NOC Spring Fling & Upper/Cascades Release
Date: April 18- 19, 2020
Time: All day
Price: Free
Age: All Ages
Celebrate spring in the Smoky Mountains with a free event in the Nantahala Gorge! Enjoy a release of the Cascades and Upper Nantahala, live music, delicious food and the 3rd Annual Live Like Maria Freestyle Classic on this weekend of celebration. NOC's Outfitter's Store will be open from 9AM-6PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!
In addition to the events listed below, local paddler Chris Hipgrave will be onsite to recount his international paddling adventure to Antarctica!
| Saturday, April 18 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Live Like Maria Preliminaries | All Day | Play Hole |
| NOC Spring Sale | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| Free Demos | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| River's End Restaurant Open | 8AM-7PM | |
| Speaker Series | Chris Hipgrave Antarctica | 5PM-6PM | Outfitter's Store |
| Music with The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs | 6PM-9PM | Riverside Stage |
| Cascades Release | Free Shuttles | 10AM-5PM | Cascades |
| Sunday, April 19 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Live Like Maria Finals | All Day | Play Hole |
| NOC Spring Sale | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| Free Demos | All Day | Outfitter's Store |
| River's End Restaurant | 8AM - 7PM | |
| Cascades Release | Free Shuttles | 10AM-4PM | Cascades |
Directions
Nantahala Outdoor Center's main campus, the Nantahala River Outpost is located in far Western North Carolina on US Highway 19. 12 miles from Bryson City and on the south side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the outpost is nestled in the Nantahala Gorge. If you are on a Rapid Transit rafting/train excursions, the meeting place is in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot.
From Asheville, NC: Take I-40 West towards Knoxville, TN. Take exit 27 onto US 74 West towards Waynesville. Stay on 74 West, the outpost is 50 miles down this road. 8 miles past Bryson City, the 4-lane will split into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74, the left lane. You will enter the Nantahala Gorge and after 5-miles you see the Nantahala River and NOC's Nantahala Outpost.
From Gatlinburg, TN: Take 441 South through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and through Cherokee. Just past Cherokee, get on 74 West. After 15 miles, the road will split into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74 W, the left lane, and continue the 5-milts to the NOC Nantahala Outpost.
From East Atlanta: Take I-85 North to I-985 North. At Gainesville, take 365 North to 441 North. Just past Dillsboro, NC, 441 merges with US 74. 8 miles past Bryson City, the 4-lane splits into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74, the left lane. Continue 5-miles and arrive at the NOC Nantahala Outpost.
From West Atlanta: Take I-75 North to I-575 North. I-575 becomes State Hwy 5, and then Hwy 76. Stay on this road until Blue Ridge, GA where you turn left onto Hwy 60 towards Mineral Bluff, GA. In Mineral Bluff, turn right onto Hwy 60 Spur. Follow it into North Carolina to US 74 East, turning right towards Murphy and Andrews when the road ends. Stay on 74 East, NOC's Nantahala Outpost is 20-miles past Andrews. You will follow the Nantahala River for the last 8-miles.
From Chattanooga, TN: Take I-75 North towards Cleveland, TN. Take the 1st Cleveland exit, the US 64 Bypass Exit. Go 6-miles and take the Ocoee Exit onto US 64 East towards Murphy, NC. In Murphy the road number changes to US 74. Stay on 74 East, NOC's Nantahala Outpost is 20-miles past Andrews. You will follow the Nantahala River for the last 8-miles.
