News

Community

2026 NOC Guides of the Year

A great day at NOC starts with the people who make it happen. It might be the guide who helps you feel ready for your first rapid, the...

Things to Do

Best Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains in Winter

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains is pure magic. Snow dusts the highest peaks, mountain towns come alive with holiday festivities, and...

Community

A Complete Guide to NOC’s Guest Appreciation Festival (GAF)

#8216;Twas the morning of GAF in the Nantahala Gorge. Fog curled off the river like smoke from a forge. Vendors set out their art, their...

Great Pumpkin Showdown 2026

Help Pick NOC’s Pumpkin Champion Our crew traded paddles for pumpkin carving tools, and now you get to pick the winner. Browse the...

Things to Do

Fall Leaves Look Better from a Boat: A Case for Autumn Whitewater Rafting

When most people picture whitewater rafting, they imagine a summer day complete with blazing sun, splashy rapids, and maybe some ice cream...

Things to Do

Best Fall Road Trips from Charlotte, NC: 5 Mountain Weekend Getaways

You’ve heard our recommendations for the best fall road trips from Atlanta. Now it’s Charlotte’s turn! Charlotte is...

Things to Do

Best Fall Road Trips from Atlanta: 6 Mountain Weekend Getaways

October is the perfect time for Atlanta families to head north and enjoy fall at a higher elevation. Within a few hours of the city,...

Things to Do

Best Fall Activities in North Georgia: 8 Ways to Experience the Mountains

When cooler weather arrives and the leaves begin to change, the mountains of North Georgia are one of the best places in the Southeast for...