Rafting Adventures

Some come to the mountains to unwind and relax…others come for the adventure and thrill of our rivers. If you want to step away from the screen time and get that adrenaline rush, white water rafting is for you. If you’re not a thrill seeker, we have plenty of opportunities for you to take in the mountains, lakes, and rivers at your own pace.

Cherokee County is home to 160,000 acres of National Forest, Hiwassee Lake, Apalachia Lake, Nottely River, Hiwassee River, Valley River, and countless streams. We’re also centrally located between the Nantahala and Ocoee Rivers in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Ocoee was home to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics while the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) has been recently recognized by The New York Times as the “Nation’s Premiere Paddling School,” “The Best Place to Learn” by Outside, and as “One of the Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure. To say that we offer the best experiences would be an understatement.

We recommend that you explore the packages offered and make reservations. You can add paddling instruction, zip line tours, guided fishing and fly fishing, tubing, mountain biking, horseback riding, gemstone mining, stand up paddleboarding, and even a train ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

• Carolina Outfitters Rafting
• Rolling Thunder River Company
• Carolina Ocoee
• Ocoee Adventure Center
• Nantahala Outdoor Center