Blue Ridge Paddling

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…

09/22/2025

As the river carries our grief, it also carries our hope.

On 9/27/25 at 3PM, we’ll gather at Blue Ridge Paddling to release flowers into the Noli in memory of lives lost to Hurricane Helene. All are welcome to join us in this moment of prayer and reflection. Flowers will be provided on a first come first serve basis. We also encourage you to bring your own.

While construction will be paused on this day, please keep your distance from the building and do not attempt to enter the building as it is still an active construction site. Please park along the trees near Industrial Dr. We look forward to this moment of reflection and prayer with you all.

07/17/2025

Exciting news! Construction and repairs have officially begun at Blue Ridge Paddling and Blue Ridge Taphouse. While it’s a long road ahead, we have committed to moving forward. Stay tuned for progress photos coming soon!

In the meantime, there’s an opportunity for all of us who care about the Nolichucky River and Unicoi County to speak up. A community-wide survey is now open to help shape the restoration efforts of the river corridor after last year’s devastating flooding.

Locals, visitors, past BRP guests; whether you visit and paddle the Nolichucky or call Unicoi County home, we’d love for you to take a few minutes and share your thoughts.
Click the link below and you will find the survey on the website.

https://nolirecovery.org

Unicoi County Economic and Community Development
Destination by Design Planning

Providing a clear, actionable roadmap to ensure the long-term health and economic viability of the Nolichucky River corridor.

04/30/2025

We hope to see you this Friday in Erwin at Union Street Taproom! We will be selling our remaining BRP T-Shirts to continue our fundraising efforts that directly support our rebuild efforts. Thanks to Union Street Taproom for supporting us, and come listen to our good friend Corey J Smith Music, play some tunes.
BRP T-Shirts $20.00
If you are unable to make it and still want to support our rebuild fundraiser, feel free to donate to our link below.
https://gofund.me/b0bea7b0

04/26/2025

Please read and share if possible.

Seven months ago, Hurricane Helene devastated our businesses — Blue Ridge Paddling and Blue Ridge Taphouse. We’ve made significant progress thanks to your incredible support, including stabilizing the building’s foundation and completing our phase 1 architectural and construction documents for a rebuild.

Now, BRP is finally in a position to begin rebuilding, but we need your help to move forward. Unfortunately, BRP will not be able to run trips in 2025 due to ongoing repairs and the lack of river access with the railroad rebuild happening at the launch site in Poplar, NC — but our priority is to get back on the water by Spring 2026 and reopen the Blue Ridge Taphouse in the fall of 2025 as a space for the community once again.

Please consider donating or sharing — every bit helps us take the next step. Thank you all for standing with us. To learn more about our progress and how your support will help, click the link below and read the full update on our donation page.

https://gofund.me/f15f7cee
Photos Below
Debris Pile: Jan-2025
Cleaned Up And Ready To Rebuild: April-2025