A great time on the river starts with choosing the right trip for you.
We are the only North Carolina whitewater rafting outfitter offering you trips on both the Nantahala River and the Tuckaseigee River. And, with our Team USA Raft partners, you can raft most of the best whitewater rivers in the Southeast.
Nantahala River Rafting -
Tuckaseigee River Rafting
Team USA Raft
Beyond Age and Weight - Choosing the right trip.
Boat Options - Choosing the
Nantahala River Rafting with USA Raft Nantahala
Groups,
Teens,
Scouts,
adult groups
families with active kids
Tuckaseigee River Rafting with Blue Ridge Outing Co.
Families with younger kids, As Youngs as age 4.
Duck the Tuck - An adventurous inflatable kayak trip in a forgiving setting.
Team USA Raft
Click here for details on all rafting options available from Team USA Raft
Beyond Age & Weight
Whitewater rafting in the NC Mountains is a fun adventure. Selecting the right trip for you is critical to your fun and safety. Age and weight are the traditional guidelines used to choose an appropriate whitewater rafting trip. These help, but you should also consider your group (or family's) activity level, experience with water, experience with the outdoors, and attitude.
As a start, you must consider the needs of the youngest or most apprehensive member of your family or group.
When choosing your river and trip consider these questions for your family or group:
A. Are you enthusiastic about whitewater rafting?
B. Or, are you an apprehensive about rafting?
A. Are you active and/or play lots of sports?
B. Or, are you not as active and enjoy more indoor time?
A. Do you spend lots of time around water?
B. Or, are you not able to be around water too frequently?
A. Do you spend lots of time outdoors?
B. Or, do you spend most of your time indoors?
A. Are you a go-getter and enjoy new experiences?
B. Or, are you a little timid and cautious about new experiences?
If “A” applies to you more often, then you can choose a more aggressive trip for your age.
If “B” applies to you more often, then you should choose a less aggressive trip for your age.
We have a trip appropriate for most all families and groups with kids age 4 through pre-teen.
We’ll be happy to help you decide. Just call us at 800-572-3510.
Which Boat?
We have a variety of boats on both the Tuck and the Nantahala to meet the needs of your family or group.
Choosing the right boat is critical to your fun and safety.
Nantahala Boat Options
The Nantahala is bigger whitewater and we use mostly rafts. We have rafts that hold from about four up to about 8 people. Most of our rafts hold 6 to 8 people. We do have some smaller rafts available primarily for families on our Nantahala with Kids. Call us at 800-745-9356 for more information.
Your raft options on the Nantahala include:
Guide-Assisted in a Big Raft, possibly shared with other people. The Guides are on the trip and near you, but not in your boat. These rafts usually hold about 8 people.
Guide in Big Raft - A Guide is in your raft. (Additional $6 per person) If your family or group does not fill up a raft, you may share this raft with other people. These rafts usually hold about 8 people plus the guide.
Guide - Assisted in a smaller raft. The Guides are on the trip and near you, but not on your boat. These rafts are designed for a family of 4 to 6. You just need one person who can steer and at least one other person who can paddle.
Guide in a Smaller Raft - One of our Guides is in your raft. (Additional $10 per person) This option may not be available on busier days.
Tuck Boat Options
On the Tuck, we recommend you wait until you get here to make your decision about which boat to take. The exceptions are if you want a Guide in your Raft or if you want a one person Ducky.
As part of our trip sign up process when you get here, one of our guides will show you the boat options and help you make a good decision.
We have two types of boats and different sizes of each boat:
Rafts – Our rafts on the Tuck hold from 3 to 8 people, depending on water level and the size of the people.
Duckys and Inflatable Kayaks
We have inflatable kayaks (aka Duckys) available on both the Tuck and the Nantahala. These one and two person boats are more sporty and can add a little adventure to the trip.
The Tuck is a great river for many people to try an inflatable kayak. The warm waters and fun but forgiving rapids make it idea for inflatable kayaks.
We use ThrillKats, a special type of Ducky, on the Nantahala. These are great for active teens and adults. We do not recommend Duckys on the Nantahala for anyone who is timid or apprehensive about going rafting.
The cool and active waters of the Nantahala make it great for go-getters in a Ducky, but it’s a challenge for anyone else. We recommend you use splash gear or a wet suit if you take a Ducky down the Nantahala.
The Tuck is a great place to try a Ducky.
