Nantahala River White Water Rafting

Raft NOC's Namesake River

The shimmering Nantahala River offers whitewater rafting through mild but exciting rapids. Nantahala rafting features eight miles of practice on easy Class II rapids before splashing through the exciting Class III whitewater of Nantahala Falls. This is one of America’s most popular whitewater runs, so expect to see other paddlers playing in the waves.

Nantahala River Rafting Trip Options

Fully Guided
Fully guided trips guarantee a guide in every raft.

Guide-assisted
Guide-assisted means there's a guide in every other raft. This gives you the option of captaining your own raft, with the security of knowing a skilled guide is always nearby.

Raft Rentals allow experienced rafters to navigate their own trip. Various raft sizes, single and double ducks available.
Click here for more details about the Nantahala River.

Which ever trip option you choose, visit our Rafting FAQ Page for info on what to wear on your whitewater rafting trip.

Rapid Transit

Rapid Transit is a full-day family outing that combines a scenic morning train ride and an afternoon whitewater raft trip, all in the Nantahala Gorge. This option is available exclusively on the Nantahala River, with our friends at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Meet in Bryson City and take a ride through history, out the old Murphy Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The train drops you off right at NOC in time for lunch at Slow Joe's Riverside Cafe. After lunch, get ready to splash down the family-friendly Nantahala on a fully-guided NOC raft trip. After your exciting run through Nantahala Falls, you'll float right back to NOC where an instant photo show, changing rooms, hot showers, dining, shopping and transportation back to Bryson City await you.

Nantahala River trips depart from our Nantahala Outpost, near Bryson City, NC.
[Click for Directions to our Nantahala Outpost]
Rapid Transit Train/Raft trips depart from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in Bryson City, NC. [Click for Directions to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot]

Nantahala River Boaters

At our Nantahala Outpost, we've reorganized our take-outs. Private boaters are still welcome to take out at NOC, just downstream at the old Rentals beach. Paddle past the raft traffic and take out just before the footbridge, right by Slow Joe's Cafe.

NOC's Rentals shuttles depart the rafting center (at the takeout mentioned above) for the put-in every half hour. Saturdays from June until GAF, holidays and everyday in July private boaters who have parked at the Wayah Road put-in can ride the shuttle FREE! On these high-traffic days the last shuttle back to the top will be at 6 pm.