Like to take a road trip and raft the Nantahala River with the wife. I heard it was not as bad as the oconee, which since we never been before I figured that's we need to start with. Anybody got a guide recommendation?

No need for a guide, just rent you some single man rafts and get after it.

Never rafted on that river but have played around/fished on it before. The section I was on seemed relatively tame and there were a bunch of tubers floating through. There’s a good number of float operations all up and down the river. I’d say best thing to figure out is what section of the river you’d want to hit and try to narrow it down from there. Best of luck and I hope y’all have a blast!

Never done it but we float the Hiwasee couple times a year. It’s close to the ocoee

When I was a JROTC instructor we always took the Senior Class down the Chattooga on a white water rafting trip. Lots of fun, lots of excitement. Went six or seven times, maybe more.

Went with my son almost 2 years ago ... as mentioned, no need for a guide. We made the "first timers" mistake of getting on a 6 man raft with a guide (great guy, gave us a great trip/shared a lot of good information, things 1st timers might not know) We enjoyed it... was hoping for a little more of a "thrill" with my son, but if I had my wife with me, that's exactly how I would do it again...

Have fun, it's a beautiful place!

I have kayaked the Nantahala and it is a easy shallow river with no big drops. I have rafted the Oconee and would suggest a guide for you first trip but if you want to try on your own there are always enough people around to keep you safe. I would do the Chattanooga for scenery. If you do the Nantahala get you a dry suit because that's the coldest water I've ever kayaked. Nantahala means "land of the noon day sun" and it will never warm up.

A lot closer drive also

Nantahala is great.
Get you a ducky and have at it.
Great for beginners.

Word of advice, if you turn over, feet up pointed down river. Paddle to the side and do not try to stand up until you get to the side. Was a teenager drown at Lesser Wesser--near to take out. There are stacked big rock with gaps. He got his feet caught,

I believe the Nantahalia is from a damned lake. It is very cold. It runs faster at certain times of the day depending when the release water. The NOC and SEE guide services should be able to tell you times when water is being released. They run their tours based on the water release.

Go to Bryson City and try the tubing. Water is cold but it is a lot of fun. We’ve don’t the Nantahala with small kids several times without incident.

Plenty of guides that do big boat rafting. Went with two other couples and six kids all 11 and under and had a blast. X2 on Bryson City. Has a good brewery and a few good places to eat downtown. Tubing and hiking at Deep Creek Park is good also.

Mrs. Irish have done it so many times we have actually acted as guides for friends. We usually do a 2 man of 4 man raft. It's got enough rapids to be fun and a little challenging. If you have any rafting, canoe, or Kayak experience you should be able to make it.

Nantahala Outdoor Center has always treated us right.

Yours truly in the white shirt with our friends Brian and Kim. Mrs. Irish rounding out the front row.

Thanks for all the advice.

I wish y'all would quit talking about Bryson City... It sucks and no one should ever go there. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are sooooo much better. Bryson City doesn't even have taffy, a pancake house or a water slide. Y'all should all stay away.

I went down it a few times almost 20 years ago with some family friends. It was fun to me and like others have said it was very cold water.

And Y'all should stay away from Townsend and Cosby too. Nothing to see there. I hear the lodging is great in downtown Gatlinburg.

I took 40 high schoolers down the Ocoee on Monday with NOC. They are a great company, if you are looking for a guide. The Nantahala is cold, cold, cold. The Ocoee is more fun. But all of them are a good time.

We actually liked the Big Pigeon better than the Ocoee, but it's farther away from Alabama.