US National Whitewater Center
The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) is a non-profit, recreation and adventure facility for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Opened in November of 2006, the USNWC is located in Charlotte on approximately 400 acres of land adjacent to the Catawba River. The USNWC is an U.S. Olympic Training Site for Whitewater Canoe Slalom.
Activities at the USNWC include whitewater rafting and kayaking, a canopy tour, zip-lines, ropes courses, climbing, mountain biking, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking and eco trekking. The USNWC is home to the world's largest man-made whitewater river, with rafting and kayaking taking place on the system's two channels: the Wilderness Channel (Class II - III whitewater) and the Competition Channel (Class II - IV whitewater). A majority of the activities at the USNWC are offered via the AllSport Pass. The USNWC hosts a variety of special events, festivals and concerts throughout the year.
The parking entrance fee is $5 per car (day pass) or $40 per car (annual pass), but once inside visitors are welcome to walk, run, hike or bike the trails without purchasing a pass. The well maintained and still-growing network of mountain bike and hiking trails zig-zag up and down through the heavily-treed and surprisingly steep riverside hills. This is a very popular place for dog walkers, too, who tend to stick to the Lake Loop trail or the trail around the whitewater channels. Also on site is the River's Edge Bar & Grill (food, beverage, craft beer and wine), and the Outfitter's Store (retails, gear and pro-shop).
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