Paddling near Maggie Valley, NC

Maggie Valley sits in Haywood County in the heart of the western North Carolina mountains, surrounded by the rivers of the southern Appalachians. The area's paddling scene centers on moving water — the Pigeon River near Canton and the Tuckaseegee River to the south draw kayakers and canoeists, while calmer spots like Lake Junaluska suit flatwater paddlers. Whitewater runs on the Nantahala and Ocoee rivers are within roughly an hour's drive.