River Rafting Adventures

Settlers Mountain is located in close proximity to the Nantahala River, Tuckaseegee River, and short distance to the Ocoee River. Whether young or old, we highly recommend a paddle down a river to add a whole new dimension to your enjoyment of the Great Smoky Mountains. Each river has its own level of difficulty. The Tuckaseegee River is a very tame river that you mostly float down and enjoy the scenery, while the Nantahala River is exciting with rapids that you need to navigate through. The Ocoee River is a very exciting and challenging river that has class III to IV rapids that the weak of heart should take notice.

Tuckaseegee River Rafting

Just minutes away from Settlers Mountain, the Tuckaseegee River is great for families and kids. This river is mild by comparison to the other rivers having only class I-II whitewater. The Tuckaseegee is a scenic trip that can be enjoyed in a raft, rubber duck (inflated type Kayak), and I have even seen the locals float sections of the river on inner tubes. You should encounter many types of wild life along the trip and can find places to go for a swim. Tuckaseegee is also a tad warmer than the other rivers. If you want a laid back type of trip or want to have a river experience before you venture to the more challenging rivers then this is the trip for you. As a point of reference, you can see the river as you travel between Dillsboro and Bryson city along route 74. There are age limits or size limits for children, usually 10 years of age or 40LBs depending on each rafting company. Check with a Settlers Mountain representative for a recommendation of which rafting company to choose and receive discounts.

Nantahala River Rafting

The Nantahala River is the most popular white water rafting river in the Southeast, located in the Nantahala National Forest. The Nantahala River Gorge occupies approximately 9 miles of the Nantahala River. The river has gained its popularity by controlled water releases at the hydroelectric plant at the head of river, providing consistent quality whitewater rafting conditions for just about any level of rafting enthusiast.

Nantahala rafting begins below the power house and is about 8 miles long with class II-III rapids. Because the water is released from the lower part of the lake, the water is clear, clean, and around 52 degrees all year long. The scenery throughout the trip is beautiful as you wind your way through the gorge. You can choose to raft, rubber ducky, or kayak. If you have never been rafting before you may want to use a guide that the rafting company can provide or if you are a confident person with good skills then you may choose to go out on your own after you have been given safety instructions. Some companies have videos to watch prior to getting on the river.

After your instructions and you have chosen your means of transportation, you will get on a bus with your paddle and ride through the gorge to the head of the river to the drop-off point. The trip will take about 3 ½ to 4 hours with about 2 hours on the river itself. Most of the rapids are manageable with the biggest rapid at the very end. You can choose to go through it or not. If you do choose to take the last rapid and wipe out there are helpers with ropes to pull you to shore.

We recommend that you make reservations for your rafting trip. A Settlers Mountain representative can assist you with reservations and choosing a good, reliable company. Rafting companies have size limits for children and provide all the equipment needed for a fun and safe trip. Plan on bringing a change of clothes and a water-proof bag or container for things you do not want to get wet, like your car keys. Settlers Mountain is located just minutes away from the rafting company.

Ocoee River Rafting

Ocoee River is famous for its fast drops and fast moving water. Many of the rapids are named because of their levels of difficulty. You will find the true die-hard whitewater enthusiast here. In 1993 a section of the Ocoee River was transformed for the 1996 Olympics and really put the Ocoee River on the map.

Middle Ocoee: The Middle Ocoee is almost a continuous whitewater experience from the Put-In at Rogers Branch until the Take-Out at Caney Creek. The flow level can vary between 1200 and 1800 cubic feet per second (CFS). The whitewater section from the wooden diversion dam to Ocoee No. 2 Powerhouse has an average drop of 54 feet per mile and is considered a *Class III and IV river. When taking a rafting trip on this section of the river, approximate time on the water is 2 hours.

Upper Ocoee: Your experience here begins at Ocoee No. 3 Dam, where the river runs parallel with the historic 'Old Copper Road', at this starting section of the river you will encounter *Class II whitewater and seclusion in the wilderness. The whitewater excitement continues with the thrilling Olympic whitewater section of the Ocoee River where you will encounter *Class IV whitewater, with rapids such as the famous 'Humongous'.

As with the other rivers, we recommend that you make reservations for your rafting trip. A Settlers Mountain representative can assist you with reservations and choosing a good, reliable company. Rafting companies have size limits for children and provide all the equipment needed for a fun and safe trip. Plan on bringing a change of clothes and a water-proof bag or container for things you do not want to get wet, like your car keys. Settlers Mountain is located 1½ hours away from the rafting company.