See the NC Great Smoky Mountains through a truly singular perspective while hurtling through the air on Wildwater’s Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours near Bryson City. Featuring the longest zip line in the Nantahala Forest, your tour offers 11 different ziplines gliding through several ecosystems. You’ll first enter a heady hemlock forest, followed by gorgeous native hardwoods, and onto a deciduous forest with flowering plants native to NC.

Don’t miss their 7 sky bridges, including 2 bird’s-eye platforms from which you can see Fontana Lake, Clingman’s Dome, and several thundering waterfalls. As the longest-running canopy tour in the area, Nantahala makes for an exciting family adventure. Children have to be at least 8 years old and 60 pounds for these, but there is a KidZip for the smaller kiddos. The center is staffed by highly trained tour rangers and built to the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Standards.

After soaring through the trees, embark on an exciting Wildwater rafting trip down the Nantahala River, one of the best-known rivers in America. Enjoy a 3-hour trip through 8 miles of crystal-clear water, but this is no pleasure cruise! With waves crashing against your raft from all sides, you’ll quickly find yourself battling Class I and Class II rapids! Then, with your heart pounding like a jackhammer, you’ll hear yourself scream as you fly over Nantahala Falls, a thrilling Class III drop! You can choose between a raft with an experienced guide or you can rent your own “ducky” and experience the river at your own pace.

You’re invited to combine the Nantahala River Raft Trip and Zipline Canopy Tour into 1 day, or you can split the package deal over a couple of days. Learn more at Wildwater Rafting and Canopy Tours.