T
Best rafting on Natahala
The best Natahala rafting company/trip in the area. Easy to find. Spotless. Helpful friendly staff. Warm showers. Jackson the heat guide ever
Fully Guided Rafting Trip
+11 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $60 / person
- Location
- Asheville, United States
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 44 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 100
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Fast Rivers
- Meeting point
- All of our trips start at our rafting outpost, just a 1 minute bus ride to the put in!When you arrive at our outpost you can park your vehicle in the gravel parking lot next to the building.The phone signal is not great in the Nantahala Gorge, so we advise printing directions for a back up!
Description
Fast Rivers opened in 1979. It's the second oldest company on the Nantahala River-- and our longevity is no accident. We're a small business and our goal is to give every single guest a personal, affordable, and downright fun experience on the river. Your trip will most likely be JUST your party, but if you want a guaranteed private trip, we'd be happy to accommodate that (an extra $15 per person.) We have a wide range of guides and we try our best to pair you with someone who will provide you with the type of trip you want. Do you want a chill float, a thrilling experience with rock spins, or something in between-- we'll take care of you! You won't get this kind of personalized experience at the bigger outposts on the river.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 29
- Adult (ages 18+)
- $60
- Child (ages 7–17)
- $60
In demand: 54 of the next 60 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Tour Options
What's included
Included
We provide transportation to the put in (1 minute from our outpost) and back from the take out (about a 15 minute ride.)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
44 reviews
How it compares in Asheville
- Rated higher than 74% of 58 reviewed tours in Asheville
- No. 30 by number of reviews among 150 tours in Asheville
- Starting price $60 is close to the typical $57 for tours of similar length in Asheville
Excurgo comparison of 150 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The Forest Service requires children to be 7 years old OR 60 lbs or more at the time of your trip.
- If you have health conditions or mobility issues, please call to see what level of accommodation we can provide.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Fully Guided Rafting Trip take?
Fully Guided Rafting Trip lasts about 3 hours.
How much does Fully Guided Rafting Trip cost?
Prices start at $60 per person for this Asheville experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Fully Guided Rafting Trip run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM.
How much does Fully Guided Rafting Trip cost for children?
Children aged 7–17 pay from $60, adults from $60.
Does Fully Guided Rafting Trip sell out?
It can: 54 of the next 60 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Fully Guided Rafting Trip for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is All of our trips start at our rafting outpost, just a 1 minute bus ride to the put in! When you arrive at our outpost you can park your vehicle in the gravel parking lot next to the building. The phone signal is not great in the Nantahala Gorge, so we advise printing directions for a back up! Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Fully Guided Rafting Trip offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 100 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller The Forest Service requires children to be 7 years old OR 60 lbs or more at the time of your trip.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible If you have health conditions or mobility issues, please call to see what level of accommodation we can provide.
Reviews(44)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
C
Do it!
We had a great experience! Our guide was fun and knowledgeable not only about rafting, but also about wildlife and local information. Don't hesitate to book this one!
R
Fun day on the river!
Totally enjoyed the adventure with Fast River! Gorgeous landscape and the river calming challenging with various levels of complexity.
L
Fun day trip
Beautiful river, chill rapids, saw some beautiful wildlife. Would do it again. Dalton was a wonderful guide & the experience was seamless!
S
Excellent rafting for beginners OR intermediates!
PERFECT river rafting day! (Excellent for newbies, like us!) The whole process from start to finish was streamlined and efficient! The building had a great area for changing clothes & showering afterwards. The river was wonderful! Class 2 rapids mostly and then a few areas of 3 - so great even for kids! Our guide, Danny, was stellar, 10/10. Made the 2 hours on the river an absolute blast! I cannot recommend this tour enough! The water is really cold here because it comes from the deeper water from a dam, so it's always a cool 45-55 degrees, BUT, they rent water clothes if you want to stay fairly dry & warm for $5! :)
Operator response
We'll let Danny know you enjoyed your time with him! Thank you so much for joining us, come see us again! :)
3
Natahala river rafting
Casey was PHENOMENAL—so fun, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience amazing! One tip: BRING YOUR PHONE! 📱 We were strongly encouraged not to, but I wish I had. I’m from Michigan and wont likely experience this again and not having my phone for pictures was my biggest regret of the trip! Literally! The pricey guide photos are available to buy, but mine weren’t great. 😂 Bring your phone. Period. Just secure it properly! Would absolutely do this again! ❤️🏞️
Operator response
We're SO sorry about the photos, we discourage everyone about phones, but totally understand your disappointment there. (Too bad Michigan doesn't provide a lot of whitewater rafting :/ ) We do hope you get a chance to come back to the area so we can try again! It was awesome having you guys!
D
Fantastic time!
Super fun time! Our guide took us down stretches that were so fun. I would definitely book with them again. Having an experienced raft captain makes a difference.
7
Great time!
We had a small group of five and our guide, Ryan, made it more fun and interesting. The owner and staff were wonderful to deal with and of course the river is beautiful.
E
Rafting with family guided by our favorite Team
Best rafting trip for everyone who would like to know more about Nantahala, about North Carolina’s natural treasures. We got clear instructions from the Team before the trip, as well how to ride safely. The Team provided a convenient bus ride to the put in, as well after the ride back to the starting point. There is a nice room to change before the ride as well to have shower afterwards, in case you prefer so. The ride was amazing as well for my teenager kids as well for my smallest and for the adults. We will be always grateful to Danny, our guide for the best guided tour on Nantahala. He as a tour guide is informative and leads you in a way on the river, that you will never forget the white water and the surrounding forest. he has a very good style, speaks clearly, easy to understand even to foreigners 😅 Thanks a lot Dear Team! Thanks a lot Danny! 🥰
2
Great Family Adventure
Danny, the guide for our kids (ages 7-18) was FANTASTIC! Wonderful experience and Fast Rivers was definitely worth the price.
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from$60
5.0(44) Free cancellation