Booked the 5pm $24.95 special as staying in Asheville (about 50 miles away) and were planning other stuff for morning. Looked at other places and they were more expensive even when looking at regular priced trip vs Outdoor ($29.95).
Always concerned when really low price vs other companies, but nothing to fear or be concerned about here. 100% awesome time.
New looking high quality rafts, paddles, PFDs. Helmets a little dated but clean. Facility has outdoor seating area and changing area is “rustic” but clean, big, private so more than adequate. Staff was great for check-in, check-out. Trent was our guide. He learned all our names so could joke around with us and give directions as needed. Ages 8-43 on raft and fun for all. Upper Pigeon River has class 2-4 rapids. But, none too long so good for families without any experience. If you’re a serious “rafter” probably not too exciting, but enough water in your face, watch out for that rock, “lean left now” action to make for good time. River can get crowded as there are a LOT of rafting companies. Outdoor got us into water quickly and got away from others so looking back it looked like highway of yellow rafts, but Outdoors’ 5-6 blue rafts were going along separately to make seem less touristy. All guides were enthusiastic and entertaining with corny but funny jokes on the bus ride to put-in location and on the raft. (Also safety was very paramount to them, which was reassuring.) Would have no hesitation using them again(especially since saving $50-100 over other companies).