FAQ
FAQ
What is NOC? Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is the largest whitewater rafting outfitter in the world, taking over 150,000 guests on guided outdoor excursions annually. Our rafting trips and zip line tours are designed to introduce people to the outdoor recreation lifestyle and the physical, mental and social benefits of human-‐powered recreation in the great outdoors. We have the best, most-‐experienced guides and instructors in the nation delivering exceptional, well-‐ rounded adventures—in fact, NOC is recognized as “one of the best outfitters on earth” by National Geographic. As a major tourism destination in the Southeast, we're the gold-‐standard in our industry.
What activities does NOC offer?
NOC operates seven river outposts with whitewater rafting trips available at each. The Nantahala River Campus offers whitewater rafting, multiple zip line adventures, mountain bike rentals and hiking on the Appalachian Trail. The Nantahala is also home to NOC's world-‐class outdoor school offers paddling instruction, SOLO wilderness medicine courses, Rescue3 swiftwater rescue certifications and wilderness survival classes. We teach more paddlers how to whitewater kayak than anyone else. Other outdoor activities available at the main campus include guided lake tours, kayak and ducky rentals, train excursions and adventure travel. All guests have convenient access to NOC's two riverside restaurants and the legendary Outfitter's Store—the most iconic paddlesports shop in the US. NOC operates two other retail locations, including an 18k square-‐foot flagship store at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, TN. Each store is situated near popular outdoor destinations—Bryson City, NC; Asheville, NC; and Gatlinburg, TN—to help get people enjoy these areas.
Why is NOC different than any other outfitter?
NOC is a leader in the outdoor industry. We have been the training site for 22 Olympic canoe/kayak athletes and coaches. NOC has built two LEED-‐certified retail centers. And NOC offers an elite Master Guide training program for its top staff members—putting over $4k worth of gear and training into these elite guides. NOC also offers year-‐round adventures: our Wesser Campus is open year-‐round for kayaking, mountain biking and hiking adventures. This location—at the intersection of the Nantahala River and the Appalachian Trail—is the Southeast's outdoor capital, hosting over 750k visitors per year and providing a reliable, always-‐open place for outdoor lovers to congregate.
What is NOC’s core philosophy and mission? NOC's mission is to introduce the public to outdoor recreation, especially kids. NOC guides believe that outdoor experiences are healthy and that exposure to nature and an "unplugged" environment is important for current and future generations. We also believe that outdoor experiences can lead to the "flow state," a mental state where the mind is fully-‐immersed in the activity at hand. For example, paddling down a challenging rapid demands total focus and leads to complete exhilaration. We believe this kind of participation in an activity is more rewarding and fulfilling than the passive experience offered by many other weekend/vacation activities.
How can people enjoy a first trip to NOC?
Guests should start by exploring our seven river outposts. Reservationists are available to assist guests on finding the most appropriate river for skill level, location and schedule. A great place to start is at NOC's Nantahala River campus because of the variety: we have rafting, zip lines, kayaking, lake tours, mountain bike rentals, hiking trails, three restaurants and our famous Outfitter's Store.
Do you have special packages or itineraries for large groups?
Absolutely. We provide both pre-‐planned and custom itineraries for camps, churches, schools, family reunions, scouts, corporate teams and more. Our two primary venues for groups are The Ocoee Retreat Center in southeastern TN, and Nantahala Group Adventures in Bryson City, NC. The itineraries include single-‐ or multi-‐day lodging, dining, activities and more. NOC's Ocoee outpost provides full-‐service group adventure retreats through our sister company, Ocoee Retreat Center located on-‐site. Groups up to 600 enjoy ORC's meeting space, cafeteria, climate-‐ controlled accommodations and portfolio of adventure activities including a water park, ropes challenge courses, paintball arena, adventure race, lake activities and whitewater rafting.
Does NOC host special events?
Yes, we host over 20 outdoor lifestyle events every year, and have recently won bids to host two International Canoe Federation paddling world championships in addition to multiple national championships in all three paddling disciplines: slalom, freestyle and downriver. This makes NOC the most active competitive paddling site in the Western Hemisphere and the premiere venue for paddle-‐ sport events. NOC also promotes the outdoor life style by supporting Nantahala Racing Club and the Nantahala Kids Club—two non-‐profit organizations that offer gear, instruction and friendship to under-‐exposed youth in economically stagnant areas. For this and for hosting a full slate of free events aimed at growing participation in outdoor activities NOC was recognized by the 4,000-‐member Outdoor Industry Association with its 2012 Outdoor Inspiration Award.
