The Nantahala River is a wonderful introduction to whitewater rafting. Whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River in Bryson City, NC with USA Raft!

We're located outside Bryson City, NC near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Waynesville/Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, Western North Carolina University, Dillsboro, Cherokee, Franklin, Brevard, Cashiers, Highlands, Cherokee, Hayesville, Andrews and Murphy, NC.

Nantahala River: Class 2-3. Ages 7+ or 60+ pounds. No Experience Required.

With over 20 named rapids, the Nantahala River is the most popular whitewater rafting trip in NC and is the ideal family rafting trip! The Nantahala River flows through the heart of Nantahala National Forest. It is an 8 mile whitewater rafting adventure the whole family will enjoy. The Nantahala River offers fast moving, pristine water with beautiful mountain vistas: perfect family rafting fun! There are many class 2 and several class 3 rapids, such as Patton's Run and Nantahala Falls. 

Rafting Options with USA Raft on the Nantahala River

Nantahala River Fully Guided Trip  A professional guide in every raft, guaranteed. Expect to spend up to 4 hours with us, including outfitting, safety talk, shuttles and river trip. 8 miles. Ages 7+ or 60 pounds. No experience is required. Trip times: 10, 12, 2. Cost: $34.95 per person. Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

Nantahala River Guide Assisted  Guide-assisted means you follow the guide down the river in your own raft.  This gives you the experience of "guiding" your own raft, with the knowledge that there is an experienced guide nearby. Expect to spend up to 4 hours with us, including outfitting, safety talk, shuttles and river trip. 8 miles. Ages 7+ or 60 pounds. No experience is required. Trip times: 9 & 1. Cost: $29.95 per person. Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

Nantahala River Raft & Ducky Rentals  If you have previous rafting experience, you may rent rafts and ThrillKats (inflatable kayaks or duckies) to run your own trip! Expect to spend up to 5 hours with us, including outfitting, safety talk, shuttles and river trip. 8 miles. Ages 7+ or 60 pounds. Ages 12+ recommended for individual duckies. No experience is required. Trip times: 9:05, 10:05, 12:05, 1:05, 2:05. Cost: Rafts: $22.95 per person. Single or double ducks or ThrillKats: $27.95 per person. Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

Nantahala River Open Field Camping  Pitch your own tent. Open field camping is available for $6.95 per person per night. Group discounts: 9-26 people: $1 per person discount: 27+ people: $2 per person discount. 3:00 PM check-in and 11:00 AM check-out.

Nantahala River Camping: Pre-Set Tents on Platforms  Camping in our tents on platforms is available for 9.95 per person per night. There are thick foam mattress pads. Just bring a sleeping bag! 3:00 PM check-in and 11:00 AM check-out. Group discounts: 9-26 people: $1 per person discount: 27+ people: $2 per person discount.

USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost  Our Nantahala River Outpost offers a picnic area and pavilion, volleyball court, retail store, hot showers, changing rooms and plenty of room to park. If you are looking for comfortable, easy and economical camping, then our tents on platforms are just the thing! Open field camping is also available.

Physical Address: 11044 Highway 19 West • Bryson City, NC 28713. We are located in the Nantahala Gorge on US Hwy. 74 & 19 between Bryson City & Murphy, NC. Scroll down for comprehensive directions. 

USA Raft Nantahala River rafting outpost is just 1.5 hours from Asheville, NC, near the town of Bryson City, NC. We're an easy drive from Maggie Valley, Fontana Village and Cherokee, NC.

1-866-USA-Raft

Online booking is easy, safe and secure. It's also available when you are. After you book online, you will immediately receive an email confirmation with directions and what to wear. You may also print a receipt.

USA Raft provides everything you will need for your rafting adventure. Just be ready to get wet and have fun on and off of the river! No experience is required and there is a professional guide in every raft to make your whitewater rafting adventure safe and enjoyable. 

We have made a substantial investment in high performance equipment, including self-bailing rafts to enhance the safety and quality of your rafting trip.

With over 30+ years of experience, and the best guides and gear in the business, MAG dba 1-866-USA-Raft is well qualified to guide your family or group on an amazing adventure.

We're recognized in: Men's Journal, American Scouting Digest, National Geographic Adventure, Pilots Away, Diversion Magazine for Physicians at Leisure and Hooked on the Outdoors.

"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. 

A professional guide in every raft, guide assisted and rental trips. Experience is not required. All gear is provided.

Chunky Gal Stables - Giddy Up and Come on Over! Chunky Gal Stables is Western North Carolina's best horseback riding experience! Located within driving distance of Franklin, Hayesville, Andrews, Murphy and Cashiers, NC and Hiawassee, Blairsville, and Young Harris, Georgia, Chunky Gal Stables has something for everyone to enjoy. At Chunky Gal Stables we offer trail riding, lessons, training, and boarding. We are open 7 days a week from 8:00am - 5:00pm. Feel free to give us a call at 828-389-4175 and we'll be more than happy to help you in any way we can.  

View availability and book reservations online anytime or call 1-866-USA-Raft or 1-423-743-7111

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!

Nantahala River - Rapid Highlights!

Patton's Run: Class III
Pyramid Rock: Class II
Delabar's Rock: Class II
Quarry: Class II
Whirlpool: Class II
The Ledges: Class II
Surfing Rapid: Class II
The Bump: Class II+
Nantahala Falls: Class III

Which trip is right for your family or group?

Family Class Rafting Trips: Perfect for younger children and first-time rafters. Family class rafting and ducky (inflatable kayak) trips provide a more moderate, low-risk introduction to rafting for the whole family: French Broad River 1/2 day   French Broad River 1/2 day with lunch   Lower Nolichucky River 1/2 day   Lower Nolichucky 1/2 day with lunch   Watauga River 1/2 day  Nantahala River.

Adventure Class Rafting Trips: Action packed and exhilarating, our Adventure trips pick up the pace. Prior experience is not required. More challenging and/or longer than our Family Class trips, these whitewater rafting and ducky (inflatable kayak) adventures are ideal for older children, adventurous first-timers, and experienced rafters. Recommended for active, healthy people: 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 10+. Nolichucky River Gorge full day with lunch: ages 12+. Watauga River 1/2 day: ages 4+. Guided Rock Climbing: ages 8+. Nantahala River ages 7+.

Minimum weight: There is no minimum weight requirement for whitewater rafting on the French Broad, Nolichucky or Watauga Rivers, except for the Nantahala River, which is 60 pounds.

Directions to USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost

USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost: Physical Address: 11044 Highway 19 West • Bryson City, NC 28713. We are located in the Nantahala Gorge on US Hwy. 74 & 19 between Bryson City & Murphy, NC.

From Bryson City  Take Hwy 74 W toward Murphy. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 8 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split.

From Murphy and Andrews, NC.  Take Hwy 74 E toward Bryson City. We're on Hwy 74 about 12 miles east of Topton. You'll drive along the Nantahala River and then leave the river. We're on the left less than 5 minutes from when you leave the river. USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is about 30 minutes from Murphy.

From Cherokee  Follow US 441 South to the Hwy 74 intersection. Take Hwy 74 West toward Bryson City and Murphy. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 8 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the "USA Raft" sign on the right. We are about 30 minutes from downtown Cherokee.

From Gatlinburg  Follow US 441 South through the Smoky Mountain Park and into Cherokee. Follow the directions from Cherokee above. We're about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Gatlinburg.

From Waynesville/Lake Junaluska  Take US Hwy 74 West. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 8 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2-1/2 miles past the split. Look for the "USA Raft" sign on the right. USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is about 50 minutes from Waynesville.

From Maggie Valley  Take US 19 to Cherokee or Waynesville and follow the directions above. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 1 hour from Maggie Valley.

From Franklin (about 1 hour) and North Georgia  Take US 441 North to Hwy 74 W. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 8 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the "USA Raft" sign on the right. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 1 hour from Franklin. **** An alternative route from Franklin is to take Hwy 28 from Franklin to Hwy 74, then take Hwy 74 W the last 10 minutes to our Nantahala Outpost. This will usually save you about 20 minutes, but part of Hwy 28 is very curvy. It's a good road, and scenic, but curvy. Hwy 441 and 74 are limited access four lane roads until the final 2 ½ miles of your trip.

From Highlands  Follow US 64 West to Franklin, and then follow the directions above. It'll take about 1 ½ hours from Highlands.

From Cashiers  Follow 107 from Cashiers to Sylva/Dillsboro and follow US 441 North to Hwy 74 W. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 8 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Cashiers.

From Asheville  Take I-40 West to Exit 27 at Waynesville. This puts you on US 74 West. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 8 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. It'll take about 1 hour 15 minutes from Asheville.

From Atlanta  Follow I-85 to I-985 towards Gainesville, GA. This becomes US 441/23. Follow US 441 North past Franklin, NC to Hwy 74 W. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 8 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 3 to 3.5 hours from Atlanta. From Atlanta, you can also reach us by going to Blue Ridge GA and then to Murphy NC. Follow the directions above from Murphy NC.

We operate on the Nantahala River as Blue Ridge Outing Company, via a Special Use Permit from the U.S. Forest Service.

USDA -Forest Service Nondiscrimination Statement - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital status or family status. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-941- or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.