Whitewater rafting with USA Raft on the French Broad River, Nolichucky River, Nantahala and Watauga River, located near Asheville and Boone, NC and Johnson City, TN.

4 Rivers and 12 Trip Formats Mild to Wild with USA Raft

Nantahala River class 2-3. Ages 7+ or 60+ pounds.

Nantahala River Whitewater Rafting - located near Franklin and Bryson City in Western NC and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Western, NC, the Nantahala River is the most popular family whitewater rafting river trip in NC. It's one of the most popular rivers in the country! 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. The Nantahala River is dam controlled with consistent, fast moving water and more than 20 exciting rapids. Our Owner/River Manager has paddled here since 1978 and first guided on the Nantahala in 1983. Our senior trip leader has has over 15+ years of guiding experience and is our former head trip leader in the Nolichucky River Gorge.

3 different options for rafting on the Nantahala River. Class 2-3. Ages 7+ and 60 pounds. Expect to spend about 4 hours with us, including outfitting, safety talk, shuttles and river trip.

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. 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 Rentals  Rafts or duckys. 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. Group discounts: 9-26 people: $1 per person discount: 27+ people: $2 per person discount.

Nantahala River 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.

Nantahala River 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!

Nantahala River USA Raft Nantahala River Outpost  Our Nantahala River Outpost offers a picnic areas 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.

USA Raft Nantahala River 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.

French Broad River: Class 2-3, 4.

Marshall, NC. The French Broad River is the closest whitewater rafting to Asheville, NC (30 min.). It is an exciting whitewater rafting trip for adventurous first time and experienced rafters alike. The French Broad River can be big and bodacious after heavy rain or complex and technical at normal flows. It offers wide, open channels, beautiful mountain vistas and fun, splashy rapids: perfect family whitewater rafting fun through the heart of Pisgah National Forest. We will stop to take the leap into the river at JUMP ROCK and swim at SWIMMERS RAPID. Our French Broad River trips include an after trip snack. USA Raft is the oldest, most experienced outfitter on the French Broad River. Our owner has paddled here since 1978 and our River Manager has over 25+ years of experience. Many of our guides and trip leaders have 10-15+ years of guiding experience on the French Broad River. Book Rafting Trip Online

French Broad River 1/2 day trip

Trip format: 5 miles class 2-3, all guided rafts.
Ages 8+, no experience is required.
Trip times: 9:15, 11:15, 1:15, 3:00. Expect to spend up to 4 hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Cost: $43.95 per person.
Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

French Broad River 1/2 day with lunch

Trip format: 5 miles, class 2-3, includes a river-side picnic lunch on the river. Guided rafts, duckys may be available at some water levels.
Ages 8+, no experience is required.
Trip times: 10:30. Expect to spend up to 5 hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Cost: $54..95 per person.
Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

French Broad River full day with lunch

Trip format: 8+ miles, class 2-3 and 4, includes a river-side picnic lunch on the river and class 4 Frank Bell's Rapid. Guided rafts.
Ages 8+, recommended for active, healthy people. No experience is required.
Trip times: 10:30. Expect to spend up to 5-6+ hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Cost: $79.95 per person.
Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

Watauga River: Class 1-2, 3.

Elizabethton, TN. A scenic rafting trip we run M-Sat. June through August, near Roan Mountain and Elizabethton, TN and the Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock, NC area. The Watauga River Rafting trip is on fast moving, pristine water with gentle rapids that includes class 2-3 ANACONDA! There will be time to splash and play. Trip format is all guided rafts. Dam controlled so water levels are consistent every day through out the summer. With USA raft you can avoid the uncomfortable bus ride from Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock you would experience with other outfitters. Drive in the comfort and privacy of your car and meet us at our outpost on the Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN. We end our Watauga River rafting trip at our exclusive take-out and river-side outpost, just steps from your car.

Raft with kids as young as 4+! Class 1-2,3. Book Rafting Trip Online

Watauga River 1/2 day trip

Trip format: Guided rafts. For a more adventurous trip, request a single or double duck at time of reservation. 
Ages 4+, no experience is required.
Trip times: 12:30, 2 & 3:30. Expect to spend about an hour on the water and 3 hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Cost: $39.95 per person + tax.
Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

Nolichucky River Gorge: Class 3-4.

Erwin, TN. The Nolichucky River Gorge is the most adventurous whitewater rafting trip in the southeast. With 9 miles and 25+ class 2-4 rapids, the Nolichucky River Gorge offers thrilling whitewater rafting adventure, through the deepest canyon in the east. The headwaters and tributaries of the amazing Nolichucky River begin on the slopes of Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain on the entire east coast. The Nolichucky then rushes along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee through a raucous gorge rimmed with beautiful cliffs and flowery rhododendrons. The Nolichucky River Gorge is truly one of the most beautiful rivers in the country. Includes QUARTER MILE RAPID with 3 class 4 drops.

Our Nolichucky River Outpost is located on the river where we end our trip just feet from your car, our outfitter's store, hot showers and cold drinks. Your car will be at our outpost waiting for you, so there is no need for a shuttle after your trip with USA Raft. Other companies must paddle a mile downstream on mostly flat water to the public takeout where they end their trip, load their bus and then shuttle you to their meeting spot or outpost. It can be a long shuttle bus ride before and after your trip with the other companies.

The Nolichucky is located approximately 45 min from Asheville and 1.5+ hours (in a car) from Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, North Carolina. Book Rafting Trip Online

Nolichucky River Gorge 1/2 day trip

Trip format: a guide in every raft. No other outfitter offers a guaranteed guided raft or half day trip on the Nolichucky River. All guided rafts! Faster paced than our full day trip.

Ages 12+, recommended for fit, active people, no experience required.
Trip times: 8:00 and 1:30. Expect to spend up to 5 hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Trip Cost: $69.95 per person.
Group discounts: 9 - 26 people: $4 per person. 27+ people: $8 per person.

Nolichucky River Gorge full day trip with lunch

In 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 we give our customers the opportunity to paddle rafts or an inflatable duck on the lunch trips. Trip format: Includes lunch on the river. Format: Guided rafts and/or guide assisted duckies. If everyone in your group must be in a guided raft we recommend our half-day Nolichucky River Gorge trip which is a faster paced trip. 
Ages 12+, recommended for fit, active people, no experience is required.
Trip times: 9:00 and 10:00. Expect to spend up to 7+ hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Trip Cost: $79.95 per person.
Group discounts: 9 - 26 people: $5 per person. 27+ people: $10 per person.

Lower Nolichucky River: Class 1-2, 3.

Erwin, TN. Scenic rafting trip, near near Asheville, NC and Johnson City, TN and the Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock, NC area. Beauty and history abound in this area - it's Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett country! Imagine a relaxed family outing with time to swim, a chance to see Blue Herons and spectacular rock formations along the way! Many more rapids than the Watauga River, but raft with kids as young as 4+! Our Owner/River Manager has paddled here since 1978 and first guided on the Nantahala in 1983. Our Lower Nolichucky River guides are hands down the best, most experienced and well trained guides on the river. They are trained in our Nolichucky River Gorge raft guide training school led by Glenn Goodrich, the Godfather of river guides, according to Paddler Magazine. Format depends on water level day of trip: guided rafts and/or duckies may be available. Class 1-2, 3.  Book Rafting trip Online

Lower Nolichucky River 1/2 day trip

Trip format: Guided rafts. Self paddled ducks and double ducks may be available at some water levels and are highly recommended because they are so much fun!
Ages 4+, no experience is required.
Trip times: 9:30, 2:00. Expect to spend up to 3+ hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Cost: $39.95 per person + tax.
Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

Lower Nolichucky River 1/2 day with Lunch

Trip format: Includes lunch on the river. Format: Guided rafts. Self paddled ducks and double ducks may be available at some water levels and are highly recommended because they are so much fun!
Ages 4+, no experience is required.
Trip times: 10:30. Expect to spend up to 4+ hours with us, including everything associated with your trip, including check-in and outfitting, trip-talk, shuttle and river trip.
Cost: $48.95 per person + tax.
Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount.

Lower Nolichucky - Raft & Ducky Rentals

If you have previous rafting experience, you may rent rafts and ThrillKats/duckys (inflatable kayaks or duckys) to run your own trip! Ages 9+ recommended for individual duckies. Duckys are not available at higher water levels. Trip times: 9, 1. Cost: Raft Rentals: $29.95 per person. Single or double duck or ThrillKat Rentals: $29.95 per person. Group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $8 per person discount. 

Call or book online today with Mountain Adventure Guides dba 1-866-USA-Raft.

Book Online Online booking is safe and secure. Book trips online and/or view trip descriptions and details, trip times and cost for specific trips and dates. Upon booking reservations online, you will receive an email confirmation of your trip, which will include directions and what to bring. You may also print a receipt.

Telephone Reservations 1-866-USA-Raft If you would rather book your reservation by phone, have an adventure package or rock climbing reservation, need additional assistance or have a larger group, please call 1-866-USA-Raft or (423) 743-7111.

Email Contact: email us anytime.

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