US National Whitewater Center

**THIS IS REVIEW FOR THEIR OFF LEASH DOG PARK**Im new to NC from CA and went to visit the Whitewater Center based off of MULTIPLE recommendations, and had waited through their delays to open their Off Leash Dog Park before going. And OMG were the delays worth the wait! My first day I had purchased the $20/mo for the dog pass, and after the day was done, I went to the customer service center at the main building to ask to use the $20 I have already spent to credit towards the annual pass, and they allowed it! The dog pass is $10/day per dog, so if you go at least 15-16 times within your annual pass, then its paid for itself (annual pass is $149, so 15 or 16 times depending how you wanna do your math to justify the purchase). I literally have not done any activities for myself yet, but bought this for my dog. Parking pass is $40/year or $12/ea visit. I bought my pass in late June, and as of today have already been 16 times... its now paid for itself! And the parking pass about 11 visits ago!The Off Leash Dog Park is fully enclosed, which provides me an element of peace knowing I wont lose Odin while he goes to frolic and play through the water! The WWC team has installed a dock for the dogs to run on and jump off of (owners will go on the dock, too, to throw toys for their dogs off into the water). Theres I think 2(?) walking loops you can go on with your dog, or your dog can go on without you lolOff Leash has their own dog park, and is in the back corner lot of WWC. The check-in is pretty seamless, and will ask you complete a waiver prior to entering. Im unsure if you have to complete each time if you dont have a pass, but Ive only completed it once. As sign-in, theres a few different beers on draft you can enjoy, and a dog bakery with treats you can purchase for your pup! Poop bags for sale (like $2 for a roll) as none are provided within the dog park. They also have a small gift shop with some jackets/shirts and dog leashes/collars and some other fun accessories! They also have a cooler with some gatorade/waters and snacks to munch on. During summer, theyll have a BBQ trailer parked in the back for you to order from, but no sign of them bringing it out during winter? Same with the dog hose - there is an outdoor hose hooked up where you can rinse the lake water or even just dirt off your dog prior to leaving to go home, but since western Charlotte had flooded, theres been an "out of order" sign posted on the hose. Not sure if damage from the flood, or that we are now just in fall and winter so they turn the hose off? Im from CA, so not familiar with seasons like this, but maybe its just an NC thing to turn off for pipes or something when it gets cold. Whatever, Ill bring my dirty pup home and bathe him myself in the tub if that means he still has THE BEST TIME at WWC Off Leash Dog Park! Staff is super present, and are quick to remove "problem" dogs (aggressive, or fighting with other dogs) before any issues elevate to anything detrimental. Odin has never gotten sick from the water or mud (he will ALWAYS go into the lake to drink the water) so unsure where any of those claims come from. I highly recommend bringing your dog to WWC and let him run and play at their Off Leash Dog Park! Odin loves his weekends because he knows he gets to go play!

In regards to mtb riding specifically I was not impressed. The trails are not clearly marked at all and are difficult to find even with a map. The staff working at the outdoor center was not knowledgeable or friendly. The place seems amazing from a water perspective, but there are much better places to ride your mtb around Charlotte. Don't waste your time here unless you just happen to live very close.

US National Whitewater Center is an outdoor enthusiast dream. We went only for white water rafting but there are so many activities to do! Aside from water rafting, they have climbing obstacle courses, a bungee jump, mountain bike riding, kayaking, and many more outdoor activities. They have a restaurant on site that sells craft beer and good food, try the pork belly bites and grab a beer, sit outside and people watch the rafters white water rafting. They have lockers and showers in case you want to shower and free parking. This place is fun for the entire family!

If you haven't been to the Whitewater Center, you have to go! There are so many activities for outdoor enthusiasts from rock climbing to zip lining, kayaking and rafting. They also have hiking trails and deep water climbing that looked so fun! I loved grabbing a beer and watching all the activities going on around us. If you need a purse holder, I'm your girl! I had so much fun just being there. They have several Adirondack chairs set up for relaxing and people watching. They started charging $12 per car just to enter, so carpool if you can. It's dog friendly also!

White water rafting. Kayak. Stand up paddle. Climbing. Zip line. Trails. Mountain biking. Rope course. Live music. Restaurants. Beer. Just great place to have a full day. One of the best things in Charlotte!

There's so much to do here; from biking and ziplining to trail walking, this place has it all. We spent a few hours exploring and even enjoyed some live music, which they feature throughout the summer.What makes this center stand out is the all-day pass, which is incredibly worth it whether you're an adventurous individual or part of a group. The vibe is friendly and inviting, with everyone around seeming genuinely happy and helpful.They also serve beer and wine, which is a nice touch to unwind after some activities. Plus, there's a place to eat right within the facility, and the food is pretty good! You definitely won't be disappointed with a visit here; it's a fantastic way to spend a day full of fun and adventure.

It feels magical on the grounds here. Lots of shade and the beer is quite refreshing on a hot day.

Super fun place! We went on a Wednesday which wasn't that busy. We did all the activities except the white water. The wait times were a little long given how it wasn't that busy. Overall a fun experience, but plan to wait and go through several orientations. Staff was friendly. I would recommend going as a group of adults, or with kids 8+.

Might be the unpopular opinion here but I'm just not in love with the WWC. It's nice if you have kids- it gives you some less crowded trails to hike, music, and some things to see (watching rock climbers, zip liners, etc). However, I can't justify paying for parking and then activities ala carte. There is a playground on the grounds you have to buy an activity pass for- it's about $18 per person. It's also a playground- not really an activity so I don't feel the additional cost is justified. As an adult, I was kind of bored there. The zip lining and white water rafting just seem overly man made and not exciting. My kids seem to like the center though so alas we bought the annual $40 parking pass. Hopefully the summer time concerts can redeem my thoughts on this place. Otherwise- a few trips here and you might as well save/take your money and go to Costa Rica for some actual white water rafting, zip lining, etc.

There is always something to do here! Rafting, paddle boarding, ropes courses, ice skating, and rock climbing. I recommend annual passes for all in an hour's drive and come to play often. Even come just to hear some live music in the summer or watch dogs play at the dog park. We always leave happy and refreshed.