Nantahala River White Water Rafting
Classic Family Rafting in Western NC
North Carolina's shimmering Nantahala River offers river rafting through family friendly rapids that are mild but exciting. 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!
"Josh was our raft guide on the Nantahala River. We are a group of seven ladies over 50 years of age. Josh was such a joy, full of interesting information, history and laughs. We had a truly wonderful trip. Thanks again!"
—Pam, Edee, Karen, Sharon, Annette, Nancy and Jenny |
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NOC's Nantahala River Trip Options
Nantahala Fully Guided Trips
Fully guided trips guarantee a guide in every raft.
Nantahala Guide-Assisted Trips
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. NOC provides the best guide-assisted instruction on the river.
Nantahala Raft Rentals
Rentals allow experienced rafters to navigate their own trip. Various raft sizes, single and double ducks available.
Rapid Transit
Rapid Transit 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 ride the train through the Nantahala Gorge. The train drops you off right at NOC in time for lunch at Slow Joe's Riverside Cafe. After lunch, get ready for rafting 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 and transportation back to Bryson City await you.
| Trip Options |
Price/Person |
Minimum Age |
| Half Day Guided Raft |
$46 |
60 lbs or 7 years old
9 years old for a ducky
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| Half Day Guide-Assisted Raft |
$37 |
| Half Day Guided Ducks |
$54 |
| Rapid Transit Train/Raft |
$82—$99 |
| Half Day Rental Raft |
$23 |
| Half Day Rental Ducky |
$29–$47 |
*Paddle a kayak on Fontana Lake! Guided and non-guided lake tours now available at NOC.
Driving Directions
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
Private boaters are welcome to take out at NOC, just downstream at the old Raft Rentals beach. Paddle past the raft traffic and take out just before the footbridge, right by Slow Joe's Cafe.
NOC shuttles depart the rafting center for the put-in every hour from 10am to 2pm, except for Saturdays, when they run every half hour from 9:30am to 3pm. On 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!
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