NC & TN Rafting with USA Raft on the Watauga River, French Broad River & Nolichucky River.

Reservations: 1-866-USA-Raft or 1-423-743-7111 M-F. Call Today!

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.

FAQ Whitewater Rafting Mileage Table Map Directions What to Wear Groups Cabin Packages Prices Fun Rafting Video

FAQ for rafting with Mountain Adventure Guides dba USA Raft.

Rafting season is daily March to November. Caving is year around.

Reservations are recommended, but we will try to accommodate short notice calls when possible. Some trips fill up many months in advance, while other adventures have openings on short notice. When you have selected your trip date, call us at 1-866-USA-Raft and our reservationists will be happy to secure for you the available adventure of your choice! Or book online 24/7.

USA Raft/Mountain Adventure Guides has wide variety of rivers and river options that enable our friendly consulting staff to create the exact vacation to match your wants and abilities. Our professional whitewater consultants are experts at arranging successful river vacations! We will help you choose which of our rafting adventures is right for you. We also try our best to honor guide request; such as most experienced guide, guide that has children and other special needs. This is YOUR trip and we want you to be comfortable in order to get the most enjoyment possible!

Ages for rafting There are minimum age requirements for our trips: Caving ages 8+. Watauga River ages 4+. Lower Nolichucky River ages 4+. Nantahala River ages 7+. French Broad River ages 8+. Nolichucky River Gorge 1/2 day trips ages 12+. Nolichucky River Gorge full day trips ages 12+.

Weight 60+ pounds for the Nantahala River. There are no minimum weight limits for the other rivers we raft.

Experience No experience is required and all gear is provided for all of the rivers we raft. We have taken many families with no rafting experience on both the Nolichucky and French Broad Rivers! You know your family or group best! We recommend the Nolichucky River Gorge only for active, health people

Arrive at outpost Please arrive at our outpost 1/2 hour before your scheduled trip. If you're late you will miss your trip that day and there will be no cash refund.

We raft rain or shine.

What to bring or wear

Splash tops and pants are available at the French Broad, Nolichucky and Nantahala Rivers and are provided at no additional charge. Wet suits are available spring and fall at the French Broad, Nolichucky and Nantahala Rivers at no additional charge.

What to wear In summer, a bathing suit with shorts and t-shirts are fine. In spring or fall, or if it's cool bring a wool sweater of fleece and wool socks. We have splash gear (tops and pants) and wet-suits available at no additional cost. Cotton is not recommended. (This includes jeans and sweatshirts.) When it is wet, it robs your body of heat and is unsuitable for physical activity. Synthetic clothing is best.

Shoes Everyone must have shoes. Tennis shoes, water shoes and sports sandals with a heel strap are fine. NO FLIP FLOPS: THEY WILL FALL OFF YOUR FEET. Rentals may be available at the French Broad, Nolichucky and Nantahala Rivers for $5.

What not to wear No jeans, cotton sweat shirts or flip-flops, please.

What to bring on the river Medications, sun block, inexpensive waterproof camera,

Don't bring Please do not bring anything you do not want to lose in the river forever.

Please leave coolers, book bags, towels and changes of clothes in your car. We can not take them on the river.

Which rafting trip is right for your family?

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 with lunch Lower Nolichucky Family Rafting Trip Watauga 1/2 day trip Nantahala River

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 trip Nolichucky River Gorge full-day trip Nolichucky River Gorge 1/2 day trip.

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Where are the French Broad, Nantahala, Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers? Area Map

USA Raft	French Broad	Nolichucky	Worley's Cave	Nantahala	Watauga
USA Raft	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

Weather

We raft rain or shine, since you're going to get wet anyway

Low or high water

We reserve the right to move to a different section of the river for reasons of safety or extream conditions like low/high water. No refund or rain checks will be issued unless we completely cancel the day's events. No cash refund.

Trip times (how much time to expect to be with us)

All trip times are approximate and include outfitting, safety talk, shuttles and time on the water. River levels can change very quickly on free flowing rivers quickly, which may lengthen or shorten stated approximate trip times.

Please arrive at our outpost 1/2 hour before your scheduled trip.

We urge you to follow our directions and NOT MAPQUEST, which is frequently out of date in our area or gives the shortest mileage route, which may be signifigantly longer driving (narrow 2 lane mountain road out in the middle of nowhere).

Ducky's

We offer ducks and ThrillKats to first timers on many of our trips at average water levels. There is no additional cost. See below for a particular river's trip format. A 'Ducky' or ThrillKat is a cross between a kayak and a raft that you sit on top and paddle your-self. Stable, sturdy and easy to maneuver, ducks are a delightful way to paddle a river.

FAQ

Q: Who can raft? A: All of our rivers have age requirements. Anyone who meets the age requirements for a specific river and is in healthy physical condition can raft. Our trips are divided up into separate categories for all ages and experience levels. USA Raft is also able to accommodate most disabilities. Pregnant women should not raft. If you have a specific question, please feel free to email us or give us a call at 1-866-USA-Raft.

Q: What happens if there is bad weather? A: Our trips go rain or shine. You're going to get wet anyway. Trips are rarely canceled. If there is a problem our reservation staff will notify you immediately.

Q: What is a 'Duck'? A: A 'Duck' is a cross between a kayak and a raft. Stable, sturdy and easy to maneuver, ducks are a delightful way to paddle a river. It doesn't take an expert boater to handle one. We offer ducks to first timers on many trips. Double ducks are for 2 people.

Q: What is a ThrillKat™? A: ThrillKats™ are designed to be super stable. Great for first-time paddlers and experienced rafters alike, this catamaran style inflatable handles rapids well.

Q: What should I wear? A: During the Spring and Fall the weather and water can be cool. Swimsuits, water-proof windbreakers or jackets, wool or polypropylene shirts, and wool socks are ideal. Wetsuits, as well as spray-jackets and boots, are available to rent at our outpost on a first come, first serve basis. Summer months are generally warmer and usually a swimsuit and shorts are fine. T-shirts can also be worn for protection from the sun, as well as a baseball cap and sun glasses. Please remember to wear sunscreen.

Shoes: Shoes are required for all of our rafting trips. Tennis shoes or sandals with a heel strap are allowed. PLEASE NO FLIP FLOPS

Cotton is not recommended. (This includes jeans and sweatshirts.) When it is wet, it robs your body of heat and is unsuitable for physical activity. Synthetic clothing is best.

Q: How safe is rafting? A: We know that you are concerned about rafting as a group activity. As with any physical activity there is risk of injury involved in rafting. As a professional rafting outfitter, our job is to minimize that risk through preparation, guide training, and high-quality equipment. Team USA has some of the highest skilled on-river staff you'll find anywhere. Our guide staff completes a rigorous training program and must be certified First-Aid and CPR before taking customers on the water. In addition, USA Raft has made a substantial investment in high performance equipment to enhance the overall quality or your rafting experience. This effort is being made to maintain out standards of excellence for all of you.

Liability

We assume no liability for personal injury or loss of personal belongings. You will be required to sign a personal injury waiver and assumption of risk/photo waiver before your trip. Copies of our waiver and assumption of risk forms are available upon request.

Q: What are your facilities like? A: Our facilities are convenient and clean. The Nolichucky River Outpost has hot showers and a large cabin bunkhouse.

Reservations: 1-866-USA-Raft. Call Today! View available trip times and book online 24/7!

Hotel and Cabin Accommodations

Our links page Asheville Area French Broad River Area Nolichucky River Area

This link will take you to information for lodging properties that are members of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. http://www.exploreasheville.com/accomm.htm

Area Camping

Log Cabin Group Bunkhouse Rental Crockett Cabin is a rustic, traditional log cabin bunkhouse for groups and large families, located on the banks of the Nolichucky River. Adjacent to Cherokee National Forest and the Appalachian Trail, Crockett Cabin has a sand volleyball court, bonfire pit, large fireplace and bbq grills.