Tennessee whitewater - Hiwassee River, Great Smoky Mountains, Polk County Polk county, Appalachia Dam to Appalachia Powerhouse section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS III-IV     4.8 miles   The put-in location is a reasonable drive from Athens, if you're not familiar with the area there's a road map further down the page. Whitewater rafting and kayaking spots in Tennessee tend to be more challenging than the national average, so don't forget that the rivers in this state are less manageable. The natural beauty of Polk County and the water flowing gracefully down Hiwassee River attract people from near and far. Some people prefer whitewater rafting and some kayaking, either way there are lots of good rivers for that around here. This section     is long enough to enjoy a good non stop paddle, good for a one day paddling trip. The Appalachia Dam to Appalachia Powerhouse stretch of Hiwassee River in Tennessee is 4.8 miles long and is a class III-IV section of whitewater according to American Whitewater. Getting a good workout and spending some quality time in nature are great reasons to come. For all you camping people there are campgrounds nearby. There are some good sections to paddle in this river system, the Appalachia Dam to Appalachia Powerhouse section is one of them. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem but you'd better reserve in advance because these hotels fill up quick. When you're paddling down a Great Smoky Mountains river like this one you always get great scenery along the way too. Briefly   about the general area: That right there is plenty of cool stuff already but it goes on, the Great Smoky Mountains has it all. Good hiking is available along the Smith Mountain Trail. While staying at Hiwassee River you could always explore Stone Pile Gap; don't leave Hiwassee River without first going for a hike along the Unicoi Mountain Trail. The high level of precipitation makes Hiwassee River a relatively wet place; March is the wettest month with most rain while October is usually the driest month. Summertime brings highs in the 80's to Hiwassee River. For the duration of the moonlight hours it's frequently in the 60's. During the winter highs are in the 40's, and overnight lows through the wintertime for Hiwassee River tend to be in the 20's. Hiwassee River, Appalachia Dam to Appalachia Powerhouse road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked. QUICK STATS AW Class: III-IV Length: 4.8 miles Average Gradient: 32 fpm    Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 35.16759 Longitude: -84.29541 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 35.1833 Longitude: -84.4388 Paddler input for Hiwassee River, Tennessee: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Input Submission Guidelines Current weather conditions at Hiwassee River, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee Local climate location: ATHENS 4 miles away RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river. Etowah Red Roof Inn, Etowah 14 miles away The Etowah Red Roof is newly renovated and conveniently located right off of the highway. This location offers a free continental breakfast and fitness facility. This location also offers free wireles... Comfort Inn & Suites Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge 17 miles away The Blue Ridge Lodge & Spa by Comfort Inn & Suites is located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. Relax in our spacious accommodations with stylish decor. Our luxury amenities include... Days Inn/ Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge 17 miles away The Days Inn Blue Ridge offers you the best of the North Georgia Mountain. We are the perfect location for a weekend getaway. There are festivals year round, river tubing and boating as well as the ...   Great Smoky Mountains Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater kayaking and rafting spots in the Great Smoky Mountains. Great Smoky Mountains Outdoors Info Complete outdoors info for the Great Smoky Mountains. All Tennessee Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Tennessee. Books about whitewater paddling on Hiwassee River, Tennessee List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Hiwassee River, Tennessee. Find a whitewater outfitter in Tennessee Whitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info. Outdoors Recreation Near Athens, Tennessee Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Athens, Tennessee, the metro area neareast to Hiwassee River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.       These outdoors activities are available near Hiwassee River.   Whitewater Near Hiwassee River: Wolf Creek, Polk County , 1 miles away, Class IV+ - 2.3 miles long (FR to Hiawassee River) Coker Creek, Polk County , 1 miles away, Class III-IV(V) - 6 miles long (Highway 68 to Hiwassee River) Turtletown Creek, Polk County , 2 miles away, Class IV-V - 4.2 miles long (Highway 68 to Hiwassee River) Hiwassee River, Polk County , 2 miles away, Class II - 5.8 miles long (Appalachia Powerhouse to Bridge at Reliance) Little Loss Creek, Polk County , 8 miles away, Class -blank- - 2 miles long (into Big Loss Creek) Ocoee River, Polk County , 10 miles away, Class III-IV - 5 miles long (Ocoee #3 to Ocoee #2 Dam) Goforth Creek, Polk County , 10 miles away, Class IV-V - 5 miles long (to Ocoee) Ocoee River, Polk County , 12 miles away, Class III+ - 5 miles long (#2 Dam to #2 Powerhouse) Gee Creek, Polk County , 12 miles away, Class IV-V - 1 miles long (hike up back to parking area) Tellico River, Monroe County , 13 miles away, Class I-III - 4.2 miles long (Ranger Station to Tellico Plains)   Ski Areas Near Hiwassee River: Ober Gatlinburg, Tennessee , 63 miles away, 600 vertical feet Sky Valley, Georgia , 71 miles away, 210 vertical feet Scaly Mountain, North Carolina , 74 miles away, 225 vertical feet Cataloochee, North Carolina , 91 miles away, 740 vertical feet   Hotels Near Hiwassee River: Etowah Red Roof Inn, Etowah , 14 miles away Comfort Inn & Suites Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge , 17 miles away Days Inn/ Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge , 17 miles away Ramada Limited Of Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge , 18 miles away Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites MURPHY, Murphy , 23 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Hiwassee River: Coker Creek Village, Cokercreek, 8 miles away Cuddle Up Cabin Rentals, Mc Caysville, 11 miles away Tellico Plains Koa, Tellico Plains, 12 miles away   Trails Near Hiwassee River: Unicoi Mountain Trail, Polk County , 1 miles away Smith Mountain Trail, Polk County , 3 miles away John Muir National Recreation Trail, Polk County , 4 miles away Unicoi Trail, Polk County , 4 miles away Ivy Trail, Monroe County , 5 miles away   National Parks Near Hiwassee River: Obed Wild & Scenic River, Wartburg - TN , 52 miles away Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg - TN , 66 miles away