Location: Bryson City
Top Things to do in Bryson City
The 10 Best Things to do Good for Big Groups in Bryson City, North Carolina (NC)
Bordering the southern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson City is a small town with big outdoor possibilities: whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, tubing, zip-lining, paddleboarding, mountain biking and scenic train rides. This laid-back, non-touristy spot is a true getaway for couples, friends and families alike. Bryson City is just one hour west of Asheville, two hours from Greenville, Knoxville and Chattanooga and three hours from Atlanta and Charlotte.
Restaurants in Bryson City
1. Wildwater Nantahala Adventure Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,340 reviews
At the Nantahala, Wildwater is the original outfitter for the Raft & Rail excursion, and also offers Jeep Tours, raft and inflatable kayak rentals,fully guided whitewater rafting trips and zipline canopy tours with Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours. For a multi-day experience, Wildwater Nantahala also offers group lodging and unique Yurt lodging at Falling Waters Resort across the street from our Nantahala Adventure Center. Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours, the first zipline canopy tour in Western NC, is also located on the Falling Waters property. Family owned and operated since 1971, Wildwater is the only company to offer a Quality Service Guarantee. Wildwater offers over 15 different trips on four different rivers in the Southeast.
2. Nantahala Outdoor Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,194 reviews
Nantahala Outdoor Center is one of the nation’s largest outdoor recreation companies. Over a million guests visit NOC annually to embark on a diverse collection of more than 120 different whitewater rafting and land-based itineraries. Learn to kayak at NOC’s world-renowned Paddling School, soar through the trees on NOC's multiple zip lines, travel to foreign countries with NOC’s Adventure Travel program, test the latest outdoor gear and shop at our three LEED-certified flagship retail stores or enjoy NOC’s resort amenities such as our three restaurants and multi-tiered lodging. Why do more people choose NOC than any other whitewater outfitter in the world? It's because of our experience, unparalleled in the industry. 22 Olympians, including two Gold Medalists, have called NOC home. NOC has been recognized by The New York Times as the “Nation's Premiere Paddling School,” “The Best Place to Learn” by Outside, and as “One of the Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic ADVENTURE. Trust NOC to provide you with the outdoor experience of your lifetime.
3. Rolling Thunder River Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 528 reviews
Rolling Thunder River Company has provided exceptional river trips for almost 40 years. The family-friendly Nantahala River in western North Carolina has become a favorite river for hundreds of thousands of rafters each season. We offer Guided/Follow-A-Guide/Non-Guided options. Family-owned and operated.
4. Nantahala Rafting with Adventurous Fast Rivers
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 932 reviews
Our goal is to exceed your expectations in all facets of your rafting adventure. Our friendly, skilled, and sincere service is second to none and we welcome the opportunity to have you experience the beauty and excitement of whitewater on the Nantahala River with us. We have been family owned & operated for over 38 years! Our specialty is giving economical prices with the very best in personal service, equipment, facilities, and staff. No experience necessary. Guided & unguided trips available mid-March through early October. Walk-ins are welcome ~ reservations recommended. Call us or book online to reserve your adventure. We look forward to seeing you on the river with us. The most important trip down the river is yours! Come & Enjoy the Fun!
5. Endless River Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 342 reviews
Western North Carolina is a dream vacation destination and we take advantage of everything WNC has to offer: whitewater rafting on three great rivers, white water kayak instruction, fly fishing, scenic lake tours and a store overlooking the Nantahala River. And when winter arrives, we take our expertise to Costa Rica and Ecuador for more great outdoor adventures.
6. The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians at Bryson City
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 43 reviews
7. Bryson City Outdoors
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 149 reviews
Bryson City Outdoors is your local adventure basecamp, located right in the heart of Bryson City! We love the outdoors and we want to share that with the many people that come to Bryson City every year. There are many places to go and many things to do and we know all the best spots! Stop by our store to stock up on gear you may have forgotten for your adventures or discovered that you need, let us give you information on where you are going and what are the best things to see in that area. Rent a paddleboard or kayak for use n the lake or the river or schedule a hiking tour! We also have a Craft Beer Department with 10 ever changing craft beer and ciders on tap, and huge selection of over 225 different beers to try in-store or take with you! You can buy your beer and gear in the same place! We are your one stop shop for everything outdoors, and if we do not have it then we will find someone who does! See you soon!
Reviewed By bobbyb983 - Evans, United States
Stooped in to get a few things for a day hike, they have good quality stuff. We picked up some new hiking shoes that were on sale and BEER ???????????????? This is a good place to pickup supplys for the local hikes
8. GSMNP - Deep Creek Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By seekingpeace - Ohio, United States
This is an easy hike if you just want to go to Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls. They are fairly close together with a short walk in between. Our favorite was Tom Branch Falls because you have a bench and a couple places you can just sit and enjoy the falls. The Indian Creek Falls is a little further up the trail with a slight incline to walk up. The path is made up of dirt and gravel but it is very easy to walk on. The Indian River Falls has steps you have to walk down to get to them and you have to stand on a small flat ledge that could possibly hold perhaps 7 to 8 people at a time. This water fall was our second favorite. The Juney Whank Falls are a much steeper and harder path to hike to get to them and it is mostly uphill. My husband has bad knees and he struggled to make it up the steep incline. In our opinion these falls were not worth the climb but we were able to say we made it to all three falls!
9. Smoky Mountain Jet Boats
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
We do a jetboat ride that is 40 min. on the water and we offer combination hike and jetboat ride trips that are 4-hr all-inclusive adventures. We have a new Adventure in the Park which features a longer boat ride with a chance to swim and have a snack and a drink (two hours total). Check out the website.
10. Deep Creek Tube Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 162 reviews
Reviewed By Kelly595 - Orlando, United States
Tubing down Deep Creek is a must do! We rented a tube for each family member ($30 total). They put the tubes on top of the car and send you into the park. The hike up the launching point is the toughest part. Since we have teenagers, we hiked as far as we could. It was worth it! There were fun water falls, tons of laughter, and the occasional fall out of the tubes. The water was ice cold but did not deter us. We completed a total of 3 runs down the creek. Before heading into the national park we stopped in town (Bryson City) and picked up sandwiches from The Filling Station. It was a perfect day - straight from the mouths of our 3 teenagers! NOTE: We did not stay at the hotel, we rented tubes from them.
