Snorkeling

The Conasauga River snorkeling hole sits across the state line in the Cherokee National Forest, downstream of the wilderness but fed by the same river that drains out of the Cohutta high country. The Forest Service runs guided trips there through the Ocoee Whitewater Center, for groups of twelve to twenty four.

Wetsuits, masks, and snorkels are provided, along with instruction, and underwater viewing scopes are available for anyone who would rather watch than get in the water. The river holds more than sixty fish species here, including three federally listed ones: the blue shiner, the amber darter, and the Conasauga logperch.

This is not a walk-up activity. Trips run on select dates and fill by group. Call the Cherokee National Forest to check current dates and book a spot.

Holly Creek is just as good and far less known. It runs clear through its own gorge on the Chatsworth side and holds strong populations without a guided program or a group size limit, so it is the easier one to do on your own schedule.

Snorkeling inside the wilderness itself, on the upper Conasauga or upper Holly Creek where they are still mountain streams, is also worth doing. Expect far fewer species up there. The diversity downstream comes from the lower gradient and warmer water. Higher in the watershed it is mostly trout and a simpler community, but the water runs clear and the setting is quieter than either guided or lower-elevation spot.