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Asheville, NC - close proximity to the Ocoee, Nantahala and Chattooga (of Deliverance fame) Rivers.
Greenville, SC - close to the Nantahala and Chattooga Rivers.
Roanoke, VA -close to the New River.
Thanks for the suggestions LovD, I looked into Asheville and Greenville, but I don't think there is any work there for me.
Knoxville has some rivers too, not sure if there any good, but at least I might be able to find work there. I'm a commercial A/C and heat guy.
Keep em coming folks. great input!
I'm reading up on all your suggestions.
Any Ideas on New Mexico or Reno?
I hear there's a nice river in San Marcos, TX. To bad it get so damn hot there.
I've noticed that several times people have qualified their recommendations with the fact that the water may not be as warm as you'd prefer for as much of the year as you would prefer. I have a feeling that you may have to compromise some on this. Water rushing down from hills and mountains tends to be cold, even fairly far to the south. This will be especially true in spring and early summer, when the water has not yet warmed up from its winter low temperature. You might especially need to compromise on the length of the year when you want the water to be warm.
I'm not sure what the whitewater rafting scene is like in the Ozarks, but if there are good whitewater spots there, this might be a region where you could find fairly warm water for more of the year than in many more northerly areas, or areas with higher mountains, like NC. In this area you might have to compromise some on finding a mid-sized or larger city under an hour from the mountains, but several cities would be within easy day-trip distance. If the mountains in eastern Oklahoma have white water, Tulsa would put you pretty close to being within the distance you're looking for. I don't know how the whitewater scene is in and near the Ozarks, but this could be a region worth investigating.
Atlanta is just a little farther than you'd like from whitewater (2-3 hours), however its a huge city with a wide range of job opportunities. I'd recommend staying on the north side of the metro area if possible (i.e. - Roswell, Lawrenceville, Duluth, etc..)
Thinking of relocating and was looking for suggestions on med-large size city that has: (need to work for a living)
1. Good summer weather
2. Easy whitewater river access (travel < 1hr) / (shuttle service / club )
3. Rivers run most of the year. (class 2-3)
4. Water temps are warm enough were you don't need a wet suit most of the year.
I will start with my home town of Portland OR.
Both the Sandy and the Clackamas rivers (lower) are within 30 mins from town, class 2 - 2+, but the water is really cold until June then by August its more like class 1.
and yes, the hardcore yakers like it cold and nasty... I grew up in Hawaii and don't really care for water < 55 degrees, plus I'm an old fart
I'm going to place the NATURAL White Water area's ahead of the MAN MADE urban white water area's.........
NATURAL
Chattanooga Tenn....no problem with cold water..or little Tulsa Oklahoma.....no problem with cold water..or little..Right In UPTOWN Tulsa
Boise Idaho..Mountain River Water Breeeeeer... Portland Oregon...Mountain River Water... Reno Nevada..High Elevation Cold Water...but near Down Town
MAN MADE.........
Charlotte NC...Built for Olympics Training Facility Oklahoma City...Built for Olympics Training Facility
Sacramento, CA is a decent option. You can whitewater raft on rivers in the Sacramento area, head to Yosemite for day trips, head to Lake Tahoe area, and more. The water is going to be cold as it is run off from the Sierra Nevadas. Sacramento metro area has over 2 million people.
Columbus, GA has a great urban whitewater area on the Chattahoochee River in downtown Columbus. The city is planning to make it one of the largest whitewater courses in the country by breaching some of the dams downtown.
Location: Downtown Augusta Broad st. ''Artist Row''
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Augusta, GA...
Home to the Augusta Canal and the Savannah River. Boat tours, kayaking, whitewater rafting, moonlight cruise etc.... Augusta is 20 minutes to Clarks Hill lake. We have a Whitewater park and Adqueduct Park..
Columbus, GA has a great urban whitewater area on the Chattahoochee River in downtown Columbus. The city is planning to make it one of the largest whitewater courses in the country by breaching some of the dams downtown.
Here is a link to the Columbus whitewater rafting project:
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Natural And Man Made White Water Urban Area's....
