Ocoee River Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

This run features a section of the BMT, Rock Creek Trail #125 in its entirety, about 0.5 miles of road running (downhill), the Whitewater Center where the 1996 Olympic rafting trials occurred, and the Rhododendron Trail.

Restrooms are available at Thunder Rock Campground and at the Whitewater Center.

Trail is very runnable and is the best running loop in the area. Beware of hidden obstacles when the leaves start falling. There are a few minor creek crossings, and I did have to get my shoes wet after a period of lots of rain.

Parking at Thunder Rock Campgroud (parking is free), you'll run across the bridge overlooking the Ocoee River, across Hwy 64 to the Benton MacKaye Trail. You'll run up the BMT, until you get to the Rock Creek Trail #125 (the junction is well marked).

This section features a well maintained path with beautiful fall colors. The Rock Creek Trail will take you back to Hwy 64 where you'll run on the road for about 0.5 miles to the Whitewater Center. During the summer, you can see lots of rafters and kayakers attempting the olympic section which features many back-to-back class 4 rapids.

From the Whitewater Center, you'll cross the bridge over the Ocoee River to the Rhododendron Trail. The Rhododendron Trail follows the Ocoee River and starts out as paved then turns into gravel. This trail will take you back to the Thunder Rock campground for a 10-mile loop.

There are also many other great trails that you could connect to from the Whitewater Center to make a larger loop.

Rhododendron

You'll run through the Whitewater Center which is where the 1996 Olympic rafting trials were held.