The New River would be a great river to check out if you are comfy on the Ocoee. The river changes drastically throughout the season. I would say, try to paddle it somewhere under 8 feet for your first time. The water gets really really big above 10. Not sure the exact cfs associated to the feet reading. I remember it being really choppy at 4.5

Anyway, the New is like an amusement park ride. It's pretty fun most of the time. The wave trains are huge and bouncy. So- it's good to have a solid roll because they will totally flip you over. There are definitely some dangerous sections on the river. Undercut rocks, strange reactionary waves that can push you the direction you don't want to go... so, staying up right or getting up right fast is important. There are atleast 2 super significant rapids that require you to be seriously on your game. Upper Keeney and Double Z. Then there is another closer to Fayette Station.

The water on the New is different from any water that I've ever paddled. It's really deep. Squirly. Crazy eddy lines. Warm. It's really quite fun. The river itself just has a certain rich, soul lifting feeling about it.

Congrats on making a step up. That's a big deal. Let us know where you find your perfect river.

Also, make sure to take a good guide!

:)
Moriya