Our Guides

Our guides are trained professionals, and many of them return year after year. They are devoted to ensuring that everyone receives the finest outdoor experience possible. They are highly trained and must complete several levels of training before leading an outdoor adventure with us. Our guides will instruct you before and during your whitewater adventure, helping to make your trip more exciting, safe, and memorable.

Katie S. Years Guiding: 7                                                                                                                   From: Chattanooga, TN This is my 7th year guiding on the Ocoee River. I have been on 9 different rivers, from the Gauley River in West Virginia to Cherry Creek section of the Toulanme in California. I love being on the river. I hope to make this a life-long choice.

Tera B. Years Guiding: 6 From: Benton, TN This is my 6th year guiding and I have the best job in the world. I love to be outdoors and spend most of my free time kayaking. I am a Polk County native, and I will be a senior at ETSU in Johnson City, TN where my major is Nutrition. Ask for me if you are looking for one of the happiest gals to take you down the river and show you a great time.

Zach S. Years Guiding: 3 From: Harrison, TN I love the outdoors and traveling, but at the same time, there's no place like home. I love to experience many different things, and it's always good to make new friends. I'm a sports enthusiast, you name it, and I'll play it. There's nothing better than going camping with a group of friends and laying awake in the pitch black night listening to the sounds of running water of the river or stream. Rafting just comes natural.

Alycia L. Years Guiding: 3 From: Georgetown, TN I am originally from Florida and recently relocated to Tennessee. This is my 3rd year guiding on the Ocoee although it has been a life long dream. I have a 5 year old little girl who is the love of my life. We enjoy watching Nascar togehter. Go Kevin Harvick!! If you ride in my boat, be aware that I suffer from Overactive Adrenalin Disorder (O.A.D.)!!

Josh S. Years Guiding: 14 From: Chattanooga, TN I have been guiding for Cherokee Rafting 14 years and still enjoy rafting just as much as ever. For the last ten years I have been riding bulls in rodeos. People who request for me to be their guide always ask for the Bull Rider. I am now living in Birchwood, TN with my wife and 3 daughters (who are excited about rafting too and can't wait untilt they are old enough to get in a raft.)

Mark B. Years Guiding: 11 From: Cleveland, TN I am lover of outdoor adventure sports including rafting, paddling, rock climbing, and camping. The Ocoee is my home river, but I have been on about two dozen other rivers including the New and Gauley rivers in West Virgina, and the Yuba River and Cherry Creek in California. I am currently planning a trip to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

Michael P. Years Guiding: 7 From: Atlanta, GA	Kevin S. Years Guiding:This is my 11 Season guiding on the Ocoee River. When I am not working for Cherokee I am a teacher in North Georgia. In my free time I also enjoy kayaking on he Ocoee and other rivers. From: Calhoun, GA	Nathan W. Years Guiding: 9 From: Etowah, TN

Evan H. Years Guiding: 4 From: Cleveland, TN Born and raised in Tennessee. I've always loved playing in the outdoors. From taking a day trip to Jack's river to hiking up Big Frog Mountain and staying the weekend. Whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River has become a new passion for me.

Wendy T. Years Guiding: 13 From: Cleveland, TN Originally from Memphis, TN, I came to the Ocoee to fulfill my dream of becoming a whitewater rafting guide. God not only enabled me to guide in this beautiful place but has also blessed me with a wonderful husband and a job teaching high school math in the area during the river off-season. In addition to rafting, I enjoy other outdoor activities and singing in my church choir and praise team.

Jimmy C. - A.K.A. Old Jim Years Guiding: 20 From: Cleveland, TN Age: 36 I have been guiding rafts on the Ocoee River for 18 years and I enjoy it very much. I have a wife and 2 kids at home. In my spare time I enjoy going to my boys baseball games or spending a day on the golf course.

Jason S. Years Guiding: 11 From: Cleveland, TN		Gavin C. Years Guiding: 7 From: I am from old Fort Tennessee. I am currently enrolled at Tennessee Tech working towards my Engineering Degree. I am also an avid Kayaker and enjoy running creeks and other rivers in the area.

Jimmie P. Years Guiding: 8 From: Tyler, TX Born in Panama City, Panama. My family moved to Tyler, Texas when I was two years old. After my first year of college in Texas, I decided to have some adventure and came to Ocoee, Tennessee to become a river guide. Since then, I have traveled to Argentina, Ireland, and worked at a ski resort in Utah. Of course, every summer, I come back to Cherokee Rafting to have some real fun.

Shane S. Years Guiding: 7 From: Knoxville, TN I am a firefighter and have been a whitewater enthusiast for many years. My love for whitewater, river rescue and the outdoors brought me to this area. I have rafted rivers all over the United States and Mexico. Meeting new people and making memories in the outdoors make this a great place to work.

Anthony T. Years Guiding: 18 From: Harrison, TN	Howard L. Years Guiding: 10 From: Ooltewah, TN

Mike T. Years Guiding: 31 From: Memphis, TN I am originally from W.VA., where I guided on the New and Gauley Rivers. I came to the Ocoee when my real-world job moved me to Memphis. The cross-state drive to the river allows me to change from corporate mentality to my well-known "River Guide Attitude." My love of the river is contagious - my daughter Emily, age 14, has already fallen out of the raft at Broken Nose and had to swim. My son Daniel, age 11, likes to watch the rafts run the Olympic section and help set safety rope.  He will be old enough next year for his first trip on whitewater.