Whitewater paddling in the United States can claim WNC as its birthplace. The French Broad, Chattooga, and Nantahala rivers are considered classic runs, and they offer challenges for all skill levels. There are few places in the country with so many year round whitewater runs in such close proximity. Just south of Diamond Brand Outdoors are the Green River Narrows considered by many to be the classic class V creek in the country. The Narrows is a dam controlled roller coaster ride that runs all year and is home to an extreme race that takes place each November. The section above the Narrows, the Upper Green, is a fun intermediate run with two large rapids suitable for those who find the Narrows too daunting. Below the Narrows is a section that is run more than any other in North Carolina, with the possible exception of the Nantahala. The lower Green has been the first whitewater experience for many paddlers, and you can tube it too! Space won’t permit a full listing of the local creeks and playboating runs, suffice to say it reads like a wish list for any whitewater paddler.

Whitewater paddlers are not the only boaters in the region who have something to smile about. Touring and recreational paddlers have many unique opportunities in and around WNC. Many whitewater boaters bemoan the streams lost in the early 1900’s to the TVA’s system of dams, which electrified the rural South, but the resulting lakes and reservoirs give flatwater paddlers a chance to glide in between Appalachian mountain peaks and explore mountain streams and waterfalls close to their sources. Lakes like Calderwood and Fontana are bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and provide paddlers with scenic beauty and secluded camping possibilities. Other lakes like Bear and Wolf near Cullowhee, North Carolina, give day paddlers a chance to get away from more crowded waterways and spot wildlife or do a little kayak fishing. Upstate South Carolina boasts Lake Jocassee, just about an hour from Asheville, whose miles of paddling often end with a view of a cascading waterfall. For those who do not like to be land locked, the coast of South Carolina is an easy 4 ½ hour drive, making weekend sea- kayaking trips a simple proposition. Calmwater paddlers can also find moving water trips in the area. Sections of the French Broad and Green rivers provide miles of paddling suitable for family canoe or kayak trips with little or no previous experience necessary.