Nantahala Outdoor Center – Whitewater Rafting

A Complete Outdoor Outfitter

It all started on the Nantahala in 1972, with three friends who knew there was something special about this place, and something magical about the time spent in the river, in the hills and on the trails. In the decades since then, the river has seen it all: tens of millions of visitors and smiles. Every year since its founding, NOC has strived to share the wonders of this place, and all the places we raft, hike, pedal and paddle.

• Whitewater rafting on 8 Southeastern rivers
• World-class paddling instruction in whitewater and flatwater
• International paddling adventure travel
• Shopping for outdoor gear, apparel and souvenirs at the Wesser Outfitter’s Store, NOC Gatlinburg, and NOC at The Grove Park Inn
• A leadership institute for wilderness medicine and river rescue
• Fully-customizable group adventure programs
• 3 distinct restaurants at our Nantahala Resort
• Guided activities like fishing, hiking, biking and climbing
• Bike rentals and repairs at our Bike Shop
• Lodging options for all tastes and budgets
• Festivals and events throughout the outdoor season.

NOC has long been the home to many aficionados, the meeting place for friends and the vacation destination for so many groups and families. NOC has been recognized by various media including Good Morning America, The New York Times, Outside, National Geographic Adventure and more. We appreciate these accolades, and we owe it to our dedicated staff of folks who bring their passion for the outdoors to work every day. Don’t take our word for it, experience it for yourself, today.

NOC’s retail locations in Bryson City, NC, Gatlinburg, TN, and Asheville, NC, provide guests with 3 primary services.

• Outdoor gear and apparel from leading manufacturers
• Advice for do-it-yourself adventurers
• Reservations for guided outdoor excursions

All NOC retail locations sit next to world-class outdoor resources in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. So we get to provide the gear, apparel and advice you need immediately before or after you’ve engaged with the outdoors. This makes it easier for our professional retail guides to use their first-hand experience with our gear and the local outdoors to provide helpful advice. Visit our brick and mortar retail locations, or shop online at store.noc.com.