Fontana Lake Kayaking

Discover Fontana Lake by Kayak

Discover a great outdoor adventure with the whole family, including children as young as four years old. Paddle calm waters in stable recreational kayaks. Spend half a day with our expert guides exploring a quiet section of Fontana Lake in western NC, where plants and animals abound, and splashing and swimming are encouraged! We also include a tasty snack to help keep your energy levels high.

This is a great outdoor adventure for the whole family. We'll spend half a day learning about the natural history of the area. Lake kayak touring is a fantastic way to experience the outdoors from a unique angle. Delight in sightings of a great blue heron, red tail hawk, pileated woodpecker, osprey and more! In addition to wildlife, we'll also see quiet coves and hidden waterfalls.

No paddling experiencing is necessary for this program. We'll show you how to make your boat slip quietly through the water to experience the thrill of nature at its most beautiful on Fontana Lake, in the Nantahala National Forest.

Guided Fontana Lake Tour

Includes: Kayak and gear with a proper fit, plus a snack. The launch site for the Fontana Lake Tour is within a five minute walk from the check-in location at NOC's Nantahala Rafting Center.

Fontana Lake Kayak & SUP Rentals

NOC is now offering two hour kayak and Stand Up Paddle board rentals for you to explore at your own pace. Paddle all the way out to Bird Falls and soak up the scenery on the Nantahala River Channel on historic Fontana Lake.

*Prices do not include sales tax.

Rental Includes:  a boat or SUP, paddle and Type-III PFD. The stowage on the kayaks give you room for a camera, a snack and any other gear.