White Water Rafting
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White water center, if you don't mind the brain eating amoeba.
How intense? You could camp at Deep Creek GSMNP in Bryson City and raft the Nantahala.
Windini;n85407 said:Don't knock it 'till it's tried you!
Nantahala is great fun, esp. if you get there in the off season with fewer crowds.
I just watched a YouTube video, had no idea it would be that busy. Even the campground looks to have a good amount of things to do, hiking etc
Errant_Venture
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J.R.;n85391 said:
The Ocoee river and the Nantahala river are both GREAT places to white water raft. Additionally, a bit closer to home, there is the French Broad river, and the New and Pidgeon rivers. I'd recommend the tougher parts of the French Broad, but it's iffy on water level for the past two years, due to lack of rainfall in the right water basins to feed it. Maybe this spring it will be better.
As for camping, well... that's a real tough one. Do you want camping AND WW rafting in the same place? I know the FB has some riverside campsites, and IIRC there is a company out of Asheville that offers an overnight rafting experience that I plan to do this year.
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J.R.;n85400 said:
Guided the nanty for 2 summers. Went back a couple years ago with the family. If you have never been, it's a good river to start on. It's hard to beat Nantahala Outdoor Center. There are cheaper options but NOC drives you up and you raft back to your car. If your family is big enough you can get a raft, or you can jump in a group to fill up the raft, or run it in 2 person duckies. I guided 8 person rafts. But took the family down in 2 duckies.
I highly recommend River's End restaurant too. They do other rivers, but you have to go to the outfitters on those rivers.
Any questions just ask. I went to WCU, spent a lot of time in the area, and worked around there too.
Errant_Venture;n85478 said:
I think I'm looking for a campsite within a reasonable distance of the rafting. I don't know that I could convince the mrs to camp overnight if it wasn't at a campsite. I'm trying to ease her into the process. Deer Creek seems to have quite a bit of activities to do which is nice
chiefjason;n85479 said:
When they say "intermediate" are the waters a bit rough? I don't want it to be easy but I don't want some insane trip either.
Also, do you know if there are any large rocks to jump off into the water?
NOC at a quick glance seemed to be the most organized and professional but then again that was just a YouTube video.
Errant_Venture
I'm the space cowboy.
The Nantahala is a top tier rafting experience. However, I second the NOC recommendation. Their guides will keep you safe, and in your boat. Nothing life threatening or more than a reasonably in shape person can handle is likely to be encountered on the Nantahala.
J.R.;n85483 said:
The first run, Patton's, and the last run, lesser Wesser, are the largest rapids. I would not call it insane. I don't recommend it but I've seen people float through lesser Wesser with just their life jacket. Bad idea, but they did. There are a few spots around mid way you might could do some swimming. But they can get crowded with other boaters and kayakers too.
I've seen 8 person rafts nearly dumped in both. And know of a couple rafts that were ruined in Pattons by getting stuck mid river. But if you go river right on Pattons you are good. It's the clowns that try to go down the middle that get in trouble. And I dumped our duckie in lesser Wesser and have seen rafts get dumped there too. You have to respect the river. There is always a danger of things going wrong, and every year or two someone dies on the nanty. I nearly watched a guy drown when I was guiding. Patton's you have to run, but lesser you can actually leave the boat at the top and walk to NOC if you had too. They have a movie at the pre trip briefing that goes over how to run both rapids.
NOC is the big dog in rafting in the south east.
My wife and oldest in Lesser Wesser. For my pic, imagine seeing the bottom of the boat and two heads floating downstream. lol
Z
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CZfool68;n85412 said:
what he said + the Gauley river in October when they open the dam.
chiefjason;n85493 said:The first run, Patton's, and the last run, lesser Wesser, are the largest rapids. I would not call it insane. I don't recommend it but I've seen people float through lesser Wesser with just their life jacket. Bad idea, but they did. There are a few spots around mid way you might could do some swimming. But they can get crowded with other boaters and kayakers too.
I've seen 8 person rafts nearly dumped in both. And know of a couple rafts that were ruined in Pattons by getting stuck mid river. But if you go river right on Pattons you are good. It's the clowns that try to go down the middle that get in trouble. And I dumped our duckie in lesser Wesser and have seen rafts get dumped there too. You have to respect the river. There is always a danger of things going wrong, and every year or two someone dies on the nanty. I nearly watched a guy drown when I was guiding. Patton's you have to run, but lesser you can actually leave the boat at the top and walk to NOC if you had too. They have a movie at the pre trip briefing that goes over how to run both rapids.
NOC is the big dog in rafting in the south east.
My wife and oldest in Lesser Wesser. For my pic, imagine seeing the bottom of the boat and two heads floating downstream. lol
That looks like a blast, I'm gonna have to look into this for this summer
Errant_Venture
I'm the space cowboy.
HMP;n85543 said:
Nice! I can't get any of my lazy ass friends to get out and go with me, and my wife won't do the fun stuff.
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The New River is a great ride.
The Natahalla is another intense ride, even more fun if you can find a place to let you use rubber duckies (inflatable Kayacks).
If you want one of the best rides in the country (and I believe it's number 6 in the world) take a ride on the upper Gauley. It starts in a class 5 eddie current and is pretty much 1 class 4 or 5 rapid after another with a 15 foot waterfall in the mix.
The Natahalla is another intense ride, even more fun if you can find a place to let you use rubber duckies (inflatable Kayacks).
If you want one of the best rides in the country (and I believe it's number 6 in the world) take a ride on the upper Gauley. It starts in a class 5 eddie current and is pretty much 1 class 4 or 5 rapid after another with a 15 foot waterfall in the mix.
R
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chiefjason;n85479 said:
what's a "duckie"?
Rode Hard and Put Up Wet;85696 said:
Inflatable 2 person kayak. It's what they are paddling in the pic I posted. You can get singles too.
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Chdamn;n85666 said:
have to do it in october when they open the dam on certain days
IUHoosier429
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Another vote for New River in WV. My girl and I went with River Expeditions late last summer - https://www.raftinginfo.com. Great folks, fun times, and exceptional scenery. We paddled class 3, 4 rapids and got dumped once. It was a blast. We also camped and hiked in New River Gorge.
It really was an adventure that will be tough to beat, and we've been all over the place. We hope to go again this summer.
It really was an adventure that will be tough to beat, and we've been all over the place. We hope to go again this summer.
Well the guys at my work (well SOME of them) take a trip each year - this year, my first full year, Ive been invited along for a camping weekend before we get out for the summer.
Im looking forward to it, never been WWR before, and it'll be fun hanging around a campfire and the camaraderie etc
Im looking forward to it, never been WWR before, and it'll be fun hanging around a campfire and the camaraderie etc
