combined backpacking trip and rafting in a week, suggested itineraries?

[blw2]

Any thoughts about what might make a good rafting and backpacking trip in the Southern AT sections or near by?....
Any suggested itineraries for me to consider?

So this summer I'm planning to take a week off to do a backpacking trip. I'm not locked into the AT exactly, but I keep coming back around to doing Amicalola to Neel or Springer to Neel. get the 1st leg of the AT done as a start for future sections perhaps...

I'm really wanting to encourage my son to come along (almost 13). He just dropped out of scouts and I'd like to get him outside to find some real adventure that he never found in scouts. good father/son time too.... but he's luke warm on the idea of distance backpacking, so I'm leaning to the idea of just doing it solo, but I don't want to miss the time with him.
So a friend at work suggested rafting as an alternative, great idea me thinks!
Then I thought maybe combine the two...
a few days backpacking so I get my backpacking in the mountains fix...
with a rafting trip for added fun!

I'll have a week. Basically a day each direction travel time to get there from FL...about 7 days total...maybe 9 max, but I like to leave a day at the end for dealing with gear and the family before heading back to work so about 5-6 days

I've never rafted so I don't know the logistics, and I'm not locked into the AT like I said....

On the AT an obvious thing might be in and around NOC. Start and end there with a shuttle? Hike first or raft first? What are your thoughts?

[rdljr]

I would suggest at trip to the northern end of the AT. Baxter state park for the hiking camping and then Millinocket for some rafting. A couple of the rafting companies will pick up/ drop off at Abol bridge right on the trail. Plenty of great hiking opportunity and world class rafting.

[FrogLevel]

Start in Roan Mountain (19E or Carvers Gap- carvers gap will avoid the huge climb up to Hump Mountain) and hike south to Erwin, about 41 miles. You can rent tubes at Uncle Johnny's and float the lower portion of the river (between 3-4 hour float) or go to one of the rafting companies in Erwin and raft the upper Nolichucky Gorge. They have class 3-4 rapids.

There are a few road crossings in that section so you can shorten or lengthen it to your liking.

Mountain Harbor hostel in Roan Mountain offers shuttles, parking and lodging. Uncle Johnny's in Erwin offers parking, shuttles, tubing and tenting. There are also hotel options in Erwin.

If you want to do more of a home base hike and stay in Erwin I can let you know about some good loop trails in the area.

[Venchka]

Doesn't Nantahala Outdoor Center offer rafting? They are kinda sorta maybe right on the trail with parking even. Google can find them.
Wayne

[Slo-go'en]

There's also the Shenandoah river ""aqua blaze". That could be made into a loop. Start at Front Royal and hike south to Luray and have the rafter outfitter put you in at 211. Then float back to Front Royal. Could probably do that in a week.

[TNhiker]

Doesn't Nantahala Outdoor Center offer rafting? They are kinda sorta maybe right on the trail with parking even. Google can find them.
Wayne

yup............they do...

along with a bunch of rafting places in hartford TN, which is a short distance from the davenport gap/I 40 area of the smokies eastern border...

hell.....the AT crosses the river right there and during summer, the rafters will be out..

[Dogwood]

So many opps involving the AT.

The MST has an official 204 mile paddle alternate on the Neuse River. Do a packraft, yak, or canoe or rent. Shuttlers are available. I'm organizing this now. What's your timeframe? I'd do it with someone. PM me.

[Dogwood]

Hiawassee River, South Fork, James River, Potomac,and Shendoah Rivers immediately come to mind.

[blw2]

Thanks...lot of interesting ideas. Some too far for me though (driving up from FL)
Roan to Irwin and tubing sounds interesting. As I think about it the tubing or rafting would be nice probably after the hike. Google maps says that's 28 miles on the trail. that might be a great 2-3 easy day hike! I'd like to go further than that but if it's 41 that might be a little long for my son..... he could do it physically, but I'm not sure mentally...but maybe I could shorten it by starting someplace in between...iron Mt gap maybe. What would you suggest for parking, shuttle, and lodging?


and yeah, I thought about NOC.... but what would be a good put in point, shuttle option, etc...?

[fiddlehead]

Nantahala in NC
Nolichucky in TN
Patomic in VA
Lehigh Gap in PA (Lehigh river)
Saco in ME
Kennebec in ME

These are all ^ rafting rivers right on the trail.
There's probably more in New England, but these are the ones that I have kayaked.
Also the Dead in ME although it's a few miles away from the trail.
And WV is a mecca for whitewater although not so near the trail.
The best rivers in the east for rafting are in WV: Gauley, New, Cheat, Upper Yach, Sandys (big and little), many more although not so close to the trail.
Have fun.

[FrogLevel]

Thanks...lot of interesting ideas. Some too far for me though (driving up from FL)
Roan to Irwin and tubing sounds interesting. As I think about it the tubing or rafting would be nice probably after the hike. Google maps says that's 28 miles on the trail. that might be a great 2-3 easy day hike! I'd like to go further than that but if it's 41 that might be a little long for my son..... he could do it physically, but I'm not sure mentally...but maybe I could shorten it by starting someplace in between...iron Mt gap maybe. What would you suggest for parking, shuttle, and lodging?


and yeah, I thought about NOC.... but what would be a good put in point, shuttle option, etc...?

Iron Mountain Gap to Erwin is 19.3 miles. You'll have a big climb up Unaka Mountain but after that its an easy hike mostly downhill. You'll have good views at Beauty Spot. You can get off at Beauty Spot or Indian Grave Gap if you can't make it all the way. There's an 8.5 mile loop trail at Indian Grave Gap (TN-395) you can add on if you want another night. It has good views of the gorge and is easy. It's called "Shinbone Trail."

I've parked my car at Uncle Johnny's and have not had issues. I think they charged 5 bucks a day without a shuttle. They were always friendly. Their lodging is geared towards thru-hikers so its austere- shared bunk houses. There's a motel 8/6 in Erwin that has hiker rates. Its basic but gets the job done. There are B&B's in Erwin too if you want upscale.

USA Raft and Wahoo does the rafting. They all do the same sections. Inquire about stopping at Lost Cove. Its a "ghost town" up in the mountains you can hike to from the river. There's abandoned houses, a graveyard, old farming equipment, and a schoolhouse. If you are interested you can do a loop trail with the AT and Lost Cove Trail and camp in the ghost town. Its creepy but neat.

As far as the tubing goes the put in is right next to Uncle Johnny's. You can walk to the put in and float down to two different points. One is probably 3~ hours of floating and the other is 6~ hours depending on the flow. The lowest CFS you can attempt tubing is 800. Anything lower than that and you'll have to walk sections. The upper gorge rafting is unaffected by this lower rate. Use this site to check:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tn/nwis/uv?site_no=03465500

[Venchka]

yup............they do...

along with a bunch of rafting places in hartford TN, which is a short distance from the davenport gap/I 40 area of the smokies eastern border...

hell.....the AT crosses the river right there and during summer, the rafters will be out..

That’s the place just south of Newport. I forgot all about it. Hiking in the Smokies and rafting next door.
Wayne

[Venchka]

Raft companies in Hot Springs, NC. The AT runs right past their door and through town.
Wayne

[saltysack]

Another option is the Foothills trail and the chattooga river...great trail and rafting. I took my son to NOC and rafted the Nantahala river then drove to standing Indian campground and did the standing Indian loop...nice 22-24 loop no shuttle needed.....


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[Analog_Kidd]

Logistically, from FL, the NOc is your best option. You and your son will have a blast in the Nantahala. You can either raft or paddle a ducky (inflatable kayak). If you want even more excitement, the Ocoee River is A little over an hour Away. Call ahead for that one, they have age and Weight restrictions. Nantahala is mostly self guided class II, but Ocoee is guided class III+.

The AT goes right thru the NOC parking lot. But either direction from that point is straight up. Nobo from there is particularly difficult. Franklin to NOC Might be a good hike.

a couple days backpacking In The GSMNP would be pretty close to the NOC too, even if not on the AT.

Whatever you end up doing, sounds like a fun trip that you'll both remember forever.

[Maineiac64]

Check out Benton Mackaye trail where it goes by the Ocoee River just over Georgia border in Tennessee. That’s real adventure.

[Dogwood]

Great thread. THX for starting it.

[BoogieForth]

In h.s. my church cyo took a canoe trip down the Nantahala and then rafting on the Ocoee and ended in Knoxville for the '82 World's Fair. Great trip!

[johnacraft]

I'll have a week. Basically a day each direction travel time to get there from FL...about 7 days total...maybe 9 max, but I like to leave a day at the end for dealing with gear and the family before heading back to work so about 5-6 days

I've never rafted so I don't know the logistics, and I'm not locked into the AT like I said....

If you do choose the Springer - Neel section, I second the idea of rafting the Ocoee River. Some of the best rapids anywhere (it was an Olympic venue in 1996).

[daddytwosticks]

Franklin to the NOC section hike, followed by rafting on the Nantahala. Can't ask for more fun with your son.