Nolichucky River Gorge: (Erwin, TN). Includes "QUARTER MILE RAPID" with 3 class 4 rapids in a quarter mile. Located near Asheville (45 min.) and Boone, NC (up to 1.5 hrs) and Johnson City, TN.

Whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky River is a thrilling and scenic mountain adventure. With over 25 named class 2-4 rapids, through truly pristine wilderness, the Nolichucky River Gorge is one of the top rafting adventures in the entire 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. From there the Nolichucky rushes along the boarder of North Carolina and Tennessee through a raucous gorge rimmed with beautiful cliffs and flowery rhododendron.

We offer two trip formats in the Nolichucky River Gorge. Click the links below for complete details.

Nolichucky River Gorge 1/2 day trip ages 10+, no experience required, adventure class trip (class 3-4). Trip Format: This trip format is all guided rafts and is faster paced than our full day trip. We recommend the full-day Nolichucky Trip if members of your group want duckies, lunch or extra time to surf rapids, swim and play. Typical trip times: 8 and 1:30.

Nolichucky River Gorge full-day day trip ages 12+, no experience required, adventure class trip (class 3-4). There will be many individually paddled duckies in addition to guided rafts in late spring and summer unless high water, There will be time to surf rapids, swim and play. Water levels mandate the size of boat used on the full day trip with lunch. There will be guided rafts on these 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. Typical trip times are 9 or 10. Trip Format: Rafts and/or ducks depending on water levels. Please see below.

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

Your USA Raft Nolichucky River Gorge whitewater rafting trip ends at our exclusive riverside takeout and outpost. You're just steps from hot showers, our outfitter store with pictures of your trip, cold drinks, t-shirts and your car - no need for an after-trip shuttle. Other outfitters must go another mile downstream (class 1-2) to the public take-out, where they will have to load the rafts and equipment and shuttle you to their outpost. Depending on the outfitter you choose, this could add 1.5 to 3 hours to your trip.

"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.

Every day in the Nolichucky River Gorge is a unique experience, because it is a free flowing river (water levels are not dam controlled).

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 (or earlier in lower water years), the majority of our lunch trips are run in ducks on the Nolichucky, so we increase the minimum age on the day trip from 12 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, 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 all of your group want 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 a guaranteed guided raft and quicker pace.

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. Our Nolichucky River rafting outpost is just 45 minutes from Asheville, NC, near the town of Erwin, TN. We're an easy drive from Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock, NC and Johnson City, TN.

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.