Whitewater rafting near Boone

Boone has no whitewater in town. The rafting trips run on two rivers within driving distance: the Watauga, on outposts near Banner Elk, Todd and Elizabethton, and the Nolichucky, out of Erwin across the Tennessee line. The Watauga trips are rated Class I–III and II–III. The Nolichucky Gorge, at Class II–IV, is the big-water day.

Prices checked Oct 2026 on each outfitter's trip page.

Watauga River

• High Mountain Expeditions in Banner Elk: a half-day Watauga trip of 5 miles, Class I–III, 3 to 5 hours. Adults $90, kids $80, minimum age 3.
• River and Earth Adventures: Watauga trips are $48 on section 5, Class II and III, over 6 miles with more than 18 rapids and about 3 hours on the river. It has outposts in Todd, NC, and Elizabethton, TN. The Watauga trip has no minimum age when kids ride with an expert guide (raftcavehike.com).

Nolichucky River

• Hawksnest Whitewater Rafting, out of Erwin, TN, runs the Lower Nolichucky: 5.5 miles in 2.5 to 3.5 hours, adults $89 and youth $70, minimum age 5 and 50 lbs.
• Its Nolichucky Gorge trip is 9 miles of Class II–IV in 4 to 6 hours, $114, minimum age 12.

One outfitter on three rivers

Wahoo's Adventures has outposts on the New River, the Watauga River and the Nolichucky River. It runs guided family rafting and tubing on the Watauga from Elizabethton, TN, and its Nolichucky River outpost is in Erwin, TN.

Time on the water

• River and Earth's Watauga trip: about 3 hours on the river.
• High Mountain Expeditions' Watauga half day: 3 to 5 hours in total.
• Hawksnest's Lower Nolichucky: 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
• Hawksnest's Nolichucky Gorge: 4 to 6 hours.

The Gorge is the only one of these that fills most of a day, so plan the drive to Erwin around it. The Watauga half days leave an afternoon free.

By age

• All ages: River and Earth's Watauga trip, with an expert guide.
• Age 3: the High Mountain Expeditions Watauga half day.
• Age 5: the Lower Nolichucky with Hawksnest.
• Age 12: the Nolichucky Gorge.

Season

Hawksnest runs April through October (hawksnestwhitewater.com). River and Earth runs May through October (raftcavehike.com). Spring trips are only on the outfitters that open in April.

Picking a trip

• Youngest kids: River and Earth's Watauga trip, all ages with an expert guide. High Mountain Expeditions starts at age 3.
• Hardest water: the Nolichucky Gorge, Class II–IV.
• Shortest drive from Banner Elk: High Mountain Expeditions, which is based there.