Choose From Two Great Trips

1. Ultimate Nantahala

This trip is the perfect combination of fun, adventure, and safety for active kids age 7 & up and their families. It's also great for beginners age 11 & up. We are so confident that this is the "Ultimate Kids Whitewater Rafting Trip " that we will give you your money back if you don't have a great time rafting with your kids on this trip.

Click here for more details on the Ultimate Kids Whitewater Rafting Trip on the Nantahala

And you get our Ultimate Money Back Guarantee If you don't have fun rafting with your kids on this trip, we will give you your money back.

Recommended Age & Attitude on the Nantahala

Active and Adventurous: Age 7 & Up
Less Active, but Enthusiastic: Age 9 & Up
Apprehensive Age: 11 &Up

Ultimate Nantahala Trip Times and Cost

The Ultimate Nantahala           June 10 – Labor Day  9:45AM
 
Ultimate Trip Cost         Age 15 & up:  $41 per person
                                   Age 7 - 15:     $31 per person

Super Splash Nantahala Trip Times and Trip Cost

Through May 25:   11:30AM
May 26 - June 9:   9:45AM
June 10 - Aug. 10: 1:45PM
Aug. 10 - Sept. 4:  11:30AM, 1:45PM
September 5 – 30:  Sat.: 9:45AM, Sun.—Fri.: 11:30AM
October:               11:30AM

Super Splash Trip Cost:    $29 per person

Nantahala Operating Season:  April – October

Combine a Tuck trip with a Nantahala Trip and Save $5 on the 2nd trip you take

Reservations are Easy   Call 800-572-3510

Ultimate Money Back Guarantee for the Ultimate Tuck and Ultimate Nantahala

We don't use the term "Ultimate" loosely. If you don't have a great time rafting with your kids on this trip, we will give you your money back.

Make-up Trip Guarantee for All Other Trips

You come to have fun with your kids, we want you to have fun with your kids! If you do not have fun with your kids on our rafting trip, then we will let you raft with us again for free. You have one year from your trip date to take the free make-up rafting trip. If you are still not satisfied after taking the free make-up raft trip, then we'll give you your money back.

Arrival, Trip Flow, and What to Bring

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your trip. We have a parking area. 

Appropriate shoes are required for your river trip. You can buy or rent water shoes, if needed. We also rent Splash Gear and Wetsuits. Bring a change of clothes for after the trip. We have changing areas and hot showers at our Nantahala Outpost.

When you arrive, check in at the office. Complete any needed payment and read, fill-out, and sign the Liability Release Form. 

Now starts the outfitting. We’ll help you choose the right boat, get you any needed Splash Gear, and wetsuit or wet shoes.

Next you’ll get your PFD (Personal Flotation Device aqua life jacket) and a paddle.  PFDs must be worn by everyone at all times when on or near the river. There are no exceptions. PFDs must be snug. They should be comfortable, but snug.

Next you ride to the put-in in a bus. This takes 15 to 20 minutes. The Guides will give a Safety Briefing during the bus ride.  At the put-in, we’ll take the boats to the river. Now the fun begins. You will stay together with the group. Our guides are always on the river with you. 

On our Ultimate Trip, we’ll stop for a snack. There’s not a lot of other stopping on the Nantahala River. The water is cool and there are not a lot of calm spots, so we don’t spend a lot of time stopped and playing. Enjoy an exhilarating family rafting ride down the clear and cool, fast and fun, Nantahala River. It’s got action and attitude, but it’s still family-friendly.

The trip last about 2 ½ hours on the river.  It ends at the climatic Wesser Falls, the biggest Class III rapid around. It’s easy to walk around this last big rapid, if you want.

Just after the falls, you’ll take out and board the bus for a 10-minute trip back to our outpost. There you can change (and shower if you wish) and check out our T-shirts. Most days we will have photos available of your run through Wesser Falls.  And, you’ll be able to buy the photos online later.
In the unlikely event that you don’t have fun rafting with your kids on our Ultimate Trip, we’ll give you a full refund.  On our Super Splash Trips, you get our “Make-Up Trip” Guarantee.

Detailed Nantahala Trip Descriptions

Ultimate Kids Whitewater Rafting on the Nantahala River
Active and Adventurous: Age 7 & Up
Less Active, but Enthusiastic: Age 9 & Up
Apprehensive: Age 11 & Up

This is the ultimate whitewater rafting trip for active beginners age 7 & up, older tentative beginners, and anyone wanting extra attention. This trip usually has the best weather, the best boat selection, more guides per guest, and smaller trip size. The Nantahala River is one of the most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the U. S. and is the Classic Family Whitewater Rafting Trip.

Bounce and churn through more than 7 miles of cool and clear whitewater running through the Nantahala National Forest. Run Patton's Run, Tumble Dry, Whirlpool Rapid, Surfing Rapid, and end with and exhilarating run through Wesser Falls. Add our 19 years of experience taking kids whitewater rafting, our popular kid-friendly guides, and a fun and exciting (but still family-friendly) stretch of whitewater, and you get the Ultimate Whitewater Rafting Trip for Active Kids age 7 & Up and older kids and adults who are a little apprehensive. The trip comes with our Ultimate Money Back Guarantee.

Our kid-friendly guides are always on the river with you to assist with fun and safety. The weather is almost always good on this trip. We serve a snack. It's great adventure that's appropriate for active & adventurous kids age 7 & up and older kids who are a little tentative.

Ultimate Money Back Guarantee for "The Ultimate Kids Whitewater Rafting Trip!"

We don't use the term "Ultimate" loosely. If you don't have a great time rafting with your kids on this trip, we will give you your money back

Super Splash on the Nantahala

Raft the same fun and exciting rapids as our "Ultimate" trip, just later in the day. Weather often becomes a little cloudy with a shower more likely on the later part of this trip. The river often becomes more crowded. This is not a big deal for older and/or more adventurous kids, but can be a problem with younger kids and anyone who is less adventurous. Trip size can be larger. There are fewer guides per guest. You get our "Make-up Rafting Trip Guarantee" on this trip.

Duckys & 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.

Why Raft with Kids on the Nantahala 

Choosing an outfitter can be challenging. There are several good quality outfitters. Some focus on a particular group or service.  For us, Raft with Kids tells you our focus. We focus on serving families and groups with pre-teen kids, and whoever goes with them.

We are not the biggest and we are not the fanciest.

We are the most focused are serving families and their kids. Everything we do is centered on serving families with pre-teen kids. Our equipment, our guides, the rivers we run, our trip times, all of it is set up to better serve families with pre-teen kids.

We are the only outfitter in the region giving you a Money Back Guarantee.  We’re the only outfitter in the region offer such a guarantee and we’ve found only one other in the U.S.

You will find bigger outfitters. And, you will find fancier outfitters. But you won’t find an outfitter more focused on serving families with pre-teen kids. And, you’ll have to look far and wide and travel to a different region of the country to find another outfitter willing to put your trip payment on the line. If you don’t have fun, we don’t get paid.

WE'RE EASY TO GET TO !

Directions & Location

Directions to our Nantahala River Outpost:

Physical Address:

11044 Hwy 19 West
Bryson City, NC 28713

Local Phone 828-488-3316

USA's Nantahala Outpost is on US Hwy. 74W in Bryson City, North Carolina

The sign says “USA Raft”

Our Nantahala Rafting Center and Campground is conveniently located in the Nantahala Gorge on US Highway 74 between Bryson City and Murphy, NC. It is 25 minutes from our “Tuck Outpost.”  The sign says “USA Raft.”  Click here for Camping and Catered Camping details.

From Cherokee follow US 441 South to the Hwy 74 intersection. Take Hwy 74 West toward Bryson City and Murphy. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 6 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the right. We are about 30 minutes from downtown Cherokee.

From Gatlinburg follow US 441 South through the Smoky Mountain Park and into Cherokee. Follow the directions from Cherokee above. We’re about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Gatlinburg.

From Waynesville/Lake Junaluska Take US Hwy 74 West. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 6 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the right. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 50 minutes from Waynesville.

From Maggie Valley take US 19 to Cherokee or Waynesville and follow the directions above. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 1 hour from Maggie Valley.

From Murphy and Andrews, NC. Take Hwy 74 E toward Bryson City.  We’re on Hwy 74 about 12 miles east of Topton. You’ll drive along the Nantahala River and then leave the river. We’re less than 5 minutes from when you leave the river. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the left. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 30 minutes from Murphy.

From Franklin (40 minutes) and North Georgia take US 441 North to Hwy 74 W. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 6 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the right. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 1 hour from Franklin.

An alternative route from Franklin is to take Hwy 28 from Franklin to Hwy 74, then take Hwy 74 W the last 10 minutes to our Nantahala Outpost. This will usually save you about 20 minutes, but part of Hwy 28 is very curvy. It’s a good road, and scenic, but curvy.  Hwy 441 and 74 are limited access four lane roads until the final 2 ½ miles of your trip. You decide.

From Highlands follow US 64 West to Franklin, and then follow the directions above. It'll take about 1 ½ hours from Highlands.

From Cashiers follow 107 from Cashiers to Sylva/Dillsboro and follow US 441 North to Hwy 74 W. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 6 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the right. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Cashiers.

From Bryson City Take Hwy 74 W toward Murphy. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 6 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the right. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 15 minutes from Bryson City.

From Asheville take I-40 West to Exit 27 at Waynesville. This puts you on US 74 West. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 6 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the right.  It'll take about 1 hour 25 minutes from Asheville.

From Atlanta follow I-85 to I-985 towards Gainsville, GA. This becomes US 441/23. Follow US 441 North past Franklin, NC to Hwy 74 W. We're about 10 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74. About 6 miles past Bryson City the road forks, take the left fork (which is still Hwy 74 W toward Murphy). Our Nantahala Outpost is on the right about 2 ½ miles past the split. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the right.  Our Nantahala Outpost is about 3.5 hours from Atlanta.

An alternate route from Atlanta is to take I-75 & I-575 to State Hwy 5 and Hwy 76 to Blue Ridge, GA. From Blue Ridge, GA, take Hwy 60 to Hwy 74 E in Murphy, NC. From Murphy, Take Hwy 74 E toward Bryson City.  We’re on Hwy 74 about 12 miles east of Topton. You’ll drive along the Nantahala River and then leave the river. We’re less than 5 minutes from when you leave the river. Look for the “USA Raft” sign on the left. Our Nantahala Outpost is about 30 minutes from Murphy, NC.

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