Designated the South's first National Wild & Scenic River in 1974, the Chattooga is one of the premier whitewater rafting rivers in the Eastern United States. The Chattooga National Wild & Scenic River originates high in the Carolina mountains. The river drops an average of 49.3 feet per mile in its race past the stately woods of Sumter National Forest. For 40 miles this tumultuous (and sometimes disarmingly placid) mountain river separates South Carolina from Georgia. Once familiar only to locals, the Chattooga became a sort of national quest after taking a starring role in the movie Deliverance. The Chattooga is one of the longest and largest free-flowing mountain rivers in the Southeast that remains in a relatively undeveloped condition. Rafting, canoeing, and kayaking the Chattooga are major adventures in the Upcountry.