Nantahala River Rafting: Fully Guided in North Carolina

Overview

A guided white water 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. Plus, NOC is the only outfitter where you paddle right back to where you started, no need for a wet bus ride back! Enjoy lunch or dinner, live entertainment and more on our 500-acre campus!

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 River!

NEW- Nantahala Express – Daily in July

Introducing the Nantahala Express—a shorter, scenic rafting adventure departing at 4pm daily in July! This afternoon guided trip puts in downriver and delivers fun Class I – II rapids, stunning mountain views, and a splashy finish at Nantahala Falls—all wrapped up just in time to enjoy riverside dinner and live music back at NOC. Perfect for a late afternoon nature excursion! Select Book Now and choose the Nantahala Express option.

EARLY BIRD SAVINGS

Morning trips offer serene settings and less crowds, while our late afternoon trips are hotter and fun to splash along!

Use codes EARLY10 to save $10 off of your Fully Guided Rafting trip when you book for the following times: 9am / 9:30am.

Highlights

• A Fully Guided Tour 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.
• 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.