It’s almost impossible to take a guided raft trip down the Chattooga River without hearing someone hum at least a few bars of "Dueling Banjos." Most guides can’t help themselves—some of the whitewater scenes in the 1972 movie Deliverance were filmed here. But the Chattooga is much more than a backdrop. It’s one of the few remaining free-flowing rivers in the Southeast, and whitewater rafters flock there for a chance to run legendary rapids complete with undercut rocks and dangerous hydraulics. This relatively remote river is broken up into four parts, with sections III and IV being the most challenging and popular for rafting. Protected by Congress as a Wild and Scenic River, the Chattooga boasts some of the most beautiful, untouched wilderness in the Southeast.
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As the water rises with increased rainfall, so does the difficulty and the thrill factor of this truly amazing whitewater river. Immortalized in the film Deliverance, Section IV of the Chattooga is the classic southeastern whitewater experience against which all others are measured.
Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) has been leading trips on this federally-designated Wild and Scenic River since the company's beginning in 1972 with all varieties of kayak and canoe instruction, on mountain bikes and around the world with our adventure travel trips. World-class staff leads white water rafting trips on seven of the Southeast's best rivers, including the Chattooga River, Cheoah River, French Broad River, Nantahala River, Nolichucky River, Ocoee River, and Pigeon River. Learn to whitewater paddle from the pros in our renowned canoe and kayak Paddling School. Also offer adventure-learning programs for groups of all types, ropes course climbing, flat water lake kayaking, fly fishing and hiking. NOC guides are the most experienced on Chattooga river.
Chattooga River Rafting Trip Options
Total Trip Time: 6 hours
River Miles: 5-7 miles
Time on River: 4-5 hours
Age Requirement: 13 years
Lunch: included and served riverside
| Trip Options | Price | Minimum Age |
| Section III Full Day Guided Raft | $89 | 8 yrs w/adult |
| Section III Guided Ducky | $99 | 13 years |
| Section IV Guided Raft | $99 | 13 years |
| Section IV Guided Raft Overnighter | $300 | 13 years |
The best part about the NOC experience on the Chattooga is that our guides take the time to show you the river's best kept secrets, like cooling off in a deep swimming hole or taking a walk underneath a cascading waterfall. The Nantahala Outdoor Center employs some of the best river guides and instructors in the country. They’re so sure in their skills that they guarantee they can teach anyone how to paddle. Their trips on the Chattooga range from family-friendly to high adventure. NOC has been recognized by various media including Good Morning America, The New York Times, Outside, National Geographic Adventure and more.
Contact Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 Highway 19 W
Bryson City, NC 28713
Toll-free: 888.905.7238
NOC locally: 828.488.2176
For retail orders: 1-800-367-3521
Website: http://www.noc.com/