Nantahala River Rafting: Fully Guided in North Carolina

Overview

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

If you’ve experienced the fully guided rafting trip and are ready for the next challenge, guide your own Raft and Ducky Rentals down the Nantahala!

Highlights

• Fully guided is the ideal trip for beginners, families, and groups of any experience level.
• The Nantahala River provides the perfect mix of fun class II-III rapids, waves, and splashes with calmer floating spots to take in the picturesque mountain scenery.
• Experienced guides will teach your group how to navigate the river while sharing river stories and interesting facts about the area.
• NOC has been guiding families and groups down the river for almost 50 years with many returning year after year.

What to Expect

This trip takes approximately three hours, with two on the river, and the rest on trip preparation.

Please check in for your trip 30 minutes prior to your reservation at the Adventure Deck. After a brief orientation and video, you’ll get geared up with pfds and paddles and load onto the big blue bus to shuttle to the river put in. Once in the raft, your experienced guide will walk you through the rafting lingo and what to expect. Then its down the river you go, paddling through bouncy waves, cool mountain water, and fun rapids, ending at Nantahala Falls.