Min Age
Max Group Size
Duration
Price
overview
Looking for river tubing in the Blue Ridge mountains on one of the cleanest rivers in the state? Do you like the No CROWDS VIBE? Then you should book this rural river adventure with NCOA! This fun float is moderately shallow with a few swimming holes. The section is mostly flat with a few minor whoop-dee-dos; what we call a small rapid that does not meet the classification of a class I rapid.
NCOA has the largest variety of float options for guests in the Carolinas! Guests can book double tubes, single tubes, child tubes, cooler tubes or even book our 4-person quad river tube. We also have kayaks and a mini-kayak you can rent called the Mini-Cat. The Mini-Cat can also be purchased in our river Outpost!
The trip includes shuttle service to your put in with pickup down river, and a short ride back to the Outpost where you parked.
The Toe River is one of the USA’s last free flowing rivers and is also a world class trout stream. We boast views of the Blue Ridge Mountains with NO CROWDS bringing a unique outdoor recreation experience to see wildlife including eagles, osprey, deer, turtles, trout and perhaps even a hellbender! Seasonally you can see the monarch butterfly migration and rhododendron blooms along the river’s banks in WNC.
Who:
Ages 3+ (at least 30 lbs) welcome! Kids aged 3- 5 must be on a parent’s lap, or upgrade to a double tube and enjoy your float lap-child free!
Your cooler must fit under a van seat or in your lap, if not it will not be allowed. Please keep your cooler for the tube below 40lbs, please. No glass containers!
If you cannot swim, no problem! Request a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) at no cost to you! Safety first! All children under 13 must be in a PFD (ie lifejacket), those are provided for FREE! Shoes are required on all guests and flip flops are not recommended and will wash off your feet! Crocks make TERRIBLE water shoes, SLIPPERY! All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult!
When & Where:
Trips meet at the NCOA River Outpost at address 1173 Whitson Branch Rd. Bakersville, NC 28705.
We encourage guests to book in advance and earlier in the day to avoid daily popup summer storms! Booking in advance allows us to pack floats before guests arrive, creates a better customer experience with less wait time, allows us to adequately staff tours in a world that is “short staffed” and it gives us a way to contact you if there are changes to your float trip.
River Tubing starts in May and ends Labor Day. Tours run Tuesday-Sunday, on the hour from 10am-2pm. Float time is 3 hours. Remember if we have higher water could take less time or if you stop and play, or tie together it could take you more time!
Kayaks, SUPS, Rafts, Canoe, fishing boats etc. are available from April-October on our flatwater kayaking tours here: ncoutdooradventures.org/adventures/flat-water-kayaking-fishing-canoeing/
Our family tubing is on the Toe River in Bakersville/Green Mountain, NC, located 50 minutes outside of Asheville and approximately 2.5 hours outside of Charlotte. Most needed trip items can be purchased onsite like water, sunscreen, bug spray, water shoes, dry bags, and Chums. We do have a few changing rooms and a small rinse station onsite for guests!
Important notes and FAQ for tubing:
Please don’t be late. Shuttles leave exactly on the hour (see times above). This is to keep shuttles on time throughout the day for drop-offs and pick-ups. We ask all guests to arrive a minimum of 30 minutes early. This is to allow time for sign in, gearing up, purchasing any needed items, lathering on sunscreen, and hearing trip safety talk. Late guests and no shows=no refund. You can rebook to another time that day, if available.
We will take walk-ins but please note the above and you might have to wait to get on a scheduled time slot. Tours do sell out Thursday-Saturday, Memorial Day- Labor Day! After Labor Day, hours can vary. Check online booking options by clicking the orange book now button to see availability and book. Note tours after Labor Day close 24-48 hours prior to allow for staffing constraints during the “off season” in WNC.
If you do not receive enough waivers or got an extra waiver for your booking, please note the following: (1) extra waiver is most likely a cooler tube and you can ignore it -or- (2) You did not purchase enough tubes/boats; specifically double tubes. If you book one double tube, it will show a booking for two people. If you have 4 people, you need to book 2-double tubes, 6 people need to book 3-double tubes etc 🙂
If you are traveling down a one-way dirt road, by the river (with two-way traffic), on a curvy mountain road, crossing railroad tracks, and through train tunnels…. Yes, you are on the right road, no you do not hear banjos….well you might our neighbors play!! There is a way to avoid this; stay on 197 north and do not turn into Toe River Road. If on the dirt road PLEASE slow down, speed is 15-20mph. If it is dry faster travel will result in dust on our neighbors’ homes. There is a TON of wildlife and no leash laws, so dogs roam! The road is steep and curvy with no guard rails; so please drive slowly!
_____________________
2025 Hurricane Helene UPDATE: ADVANCED BOOKING REQUIRED THIS YEAR, SORRY! We are unable to staff the outpost in hopes of Walk-ins due to post Hurricane Recovery rebuilding efforts. Most businesses in the area are down in revenue 50+% or more. We will TRY TO accommodate walk-ins but please note you might have to wait a bit to get on a scheduled time slot or the office could be closed if we have no bookings scheduled.
We have a 2-3 hour float this year, depending on water levels for our kayaking. Our takeout 1, 2, & 3 literally washed away. The areas are still recovering so we have a new take-out location.
Most: FAQ since the storm
Is the river safe after the storm? Yes, the river is safe along the sections we are operating. We have had the water and soil tested and it has tested safe for recreation. We have cleared or marked most surface hazards and trash from our river sections as well.
Here are a few safety tips to stay extra safe when recreating in open bodies of water:
*Wear shoes. This year NO sandals or flip flops, period! Protect your feet folks. We experienced a 1000-year flood in September 2024 so foot protection in our waterways is crucial. We sell river shoes!
*Shower after recreation
*Don’t get in with open wounds etc
*Check swimguide.org and other area info for safe swim reports!
Cost:
Includes PFD and round-trip shuttle.
Children ages 3-5 are free and must ride in their parents’ lap and be properly fit into a PFD (i.e. life jacket).
| Name | Rate |
| Single Person Tube | $26 |
| 2 Person Tube | $58 |
| Child Tube (less than 65 lbs) | $23 |
| GIANT Clover Tube: A 4 Person Tube. Comes WITH cooler tube! | $138 |
| Lap Child (Under 5 yrs) | $10 |
| Cooler Tube (squared off tube holds most medium to large sized coolers. See size require info above.) | $20 |
| Mini-Cat: A catamaran mini boat for kids & small adults. Also, a perfect option for mobility challenged folks or those needing a bit of back support! | $55 |
GALLERY
Book Online
We also offer
Winter Wonderland: Step into the real life Narnia
