Are you looking to spend more time discovering all the Nolichucky River Gorge has to offer? 

The Nolichucky River full day trip is 9 miles and includes a picnic lunch and extra time to play. Water levels mandate the size of boat used on the full day trip with lunch. There will be guided rafts on most trips, but we recommend the half-day Nolichucky Trip if everyone in your group wants guided rafts/no duckies or you want a faster paced trip. This is especially true latter in the summer. In summer, you will generally spend 6-7+ hours with us (including rafting trip, shuttle to put-in, gearing up, and pre trip speech). In spring and after heavy rain trip times can be much faster.

full-day trip with lunch details:

• Trip format depends on the water level: guided rafts and/or guided rafts with guide-assisted self-paddled ducks. Please read trip format below.
• recommended for active people.
• Ages 12+, no experience is required.
• Trip Cost: Sun.-Fri.: $70.95 per person. Saturdays: $75.95 per person. (+ tax).
• Group discounts: 9 - 26 people: $5 per person. 27+ people: $10 per person.
• We offer this trip at 9 or 10 AM March through November.
• group packages  guided caving trips  Crockett Cabin Bunkhouse

Please arrive 1/2 hour before your scheduled rafting trip time.

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Every day on the Nolichucky River is a unique experience. Water levels mandate the size of boat used on the full day trip with lunch.

In the spring and after heavy rain, you can generally expect more water and that means that rafts are the craft of choice for our full day trip. As summer approaches, water levels gradually decrease. To compensate for lower summer-time water levels, we give our customers the opportunity to paddle an inflatable duck on the lunch trips. By the beginning of August, the majority of our lunch trips are run in ducks on the Nolichucky lunch trip, so we increase the minimum age on the day trip to 14 years for trips after July 31st. Please Note: Many of our customers choose the self paddled duckies at average summer water levels. In fact, because they are so much fun, we recommend that active teens and adults paddle duckies at summer-time water levels. This is a slower style trip and often a "full day."

We recommend the 1/2 day Nolichucky Gorge Trip Express Trip if everyone in your your group wants a guided raft or quicker "all rafts" rafting trip for summer water levels. The 1/2 day express trip covers is the same 9 miles in the Nolichucky River Gorge but with all guided rafts and quicker pace.

Please note: Trip times on free flowing rivers can vary. We have no control over water levels or trip times on the Nolichucky River, which is a free flowing river - not dam controlled. All trip times are approximate! Water levels can rise and fall very quickly on the Nolichucky. We reserve the right to lengthen or shorten trip distances, or alter section of river we raft in the interest of customer satisfaction or safety.

"Thank you so much for hosting the NC Division of Tourism’s United Kingdom Press and Tour Operator Group. Rafting was the HIGHLIGHT of the trip. Your guides were outstanding. They were skilled, knowledgeable and fun. Thanks again!" Wit Tuttell. Public Relations Director. North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

USA Raft Nolichucky River Tip: USA Raft is the only Nolichucky Outfitter that offers a guaranteed guided raft (1/2 day Express Trip). USA Raft has an outpost and takeout at the base of the Gorge, so there will not be a bus shuttle after your trip. We recommend the 1/2 day Nolichucky Gorge Trip Express Trip if all of your group want a guaranteed guided raft for summer water levels. 

Our Nolichucky River Gorge whitewater rafting outpost is just 45 minutes from Asheville, NC, near the town of Erwin, TN. We're 2o min. from Johnson City, TN,  and up to 1.5 hours from Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock, NC.

Making your rafting reservation is as easy as dialing 1-866-USA-Raft. Our professional whitewater consultants are experts at arranging successful river vacations. USA Raft’s wide variety of rivers and river options enables our friendly consulting staff to create the exact vacation to match your wants and abilities. Call Today!

View availability and book online 24/7  1-866-USA-Raft

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Which rafting trip is right for your family or group?

Family Class Trip:

Perfect for younger children and first-time rafters. Family class trips provide a more moderate, low-risk introduction to rafting for the whole family. French Broad River 1/2 day trip, French Broad River 1/2 day trip with lunch, Watauga River Family Float Trip, and Lower Nolichucky Family Float Trip).

Adventure Class Trip:

Action packed and exhilarating, our Adventure trips pick up the pace. More challenging and/or longer than our Family class trips, these rafting adventures are ideal for older children, adventurous first-timers, and experienced rafters. (French Broad Day Trip and Nolichucky River Gorge full-day trip and 1/2 day Nolichucky River Gorge Express).

View a regional map of the area.