Blue Ridge Paddling

06/12/2026

WE'RE BACK! 🎉🌊

Opening day on the Nolichucky Gorge is officially in the books. We were honored to be the first commercial trip down this morning, and what a day it was! New rapids, big smiles, plenty of splashes, and an unforgettable start to the season.

Huge thanks to our returning guest who came out to celebrate with us. We can't wait to see even more of you on the river this this weekend and the rest of summer! 🚣💙

Reminder, Sold out this weekend and Monday but plenty of room next week! Give us a call at 423-388-6002 or book online today!

Northeast Tennessee
Nolichucky River Valley - Erwin, Unicoi & Unicoi County, TN
RISE Erwin
Unicoi County Economic and Community Development

06/11/2026

🎉 It's official, the Nolichucky Gorge is back open!

Tomorrow marks the reopening of the Poplar Boat Launch, a huge milestone in the recovery of the Nolichucky Gorge. We were fortunate to join the U.S. Forest Service and many collaborating partners for a site visit last week, and it's incredible to see this moment finally arrive.

We're excited to welcome guests back to one of our favorite places and can't wait to share the "new" Nolichucky with everyone. If you've got the itch to check it out yourself, give us a call today and we'll do our best to get you and your crew on the water tomorrow!

Here's to a new chapter on the Nolichucky. See you in the gorge!

06/09/2026

20 months later… we’re finally back! The Outpost repairs are complete, our team has finished training, and the Nolichucky officially reopens this Friday, and our first commercial trips are ready to launch! Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are already sold out, but Opening Day spots are still available for Friday.
The new Nolichucky is open and we want YOU to come celebrate with us. 🎉 🎊
We will continue to be forever grateful for everyone involved in getting us back open for quite some time. Call today or book online to save your spot and see for yourself what all the hype is about!

05/26/2026

This is what we’ve been waiting for. Lucious green in the gorge and water in the creek 🙌
The rains have returned, the Nolichucky is flowing, and our guides are putting in training laps getting ready for summer.
Reservations are starting to book fast, make sure to reserve your spot now before your date is gone.come see the New Nolichucky Gorge this summer! Book online below at the link in our bio or below.

https://www.blueridgepaddling.com

Northeast Tennessee
Nolichucky River Valley - Erwin, Unicoi & Unicoi County, TN
Unicoi County Economic and Community Development
RISE Erwin
Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce

03/17/2026

Volunteer Opportunity! We’re hosting two volunteer days at Blue Ridge Paddling and would love your help getting the riverbank back in shape. 🌿

We’ll be planting bare root trees and live staking to help stabilize the riverbank, hands-on work that will make a real impact.

Dates & Times:
• Wednesday, March 25 | 10am–2pm
• Friday, March 27 | 2pm–6pm
Blue Ridge Paddling - 1001 S Industrial Dr. Erwin TN 37650.

Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Bring work gloves if you have them and a water bottle.

Big thanks to Unicoi County Economic and Community Development for making this possible and for supporting many recovery projects like this across the county.

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

Hope to see y’all out there!

03/13/2026

We're Hiring!
Blue Ridge Paddling is back and getting ready for the 2026 rafting season on the new Nolichucky River.
We are currently looking for Raft Guides for the Class III-IV Nolichucky Gorge and Shuttle Drivers here in Erwin, TN.

Previous experience is preferred but not required. CPR, First Aid, and minimum age of 18 is required.

Trip Leader positions are also available for applicants with previous guiding experience. Trip Leaders must have current Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness First Aid, and CPR certifications.

Additional Training Opportunities:
Wilderness First Aid: March 21 & 22
ACA Swiftwater Rescue & ACA Guide Training/Refresher: April 25, 26, 27 (tailored to the Nolichucky Gorge)

Peak season: May–August, with additional guiding opportunities throughout the fall season.

We’re looking for people who love the outdoors and thrive in an active, dynamic work environment. We offer competitive wages, along with opportunities for additional growth and skill development.

If you enjoy working on the river, developing relationships with our guest, and helping them experience the new Nolichucky Gorge, we’d love to hear from you.

If interested in the open positions and or training opportunities for those who don't currently hold these certifications, email a resume and one professional reference to [email protected]

02/19/2026

Check out this article and interview with WJHL for the most recent updates on our progress. You can expect to see more updates from us in the near future as we inch closer to a new beginning.

Blue Ridge Paddling
Blue Ridge Taphouse

ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – After Hurricane Helene, Blue Ridge Paddling and Blue Ridge Taphouse had to close down to make the necessary repairs. Now, after a year and a half, they are expected to r…