The French Broad, Nolichucky, Nantahala and Watauga rivers are within an easy driving distance of popular tourist destinations, such as Asheville, Black Mountain, Lake Lure, Burnsville, Hendersonville, Maggie Valley, Cherokee, Highlands, Cashiers, Bryson City, Hot Springs, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock in North Carolina and Johnson City, Lake Watauga and Roan Mountain in TN.
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Which rafting trip is right for your family or group? Area Map
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 Nantahala River 1/2 day Watauga River 1/2 day Lower Nolichucky River 1/2 day.
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 River full day with lunch Nolichucky River Gorge full-day with lunch Nolichucky River Gorge 1/2 day.
Minimum age requirements: Worley's Cave: ages 8+. Lower Nolichucky River: ages 4+. French Broad River: ages 8+. Nolichucky River Gorge 1/2 day ages 12+. Nolichucky River Gorge full day with lunch: ages 12+. Watauga River 1/2 day: ages 4+. Guided Rock Climbing: ages 8+.
Minimum weight: 60 pounds for the Nantahala River. There is no minimum weight requirement for whitewater rafting on the French Broad, Nolichucky or Watauga Rivers.
| USA Raft | French Broad | Nolichucky | Worley's Cave | Nantahala | Watauga |
| Mileage/Time | Mileage/Time | Mileage/Time | Mileage/Time | Mileage/Time | |
| Asheville, NC | 30\0:35 | 42\0:45 | 75\1:30 | 59/1:14 | 67\1:15 |
| Charlotte, NC | 150\2:30 | 175\3:00 | 156\3:10 | 188/3:31 | 145\3:00 |
| Raleigh, NC | 275\5:00 | 250\5:00 | 250\4:30 | 323/5:21 | 237\4:00 |
| Columbia, SC | 175\3:15 | 200\4:00 | 231\3:50 | 222/3:48 | 223\3:40 |
| Johnson City, TN | 53\1:00 | 15\0:18 | 16\0:25 | 133/2:29 | 10\0:15 |
| Black Mountain, NC | 35\0:45 | 62\1:10 | 90\1:45 | 87/1:45 | 83\1:30 |
| Lake Lure, NC | 57\1:20 | 73\1:30 | 102\2:00 | 99/2:08 | 95\1:50 |
| Boone NC | 81\2:00 | 67\1:20 | 56\1:15 | 156/3:22 | 45\1:00 |
| Burnsville, NC | 29\0:40 | 43\0:53 | 58\1:24 | 108/2:10 | 44\1:09 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 475\9:00 | 500\9:45 | 526\9:00 | 419/8:31 | 519\9:00 |
| Atlanta, GA | 225\4:30 | 250\5:15 | 281\4:50 | 155/3:24 | 274\4:40 |
| Louisville, KY | 334\5:40 | 365\5:43 | 356\5:37 | 333/6:05 | 359\5:41 |
| Knoxville, TN | 75\1:45 | 100\2:15 | 111\1:47 | 87/2:18 | 115\1:51 |
| Richmond, VA | 400\7:30 | 350\6:30 | 339\5:30 | 447/9:30 | 350\5:45 |
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Mountain Adventure Guides
2 Jones Branch Road
Erwin, TN 37650