For over 35 years, High Mountain Expeditions has proudly served as the place to go for exhilarating adventures in Boone, North Carolina. Their guided whitewater rafting and river tubing trips prove most popular with their loyal fans. But you can also keep your feet on the ground by enjoying their hiking and caving excursions instead. Prefer to take to the waters on your own? Ask about their canoe and kayak rentals.
If you want the full experience, however, then their guided tours are the way to go, for sure. Truly knowledgeable guides lead all of their main adventures. So, whether you’re out on the water, spelunking through a cave, or hiking through the forest, you can count on staying safe while having a fantastic time.
To ensure you have the best time every time, all their guides undergo over 150 hours of training before hitting the river and then go through even more schooling for their other adventures. Beyond that, they have a true passion for the outdoors and love to show everyone just what the natural landscapes in North Carolina and Tennessee have to offer.
With the guides leading the way, every adventure starts with a bus ride to your destination. Upon arriving, you’ll receive a clear safety overview. You’ll learn how to put on your life jacket and other safety gear, plus how to use all the tools at your fingertips. Then, you’ll go over many different scenarios, like falling out of the raft, so you can learn just how to respond at the moment. Once that’s out of the way, you just get to focus on having a fun time and enjoying the wonderful views.
The guides don’t just care about your fun and safety either. They’re also intent on keeping you well-hydrated and nourished while you’re out on your tour. To do that, they bring along a lovely lunch made using fresh, natural ingredients. Even the pickiest eaters delight in their full spread, which often includes fan favorites like sandwiches, local fruit and veggies, potato salad, and homemade dessert.
Their adventures include:
Whitewater Rafting
If you want to experience the thrill of navigating through the rapids, go Whitewater Rafting at least once. Available for the Nolichucky, Watauga, and Wilson Creek rivers, this trip takes you down the waterways at breakneck speed while offering views of waterfalls and more. Want two days of river rafting? Ask about their overnight trips.
Tubing
On their Tubing adventures, you can chill on your inner tube while the river does all the work. You’ll float along at a leisurely pace all throughout the trip, giving you plenty of chances to take in the beautiful scenery. The cupholder keeps your cool drink on hand for your sipping pleasure while the backrest lets you truly kick back and relax.
Caving
Whenever you want to get in – and out of – tight spots, sign up for the half-day Caving adventure. On this trip, you’ll head into Worley’s Cave to see amazing geological formations while putting your physical fitness to the test. All along the way, you’ll need to navigate across underground rivers, over boulders, and through narrow passageways.
With their canoe or kayak rentals, you can explore the waterways across Boone and beyond with ease. They have solo and tandem kayaks plus custom tandem canoes for rent all throughout the year. Your vessel of choice comes with a paddle, safety talk, and instructions on navigation down the river. Want to have a guide come along for the ride? Just ask to hire one of their guides for the day.
Insider Tips:
-The minimum age limit for their adventures ranges from 3 to 8 years old.
-Depending on your guided tour of choice, you’ll meet at one of four outposts. So, be sure to jot down the meetup location when booking your trip. Once you leave the outpost, there are no bathrooms available.
-Lightning storms and other adverse weather conditions will result in the cancellation of your guided tour.