Table of Contents
Introduction
North Carolina is the perfect place to explore and enjoy nature. What better way to do that than white water rafting. Whether you are looking for a lazy float down a gentle river or a wild ride on a dangerous stretch of water, North Carolina has what you need. With this guide, you’ll find some of the best white water rafting in North Carolina to get started.
Western Carolina
The two most popular rivers in western North Carolina are the Nantahala and Cheoah. The former can be found in Macon County near Franklin and High Hampton Inn, while the latter is found in Swain County near Bryson City and Cherokee Casino. Both offer great rafting opportunities for beginners through experienced rafters alike, as well as excellent hiking trails for those seeking to explore nature on foot after their rafting trip!
Southeast Rafting
Southeast Rafting is a family-owned and operated business that offers a variety of rafting trips through the New River Gorge. They are located in Polk County, NC, where you can rent equipment or participate in river training sessions. The company also offers trips on the Gauley River and Bluestone Reservoir when water levels are high enough for safe navigation.
Southeast Rafting opens from March through November.
Nantahala River
The Nantahala River is one of the most popular places in North Carolina for white water rafting. The river, which has a Class II-III rating and is perfect for beginners, runs through the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers views of some beautiful mountain scenery. The river also offers great opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, tubing and swimming as well.
Upper Nantahala River
Rafting on the Upper Nantahala River is an excellent adventure. This section of river has class IV rapids and is a great place for white water kayaking and canoeing as well. The Upper Nantahala River has been flooded with rafters, kayakers and canoers over the years and many companies have set up shop to offer this service to visitors looking for a thrill.
Cheoah river
The Cheoah River is located in Tennessee and is a class IV river. It’s only about 3 miles long, but it can be an enjoyable experience for beginners, families, and groups. The river flows through lush forest terrain that offers many different types of wildlife including deer, bear and eagles. There are even some local spots where you can see bald eagles flying around!
The Cheoah River has several sections with rapids ranging from Class I to IV (beginner to advanced) with some fun features like slides along the way!
Pigeon River
The Pigeon River is a Class II-III river that runs through western North Carolina. It’s considered one of the best white water rafting destinations in the country, with an average temperature of 70 degrees and plenty of wildlife to observe along the way. The scenery is also beautiful, with towering pines and lush vegetation lining its banks.
The Pigeon River has two main sections: a lower section (from Fletcher to Hot Springs) and an upper section (from Hot Springs to Bakersville). Both are popular for whitewater kayaking and canoeing as well as recreational boating when water levels are low.
Watauga River
The Watauga River is a tributary of the Holston River, which itself flows into the Tennessee River. The Watauga is located in southwestern North Carolina and southwest Virginia, passing through both Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as Cherokee Reservation land and parts of Pisgah National Forest. At its highest point, it rises to over 2,000 feet above sea level at Richland Balsam near the border between Haywood County, North Carolina and Jackson County, Tennessee.
Ocoee River
The Ocoee River is a popular destination for white water rafting, and it’s located in Tennessee. Unlike the Nantahala River, this river is accessible to beginner white water rafters who may not have had much experience with rafting before. That’s because the Ocoee River has class II-IV waters, which means it can be a little bit more difficult than other rivers that are rated at only class I waters (for beginners). The Ocoee River has several different sections of rapids that you can run down as well!
The best part about this river is that it’s also a very popular destination for kayaking, so if you’re interested in trying out both whitewater rafting and kayaking during your trip, then going here would be perfect since there are plenty of places where you can rent equipment from!
White water rafting in North Carolina is an adventure you shouldn’t miss.
White water rafting is a fun activity for you and your friends and family. White water rafting is great for your body, because it gives you a good workout in the outdoors. White water rafting also gives you an opportunity to see beautiful scenery from a different perspective, which can be relaxing or exciting depending on what kind of person you are.
If you’ve never done white water rafting before, then don’t worry! There are many different types of trips that will allow beginners to get started without worrying too much about safety issues or getting lost along the way.
Conclusion
In short, there are many delightful spots to try white water rafting in North Carolina. While we’ve provided you with a few local options, you could easily expand your search and find even more river rafting opportunities. So get out there, put on your life jacket, unplug from technology, and enjoy the great outdoors!
