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Fully Guided Rafting Trip

Asheville, United States 3h 5.0 · 43 reviews EN 5666659P1
Instant confirmation Free cancellation (24h) Mobile ticket Adults 18–110
Photos 12
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Overview

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.

Tour at a glance

Duration
3h
01
Tour type
Group tour
up to 15 travellers per booking
02
Languages
EN
live guide
03
Pickup
Meet at start point
04
Operates
Every day
Starts 10:30, 14:00
05
Confirmation
Instant
e-ticket by e-mail
06
Cancellation
Free up to 24h before
07
Traveller ages
Adults 18–110
08
Rating
5.0 / 5
44 verified reviews
09
Ticket
Mobile ticket
show it on your phone
10

What's included

  • Private transportation

What you'll do

Total TRIP TIME approximately 3 – 3 ½ hours – Total WATER TIME is about 2 – 2 ½ hours. After we personally fit you into your life jacket and give you full instructions, we shuttle you to where the adventure begins. On your way down the river, you’ll enjoy over 20 named rapids! This final rapid of your adventure is Nantahala Wesser Falls, which is where we take pictures of your group. We’ll wait for you at the take out and shuttle you the 7.5 mile bus ride back to our outpost where warm, dry clothes & pictures of you conquering “The Falls” await you. You can enjoy our picnic tables while relaxing by the creek, or challenge your friend to a game of corn hole. We have a spacious bathroom with changing rooms and hot showers, and a top-notch retail souvenir shop. Your pictures display at our outpost store on a wide screen TV for the whole group to enjoy and relive the fun! They can be purchased in person, over the phone, or through the link on our website!

Meeting & pickup

Everyone meets at the start 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!

Schedule

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 10:30, 14:00

Good to know

  • 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 policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveller reviews

5.044 reviews
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44
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traveltwotravel Sep 2026 · Tripadvisor
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

Christina_B Sep 2026 · Viator
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!

Robin_R Sep 2026 · Viator
Fun day on the river!

Totally enjoyed the adventure with Fast River! Gorgeous landscape and the river calming challenging with various levels of complexity.

Livtravels123 Sep 2026 · Tripadvisor
Fun day trip

Beautiful river, chill rapids, saw some beautiful wildlife. Would do it again. Dalton was a wonderful guide & the experience was seamless!

springdimartino Sep 2026 · Viator
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! :)

304marcellaj Sep 2026 · Tripadvisor
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! ❤️🏞️

D8987RAandrewc Aug 2026 · Tripadvisor
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.

714shellyj Aug 2026 · Tripadvisor
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.

Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this experience last?

It lasts 3h.

Is hotel pickup included?

Everyone meets at the start point.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.

Which languages is the guide available in?

Guide languages: EN

On which days does it run?

It runs Every day. Starts 10:30, 14:00

How fast is the booking confirmed?

Instantly. Your e-ticket arrives by e-mail right after booking.

Is this a private tour?

No, this is a shared group experience.

Where do I complete the booking?

On viator.com, a Tripadvisor company, with live availability and secure payment. TourViaGo is a Global Partner of Viator.

Product code 5666659P1

Book on viator.com · Global Partner of Viator $60per person
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