Our trip was an afternoon float down the Watauga River, which was a very tame stretch of water, clean and cold. We had two adults and a couple of young boys(8 and 11), and the guides were good sports with the splashy-splashy and the water gun distractions during the slow parts. There’s a rock outcrop just after the put-in, and we stopped and jumped off. This is a no-frills rafting operation, and I really appreciated that. The focus is on getting you to the launch point, helping you enjoy your trip down the river, and then getting you back to your car.(I think they also offer a morning trip that includes lunch, and maybe an all-day rafting option.) They’re not trying to make money with add-ons like gear and accessories you don’t need(although they do sell water and those sunglasses strap thingies). The raft and the oars were of good quality and in great shape, so no worries there. The vests did have a bit of a funk to them, but nothing that got in the way of enjoying the trip. They even took some photos with their waterproof camera as we floated down the river and then shared them with us online for free. I can’t guarantee that you’ll also get this treatment, but it was refreshing to get a few nice shots of our day for no extra charge. You can tell that these guys enjoy what they are doing. Just the kind of small business I’m happy to spend my dollars with. Safe and fun, without any surprise fees.
