RIVER TUBING

River Tubing with High Mountain Expeditions in Boone, NC

About High Mountain Expeditions’ New River Outpost

High Mountain Expeditions offers a laid-back river tubing adventure from its New River Outpost at 4391 Castle Ford Road, just a few minutes outside Boone, North Carolina. This is the company’s dedicated location for New River tubing and canoe and kayak rentals, so visitors should not head to the Banner Elk office or the separate Boone booking office when it is time for their float. High Mountain Expeditions has been helping families and outdoor lovers explore the mountains and rivers of the region since 1986, giving guests the convenience of booking with an established local outfitter that handles the equipment, safety briefing and ride back from the take-out.

The tubing trip covers approximately two miles of the New River and normally takes around two to three hours. Guests check in at the outpost, receive their tubes and safety instructions, launch onto the river and then float downstream at their own pace. Once everyone reaches the company’s designated take-out, High Mountain Expeditions provides transportation back to the outpost, so there is no need to leave a second vehicle downriver or arrange a private shuttle.

What Makes the New River Tubing Trip Special?

The New River is often described as one of the oldest rivers in the world, and the section used by High Mountain Expeditions offers an easygoing way to experience the mountain scenery surrounding Boone. Rather than being a fast whitewater ride, this is a calm-water float through a peaceful Appalachian setting with wooded riverbanks, open views, birds, wildflowers and cool mountain water. It is the sort of trip where folks can lean back, spend time together and let the river do most of the work.

The river on this section may range from roughly two feet deep in shallower areas to around eight feet in deeper stretches. Water levels and travel time naturally change with rainfall and current conditions, but the trip is generally suitable for beginners and families. The published minimum age is three years old, making it an option for households with younger children as well as parents, grandparents, couples and groups of friends.

High Mountain Expeditions uses custom hard-bottom tubes rather than thin, basic pool floats. The firmer bottom gives riders a little more support and protection from shallow rocks while still allowing them to sit low, stay cool and enjoy the water. Cooler tubes are also available for guests who want to float a properly sized cooler alongside their group.

Guided or Self-Guided?

The New River tubing experience is not a guided tour where an employee floats beside the group for the entire trip. Instead, the staff provides an orientation before launch, explains river safety and shows guests how to steer and maneuver their tubes.

After that briefing, tubers float independently to the designated take-out. Although the water is classified as calm, everyone is still responsible for watching where they are going, staying aware of shallow rocks and following all instructions provided by the staff.

Operating Season

Early June to Mid September

High Mountain Expeditions describes river tubing as a summer-season activity. Based on its usual schedule, tubing generally begins around late May or early June and continues into early or mid-September, with September 13 appearing to be around the closing point for the season.

Those dates should be treated as an approximate operating window rather than a guaranteed annual schedule. The exact opening and closing dates can vary with water temperature, river levels, weather, staffing and other conditions. Guests planning a trip near the beginning or end of the season should call before traveling to confirm that tubing is operating on their chosen date.

Warm weekends, summer holidays and the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day are likely to be the busiest. Reservations are especially important during those times because the company has a limited number of daily departure slots and tubes.

Daily Hours and Departure Times

New River tubing operations begin daily at 10:00 a.m. during the summer season. The last tubing adventure must depart no later than 4:00 p.m.

The 4:00 p.m. time is the final launch time, not necessarily the time the outpost closes. Because the float normally takes two to three hours and is followed by a return shuttle, a group taking the last departure may not finish until later in the afternoon or early evening.

Guests should arrive at the check-in time shown in their confirmation rather than waiting until the posted departure time. They will need time to park, check in, complete any unfinished paperwork, receive equipment and listen to the safety briefing before entering the water.

Hours and departure times may change because of high water, low water, thunderstorms, severe weather or other operational concerns. The company’s published itinerary is only a sample and may be adjusted according to river flow and conditions on the day of the trip.

Tubing Prices

The currently published tubing price is:

River tubing: $26 per person

The price includes the use of a tubing float, the pre-trip safety orientation and return transportation from the downstream take-out to the New River Outpost.

The published minimum age is three years old. The company does not presently list a separate lower child price, so parents should expect the standard per-person rate unless a different amount appears during online booking or is confirmed by the reservation staff.

Cooler-Tube Rentals

A separate cooler tube may be rented for:

Cooler tube: $15

A cooler tube allows a group to float a small cooler alongside them rather than trying to balance it on a passenger tube. Availability may be limited during busy periods, so it is best to reserve one at the same time as the regular tubing trip.

Guests should ask what cooler sizes are permitted and whether the cooler itself is included or if the $15 charge covers only the floating tube. Any drinks, food or personal belongings should be packed securely so they do not spill into the river.

Discounts and Group Rates

High Mountain Expeditions does not currently publish a standing child, senior, military, student, local-resident or weekday discount for New River tubing. The advertised price is the same $26 per tuber, with cooler tubes charged separately.

Churches, camps, schools, Scout groups, reunions, corporate outings and other larger groups should contact the reservation office and ask whether group pricing or a custom arrangement is available. The company may also announce occasional specials through its website, email newsletter or social media, but no discount should be assumed unless it is confirmed when the reservation is made.

Guests should review the online checkout total carefully. Taxes, service charges or reservation-related fees may be added during booking even when they are not included in the headline trip price.

How to Book a Tubing Trip

Reservations are required before arriving at the New River Outpost. Guests can book through the river tubing page on the High Mountain Expeditions website or call the tubing reservation staff at 828-202-7292.

The New River Outpost is also listed at 828-202-7294, while the company’s general reservation page provides 828-202-7293. The most direct choice for the tubing activity is the number shown on the tubing page, although the other company numbers may also be useful if assistance is needed.

When booking, visitors should provide the number of tubers, the ages of any young children, the preferred date and departure time and the number of cooler tubes needed. Advance reservations are highly recommended because the operating season is fairly short and popular summer times can fill up quickly. High Mountain Expeditions says it will try to accommodate last-minute bookings, but walk-up availability should not be counted on.

A 50 percent deposit is generally required when the reservation is made. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the trip, although reservations made closer to the activity date may require full payment during booking.

Cancellation Policy

For reservations involving fewer than nine guests, the company allows cancellation up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund. Larger groups of more than 10 guests may cancel up to seven days before departure for a full refund.

Cancellations made inside the applicable cancellation window forfeit the cost of the trip. High Mountain Expeditions also states that it does not issue refunds to guests who arrive late or leave an adventure early.

Because river activities depend on weather and water conditions, guests should contact the company directly if conditions look questionable. The outfitter may alter, delay or cancel a trip when the river is considered unsafe.

Minimum Age and Swimming Ability

The published minimum tubing age is three years old. Parents should still consider each child’s comfort around water, ability to follow instructions and willingness to remain seated in a tube for as long as three hours.

A calm-water classification does not mean the river is completely free of risk. Tubes may turn, riders may enter the water and shallow rocks or current can make it difficult to stand. Guests should tell the staff about weak swimmers or anyone who is nervous around moving water so the crew can provide appropriate instructions and equipment.

All guests are required to sign a release of liability and acknowledgment of risk before participating. A parent or legal guardian will generally need to complete the form for a minor.

What to Wear

Wear a bathing suit or lightweight, quick-drying clothing that can get completely wet. Heavy cotton and denim tend to remain cold and waterlogged, so they are not the best choices for a river float.

Secure water shoes, river sandals with heel straps or old athletic shoes are better than loose flip-flops. Footwear should stay on if a rider has to step into shallow water or walk across a rocky bank.

Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses with a retainer strap are useful on sunny days. Even when the temperature in Boone feels comfortable, several hours of direct sun reflecting off the water can lead to sunburn.

Bring a towel and a dry change of clothes to leave in the vehicle. Cooler mornings and late-season afternoons can feel chilly after spending several hours in the water, so an extra layer may also be helpful.

What to Bring

Bring drinking water, sunscreen and any medication that may be needed during the outing. Guests renting a cooler tube should pack drinks and snacks in a secure, appropriately sized cooler.

Phones, keys, cameras and other small items should be kept in a sealed waterproof dry bag or container that is firmly attached to the tube. A regular plastic bag is not dependable enough for electronics or car keys.

Anything taken onto the river should be considered capable of getting wet, damaged or lost. Jewelry, wallets and other unnecessary valuables are best left at home or locked out of sight in the vehicle.

Some past visitors have found a short paddle, push stick or similar permitted item useful during unusually shallow conditions, but guests should ask the staff before bringing one. A light connecting strap may also be helpful for families who want to keep nearby tubes together, though tubes should never be tied in a way that creates an entanglement hazard.

Food, Drinks and Cooler Rules

High Mountain Expeditions rents cooler tubes, but guests should confirm what types and sizes of coolers are allowed. Glass containers should never be taken onto the river, and all trash should remain secured so that nothing enters the water.

Alcohol rules are not clearly published on the current tubing page. Anyone hoping to bring alcoholic beverages should ask the company directly before arriving rather than assuming they are permitted.

Coolers should not be overloaded. A heavy or oversized cooler can be difficult to control, may tip over and can slow down the entire group.

Pets and Personal Equipment

The current tubing page does not clearly state whether pets are permitted. Guests should call before bringing a dog or other animal, as pets can puncture tubes, become frightened in moving water or create problems on the return shuttle.

Visitors should also ask before bringing personal tubes, floats, ropes, paddles or large equipment. The outfitter’s transportation and safety procedures are designed around its own equipment, and personally owned floats may not be allowed as part of a reserved trip.

Arrival and Check-In

Tubing guests should report to the New River Outpost at 4391 Castle Ford Road, Boone, NC 28607. This is the meeting location for tubing and canoe and kayak rentals.

Do not confuse the river outpost with the company’s Boone Booking Office at 1380 Highway 105 South or its Banner Elk Outpost. The correct location and arrival time should also appear in the reservation confirmation email, so guests should read that message carefully before leaving.

Arrive promptly and already dressed for the river. Late guests may miss the required safety orientation or scheduled departure, and the company does not promise refunds for late arrival.

How the Tubing Trip Works

After check-in, the staff distributes the tubing equipment and gives everyone a safety briefing. The crew explains how to sit in the tube, how to maneuver in the current, what to do in shallow water and where to exit the river.

Guests then enter the New River and float approximately two miles. Most groups complete the trip in two to three hours, although water flow, river depth, group size and the amount of time spent stopping or drifting can make the trip shorter or longer.

At the designated take-out, guests leave the river and board company transportation for the return trip to the New River Outpost. Tubers should not pass the marked take-out or exit through private property.

River and Weather Conditions

River tubing is always dependent on current water conditions. Heavy rain can raise the river, increase current speed and carry additional debris into the water. Long dry periods can produce shallow areas where tubes may scrape rocks or temporarily become stuck.

Thunderstorms are also common during summer afternoons in the North Carolina mountains. An early departure may reduce the chance of encountering afternoon storms, though weather can never be guaranteed.

Guests should check the forecast before leaving and keep their phones available for any messages from the outfitter. High Mountain Expeditions may change the trip itinerary or operating schedule because of weather and water flow.

Things to Know Before You Go

Plan for the entire outing to take longer than the two-to-three-hour river time. Check-in, equipment distribution, the safety talk, launching, waiting at the take-out and the return shuttle all add time to the experience.

The float is calm and beginner-friendly, but it is still a natural river rather than a controlled waterpark attraction. Expect uneven shorelines, rocks, insects, changing current, cold water, sun exposure and the possibility of getting completely wet.

Young children should remain under close adult supervision throughout the trip. Families may want to schedule an earlier departure when temperatures are comfortable, the river is less crowded and there is plenty of daylight.

The most important thing is to follow the staff’s instructions, respect the river and leave no trash behind. With a little preparation, High Mountain Expeditions’ New River tubing trip offers a simple, scenic and family-friendly way to spend a warm summer day near Boone.