Chattahoochee River offers longest urban whitewater rafting course in world

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Aug. 13, 2014) -- For thrillseekers living in the Chattahoochee Valley, the rivers of North Georgia and Tennessee have long been a destination for thrilling whitewater rafting excursions.

However, local residents and visitors from across the globe can ride some of the toughest rapids in North America right here close to Fort Benning.

The stretch of the Chattahoochee River that runs between downtown Columbus and downtown Phenix City is home to the longest urban whitewater rafting course in the world, a course created when the Eagle & Phenix and City Mills dams were released in 2013.

The course consists of more than five rapids that can reach class IV or higher, as well as 10 smaller rapids. The rapids on the Chattahoochee can reach up to 13,000 cubic feet per second in volume during high water release levels. By comparison, the rapids on the Ocoee River in North Georgia and Tennessee can reach up to 1,100 cubic feet per second in volume.

The speed of the rapids on the Chattahoochee makes them the largest whitewater rapids south of Canada and east of Colorado.

Whitewater Express is the rafting outfitter for the course, and offers trips seven days a week. Classic low-water trips are offered every day at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., with an additional 9 a.m. trip offered on Saturdays and Sundays.

For an added thrill, the Waverunner, Challenge and Carnage high-water trips are offered every day at 4 p.m. for the Waverunner and 5 p.m. for the Challenge and Carnage trips. This is when the river reaches its peak in terms of cubic feet per second and the number of class IV rapids offered.

Classic trips are $32.50 per person Monday through Thursday and $34.50 Friday through Sunday. Waverunner and Challenge trips are $46.50 Monday through Thursday and $49.50 Friday through Sunday. Carnage trips are $69.50 seven days a week.

For more information on reservations, restrictions, group pricing or any other questions, call Whitewater Express at 800-676-7238 or visit whitewaterexpress.com.