Nantahala, North Carolina

Nantahala Township (/ˌnæntəˈheɪlə/)[1] is located in North Carolina, United States in the part of Macon County which is west of Wayah Gap.

Upstream, the town of Aquone takes it name from the Cherokee egwanul'ti, meaning "by the river".

The Nantahala valley was supposedly visited by the Spanish Conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1540, and by the English botanist William Bartram in the 18th century.

The Nantahala National Forest was established in 1920 under the authority of the 1911 Weeks Act and is now an assorted collection of noncontiguous protected land.

People use the river for many outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting, kayaking, and fishing.

The white water rafting here consists of class I, II and III rapids at different parts of the river.

The tours were fully guided by professional white water rafters who are trained first aid.

Some of the shoreline is owned by the general public and run by the Nantahala National Forest and NCWRC.

The gorge is also the only part of the Nantahala River and the only trout water in North Carolina that permits night fishing.

The attraction is a three-hour or half a mile (20 acres) experience that simulates flying and is naturally fueled by gravity with a gradual 3 percent elevation change.

A canopy ranger will point out the forest's natural features and will also inform people with the cultural and history of the gorge.

Other than kayaking, canoeing, and whitewater rafting, the Nantahala Outdoor Center offers a variety of other fully guided things such as: fly-fishing, hiking, nature photography, train rides, and mountain biking.