Tuck River Trips
Family whitewater rafting for as young as age 4
This is the Ultimate Whitewater Rafting trip for families and groups with
younger kids, older beginners, and anyone apprehensive.
It’s definitely whitewater, but definitely not big whitewater.

Choose from 2 great trips….
1. The Ultimate Whitewater Rafting Trip for Younger Kids
This trip is the perfect combination of fun, adventure, and safety for younger kids and their families. It's also great for beginners up to age 11 and anyone apprehensive. We are so confident that this is the "Ultimate Whitewater Rafting Trip for Younger Kids" 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".
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.
Active and Adventurous: Age 4 & Up
Less Active, but Enthusiastic: Age 6 & Up
Apprehensive: Age 9 & Up
Ultimate Tuck Trip Times & Cost
11AM all season
Cost Age 15 & up - $41 per person
Under Age 15 - $31 per person
“Is it boring for older kids and adults?”
Call for Reservations 1-800-572-3510
2. Super Splash Trip
This trip goes down the same fun and exciting stretch of river, just later in the day. Weather often becomes a little cloudy with a shower possible on the later part of this trip. This is usually not a problem for older kids, but can be a problem for younger kids or anyone apprehensive. You get our "Make-Up Trip Guarantee." This trip costs less, except for younger kids.
Super Splash Tuck Trip Times & Cost
2:00PM all season, but not everyday. Call for earlier times thru mid-June.
Cost Age 7 & Up $29 per person
Age 4 – 6 $34 per person
Younger kids (ages 4 – 6) do better on the Ultimate Trip.
Tuck Rafting Season – Late May – Early September
Combine a Tuck trip with a Nantahala Trip and Save $5 on the 2nd trip you take
Reservations are Easy Call 800-572-3510
Our Fun With Kids Guarantees
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.
Is it boring for older kids and adults?
Over the years, we have taken hundreds of older kids on our trips. Most are rafting with us because they have a younger brother or sister that's rafting with us. Older kids almost always have a great time on our trips. Yes, they can do bigger white water. Before the trip, they are concerned that they'll be bored. They never are. On the trip, they realize it's fun for everyone. They can be (and usually are) more playful than the younger kids. One or two person Duckys can be a great option for older kids. They add adventure and independence to the trip for them.
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 take fleece jackets on the trip, in case smaller kids get chilled. You should bring a change of clothes for after the trip. We have changing rooms.
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. One of our Guides will talk with your family or group about boat options and help you select the boat (or boats) that will work best for you.
Next you’ll get your PFD (Personal Flotation Device a/k/a 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 or van. This takes 5 to 15 minutes. The Guides will give a Safety Briefing 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. We stop a least once and often more than once on Tuck trips. Enjoy the fun and forgiving whitewater. It is definitely whitewater, but definitely not big whitewater. Bounce and churn through Moonshot, Papa Bear, Sling Shot, Double Drop and more.
It is not boring. It is fun, even for older kids and adults.
You are on the river about 2 ½ hours. You’ll take out at our private take-out area at our shop, which is where your vehicle is parked.
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.
Duck the Tuck - The Tuck is one of the best rivers in the U.S. for Duckys (inflatable kayaks). The water is relatively warm and the rapids fun but forgiving. Duckys are available on all of our Tuck trips.
Duck the Tuck Cost – Cost is as listed for Ultimate & Super Slash trips.
Combine a Tuck trip with a Nantahala trip and Save $5 on the 2nd trip you take.
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:
Rafts – Our rafts on the Tuck hold from 3 to 8 people, depending on water level and the size of the people.
Duckys (Inflatable Kayaks) – These small rafts are open and shaped like a canoe or kayak. They are for one, two and sometimes three people. One person Duckys are great for active older kids and
teens. Two person Duckys are great for a parent and child, couples and sometimes two older kids.
The warm water and fun, but forgiving rapids make the Tuck a great place to try a Ducky.
At higher water levels, we may be more restrictive about who can take Duckys and possibly not allow them on the river. That is a trip time safety decision that we make.
Again, on the Tuck, we recommend you not make a boat choice until you get here unless you want a Guide in your Raft or you want a one person Ducky.
More Detailed Trip Descriptions
Ultimate Kids Whitewater Rafting Trip! (11:00 AM) This
is the ultimate whitewater rafting trip for younger kids and whoever goes
with them. It's also great for beginners and anyone wanting extra attention.
This trip has the best weather, the best boat selection, more guides per
guest, smaller trip size. Bounce and churn through fun and exciting (but
forgiving) rapids like Papa Bear, Moonshot, Double Drop, Slingshot, Surfing
Rapid and Sharks Tooth. Add our 19 years of experience taking younger kids
whitewater rafting, our popular kid-friendly guides, and a fun and exciting
(but still kid-friendly) stretch of whitewater, and you get the Ultimate
Whitewater Rafting Trip for Younger Kids. 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. We stop. We play. It's great adventure that's appropriate for
younger kids.
Super Splash Trip! (12:30 PM or 2:00 PM) (Call for trips later in the day.) 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 possible on the later part of this trip. This is not a big deal for older and/or more adventurous kids, but can be a problem with younger kids. Trip size can be larger. You get our "Make-up Rafting Trip Guarantee" on this trip.
Directions
WE'RE EASY TO GET TO !
Our outpost is conveniently located on the banks of the Tuckaseigee River on US Highway 74/441 at the South/East end of Uncle Bill's Flea Market in Western North Carolina. We are on Hwy 441 between Dillsboro and Cherokee and we are on Hwy 74 between Sylva and Bryson City.
Physical Address:
5472 U.S. Hwy 74 W
Whittier, NC 28789
Local Phone: 828-586-3510
From Cherokee follow US 441 South. We're just 15 minutes from downtown Cherokee on 441 South, at Uncle Bill's Flea market.
From Gatlinburg follow US 441 South through the Smoky Mountain Park and Cherokee. We're just 15 minutes from downtown Cherokee on 441 South, at Uncle Bill's Flea Market.
From Waynesville/Lake Junaluska we're just 30 minutes away. Just take US 74 West. We're at Uncle Bill's Flea Market.
From Maggie Valley take US 19 to Cherokee or Waynesville and follow the directions above. We're 40 minutes away.
From Franklin (40 minutes) and North Georgia take US 441 North. We're at Uncle Bill's Flea Market.
From Murphy and Andrews, NC. Take Hwy 74 E past Bryson City. Our Tuck Outpost is about 15 minutes past Bryson City on Hwy 74 E. We’re on the right in the same complex as Uncle Bill’s Flea Market. Our Tuck Outpost is about one hour from Murphy.
From Highlands follow US 64 West to Franklin, then follow the directions above. It'll take about an hour from Highlands.
From Cashiers follow 107 from Cashiers to Sylva/Dillsboro and join US 441 North, it's 1 hour. We're at Uncle Bill's Flea Market.
From Bryson City (15 minutes) and the Nantahala Gorge (30 minutes) follow US 19 to 74 East toward Sylva. We're at Uncle Bill's Flea Market.
From Asheville take I-40 West to Exit 27 at Waynesville. This puts you on US 74 West. We're at Uncle Bill's Flea Market. It'll take about an hour 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 our outpost. We're at Uncle Bill's Flea Market. It'll take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Atlanta.
Home | Nantahala Trips | Camp and Raft
Lodging & Activity Guide | Inquiry Form
Call 1-800-572-3510
|