Whitewater Rafting: Nolichucky River

Nolichucky Whitewater: Blue Ridge Rush

Flowing through the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi, the "Noli" challenges rafters with boulder-choked rapids in an impressive wilderness setting. The Unaka Mountains provide an incredible backdrop as you paddle from North Carolina into Tennessee. NOC runs the smallest, most intimate trips on this unspoiled river, allowing you and your group to fully absorb the scenery.

Because the Nolichucky is a free-flowing river, water levels are subject to change by the day. At each level, the river takes on a particular personality. This is one of the reasons we love this river so much. If you're curious, check out the river's level before departing for your NOC Noli trip.

Nolichucky Trip Options

Nolichucky Classic: A full-day trip with the best guides on the river. The character of this free-flowing river fluctuates with daily rainfall, and NOC guides are experts at maximizing the fun at every water level. At high water levels, you can expect a fully-guided raft trip. As water levels abate, your trip leader may offer a combination of rafts and ducks, allowing everyone to choose their adventure.

Dinner Trips: Take our Nolichucky Classic trip and add to it a spectacular riverside barbecue! You'll paddle all nine miles of this scenic gorge in the afternoon, then relax in the riverside sauna or play a game of horseshoes while your guides prepare a riverside feast. This trip is available by request only. Minimum Group Size: 8 people.

Adventure Ducks: An introduction to whitewater instruction in easy-to-paddle ducks. This is a great option for whitewater lovers—an icebreaker into the world of paddling your own craft. Ducks are personal, inflatable kayaks that allow you to control the level of adventure. Your trip leader will instruct you on how to use your double-bladed paddle to maneuver your craft, and give you tips for reading and using river features to your advantage. Be prepared to paddle eight miles of Class II-IV whitewater through an incredibly scenic river gorge. Adventure Duck trips on the Noli include raft support and lunch served on the river.

Click here for more details on NOC raft trips on the Nolichucky River.

All NOC Nolichucky River trips depart from our Nolichucky outpost, near Erwin, TN. [Click for Directions]