Tubing in North Carolina
Tubing at Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is one of our personal favorite activities. Participants of all ages can enjoy the exciting hike and float in the spectacular cool creek waters. The setup with parking, picnic areas, and restrooms at Deep Creek makes this inexpensive activity one that just about everybody should experience during their next visit to the North Carolina Mountains. Our North Carolina Cabin Rentals at Sunset Farm Cabins are located only about 15-20 minutes from the parking lot. Before entering the park local tube rental companies line the road providing participants the simple option of renting a tube of your choice for normally $5 or less and loading it on or in your vehicle. For those that are driving a car they will find a way to load them on top with rope so no matter what you are driving these folks have seen it all. Once parking tubers are required to handle the hard part by themselves which is walking to the top with your tube as no transportation services exist to the top. Although tubers are welcome to float as little as they desire we recommend walking the approximately 1 mile easy trail to the top entrance location on the river for tubing as this will provide participants with the most excitment. Depending on the amount of rain the water will change throughout the summer providing a slightly differenct experience each and everytime but we guarantee the ride is not your typical tubing experience. Be prepared for drops, rocks, shoots, and lots of fun. Participants should be in fairly descent shape with the ability to walk up a gradual walking trail for 1 mile and although the water is shallow we recommend having the ability to swim. We do not recommend having small children tubing alone unless parents are able to visibly see them at the lower portion. If you have any concerns please ask us or any of the rental companies. You can obtain more information at the NPS.gov website as well.
Another very popular tubing experience is that on the Tuckaseegee River starting in Dillsboro. This river is a much larger river with class I and II rapids. Three local outfitters offer rental equipment including tubes, rafts, or inflatable kayaks to choose from and transportation for participants. They all advertise and specialize in Mom Approved Rafting as this is a more mild river that that the Nantahala or other surrounding rivers. The cost is slightly more than tubing at Deep Creek but much less than White Water Rafting in the Nantahala. For guests that want to provide their own equipment and/or transportation you could actually exit the Tuckaseegee River directly across the highway from Sunset Farm Cabins.
Recommended Outfitters for the Tuckasseegee
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