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Frequently Asked Questions
What should we wear?
In warm weather, guests should wear
shorts and t-shirt or a bathing suit. Shoes are required in order to protect
your feet. They should fit securely to your foot. Flip flops are not permitted.
Sandals are fine as long as they have a strap to hold them on. Rain suits are
provided if needed at no extra charge. In cooler weather, polarfleece or
polypropylene clothing and wool socks are recommended. Do not wear blue jeans
or sweat suits. Rolling Thunder also rents wetsuits and booties for extra
warmth. Bring a towel, dry clothes and dry shoes. Enjoy a hot shower at Rolling
Thunder after your trip.
When should we get to the rafting center?
Always arrive 30 minutes before
your scheduled trip time. Be clear about driving directions before you start
out. Cellular phones do not always work well in the mountains. So, don’t
rely on them.
Will we get pre-trip instructions?
All customers will receive complete
pre-trip whitewater instructions by our trip leaders before going to the river.
Will you take pictures of our trip?
Rolling Thunder will take a digital
photograph of your rafting trip on the river and you can view it upon returning
to our rafting center. You may purchase an 8 x 10 color print for $16.
Do you allow pets?
Rolling Thunder allows pets on its
premises under certain conditions. For more information and to find out if your
pet meets these guidelines, call us at 800-408-7238.
What if it rains?
We go rafting rain or shine. You
are going to get wet anyway. We guarantee it!
How long is the rafting trip going to take?
We run the full river trips on both
rivers. For Nantahala trips, you should allow about 3 and a half hours for the
entire process which includes check-in, pre-trip instructions, equipment
fittings and transportation to the Put-In on the river. Actual time on the
river is about 2 hours. For Ocoee trips, allow about 3 hours for the same
process. Actual time on the river is about one and a half hours. If you are
rafting both sections, the traditional and the Upper, time on the river will be
two one and a half hour segments.
Is there an age limit for rafting?
The U.S. Forest Service requires
that all children weigh at least 60 pounds OR be at least 7 years of age in
order to raft the Nantahala River.
State law requires that children be at
least 12 years of age to raft the Ocoee.
Do we have to bring enough people to fill up the raft?
No. We can combine people to fill
up a raft. So, whether you are a party of two or a party of twenty, we can make
it work. Reservations are based on available space in each raft. Generally, six
people in a raft plus the guide is an ideal situation.
Will there be enough water in the river for rafting?
Yes. Rolling Thunder only rafts on
dam-controlled rivers which means we are not dependent upon daily or weekly
rainfall for our rafters.
Can I leave my personal belongings at the rafting center while I’m on the river?
We suggest that you lock all your
belongings in your automobile which will stay at Rolling Thunder’s rafting
center while you are on the trip. You are encouraged to leave your car keys at
the rafting center so they don’t go in the river.
Does each raft have a guide?
We offer several options regarding
guides on our Nantahala trips since it is a lower level whitewater river. You
can go guide-assisted which means there will be a guide in every second or
third raft and the other rafts will follow that guide. Or you can go non-guided
or rental which means you are completely on your own once you get in the river.
You also have the option of guaranteeing a guide just for your raft which will
cost a little more. On the Ocoee River trips, there is always a guide in every
raft because it is a more advanced whitewater river.
What does the class of rapids mean?
Rapids in rivers are rated
according to their level of difficulty. The following is the most common
classifications used in the Southeast.
| RIVER RATING SYSTEM | |
| Rapids in rivers are rated according to their level of difficulty. | |
| Class I | Easy: small irregular waves with clear passages. No maneuvering necessary. |
| Class II | Medium difficulty: small drops with close passages. No maneuvering necessary. |
| Class III | Difficult: numerous irregular waves and narrow passages. Maneuvering is necessary. |
| Class IV | Very difficult: large, irregular waves, fast water and drops. Powerful rapids. Requires precise maneuvering. |
| Class V | Extremely difficult: powerful and violent water; heavily obstructed riverbed. Precise maneuvering necessary for survival. |
| Class VI | Experts only: dangerous and hazardous to life. Rarely run. |
What is meant by "cap days" ?
Our rivers have “cap”
days where rafting outfitters are only allowed to take down a limited number of
customers on certain “high use” days. We are unable to offer group
rates on “cap” days and higher rates apply on those days.
Should we tip our river guide?
Rolling Thunder's exceptional level
of guest service is not based on the expectation of tips for river guides.
However, if you have a desire to express your appreciation for their
enthusiastic efforts with a tip, it is always genuinely appreciated.
How long does it take to get to the river?
It takes about 15 minutes by bus to
drive from our Nantahala rafting center to the put-in on the river and about
five minutes to drive back from the take-out. It takes about 15 minutes to
drive from our Ocoee rafting center to the put-in on the river and about 20
minutes to drive back from the take-out. Of course, times vary according to
traffic load on any given day.
We are licensed by the U. S. Forest Service and are a member of America Outdoors.
800-408-7238
rafting@rollingthunderriverco.com
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