White Water Rafting in Northeast Alabama

Northeast Alabama is a well-known destination for white water rafting. The Tennessee River and its backwaters flow through the area, creating an exciting environment for white water rafters of all skill and experience levels to explore and traverse. Whether you are looking for some gentle class 2 runs or the adrenaline rush of a class 5 gauntlet, Northeast Alabama is the perfect white water rafting destination.

Town Creek

With an easy put-in just below a slide rapid at the old mill off Highway 27, Upper Town Creek gives novice rafters a gentle, easy class 2 run with just enough tricky spots to keep it exciting. Just be sure to take out at High Falls Park before you reach the walking bridge. After the bridge comes High Falls and that is a drop of 50 feet that you do not want to go over.

Lower Town Creek offers more of a challenge for the more experienced. The majority of the run is a class 3, but there is an easy class 5 rapid along the run. Start your tour at High Falls Park, down the hill from the falls. Your take-out is at a small, old fishing shack on Route 227.

South Sauty Creek

South Sauty Creek offers experienced rafters a continuous stream of class 3 and 4 rapids. Running for a little over 7 miles, South Sauty empties into Buck Pocket State Park, which offers a perfect place to park your car and hot showers for after your run. To get there, take a shuttle from the park or hike to the put-in at the intersection of County Roads 43 and 56. Be careful when you put in, though: just below the put-in point is a very turbulent, constricted rapid that has been known to start South Sauty rafting tours with mishaps.

Flat Rock & Coon Creeks

If you really want to challenge yourself and hit some level 5 rapids, Northeast Alabama has several treats for you. Flat Rock Creek combines with Coon Creek to offer an epic journey with no shortage of class 5 rapids. Put in at Route 117, just north of Route 71, and plan to spend a long day. You will start on Flat Rock Creek with an easier class 3-4 run, but things will really heat up when you join with Coon Creek. Locals strongly recommend hiring a guide or considering making the trip a multi-day one given the length of the run.