river. It takes a minute to get back into a raft, and you get wet, but that’s about it. So, don’t let that scare you.
Signed, the girl who fell out of the raft.
Other Activities at Wildwater Chattooga
After rafting, we went back to our cottage and got cleaned up. Matt took a nap. The kids watched TV for a bit, and then we headed out to dinner at Humble Pie. I’ll share that in just a bit under Where to Eat.
But the property does have activities like volleyball, beanbags, horseshoes, hiking, etc, that you can enjoy while staying in the lodging at Wildwater Chattooga. This area is truly just a place to relax and unwind, especially if you are staying onsite at Wildwater Chattooga!
Tips and Tricks
We had a few questions before we went and learned a lot along the way, so hopefully, I can answer some questions here!
Cell Service / Wifi: I was worried about having coverage, mainly because we are Airbnb hosts, and I need to be accessible. It’s true that the wifi is spotty, but my AT&T cell service was great while at Wildwater Chattooga. You will not have cell service while floating down the river. And that is a good thing!
Shoes: The zip line tour requires closed-toed shoes. The rafting trip does not; however, shoes must stay on your feet. So, Teva Hurricane-type shoes are ok. Flip Flops are not.
Sunscreen & Bug Spray: Do not skimp on the sunscreen! 7 hours is a lot of time in the sun. Apply plenty of sunscreen before you leave!
Cameras/Video: For the zipline, it’s really hard to use a Go Pro because hands are busy, and the line is very close to the helmet mount. I had my phone in a fanny pack and took it out when safe to take photos and videos for our coverage here. On the river, I really wouldn’t recommend taking anything. I did have a GoPro mounted on my helmet, which was nice, but the mount broke when I fell out, and I almost lost my camera. They recommend leaving it behind if it can’t get wet, lost, or broken. Head that warning. They have a photographer (mentioned above) that takes photos at Bull Sluice, and you can purchase the online download for $80 total. Well worth it!
Where To Eat Near Wildwater Chattooga
I do want to hit on two other points real quick before you go because this will be helpful in planning YOUR trip! There are a handful of restaurants nearby, and we tried a couple of them. So, here are a few that are located 1-3 miles from Wildwater Chattooga. You can also cook in your cottage or cabin if you stay onsite!
Humble Pie: Only 1.7 miles away, this casual pizza stop had outdoor seating (while the kids ran around to play) and live music, which are basically my two favorite things! The Southwest Pizza was fantastic!
The Gauge Coffee House: Next door to Humble Pie, this quaint coffee shop has breakfast items as well.
Chattooga Belle Farm: We wanted to grab lunch here, but they aren’t open on Mondays, so we will have to try it next time. The reviews are great, and it is about a 5-minute drive from Wildwater Chattooga.
Chattooga River Lodge: This was not on my radar until one of our guides told us about it. We went there for dinner on our first night and enjoyed the live music outside. It’s definitely THE LOCAL place to be if you are looking for a bar/restaurant/sports/music type place!
Local Farms / Orchards: There are also a number of Orchards near Wildwater as well as some farm stands. So, don’t pass those up!
Plan Your Visit to Wildwater Chattooga
Are you ready to visit Wildwater?
Their website is the best resource when planning your trip! You can book everything online and even fill out waivers in advance. Most rafting trips run from early March into late November, and wetsuits are provided free of charge in the cooler months. I will say that if you are thinking about going — do it soon! The leave hadn’t started to change yet, and in the next several weeks, it is going to be so beautiful!
Click here to visit the Wildwater website!
Want to see more? I have an Instagram story that shows our entire road trip to and from Wildwater from start to finish! You can check that out here. I also plan to do another blog post with a full itinerary in the near future as well and will link to it here once it’s up!
Looking for more family travel inspiration? Check out the TRAVEL section of our blog!
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We did the white water rafting a couple of years ago and absolutely love it! This brought back so many memories! I’m ready to do it again!
Oh man!! I once went white water rafting in Ecuador and it was the most terrifying thing of my life! The pictures of you and your family on the rafts look so scary, but also so fun! Glad you could take your kids on these adventures and enjoy it as a family!