Phone: 303.945.2490 Fax: 866.592.6911 Email: [email protected]
621 Kalamath St. Ste 175, Denver, CO 80204
Adventure is calling! First Descents’ 2026 Core Program Registration opens on Monday, February 2, at 11 AM MST.
Get started today by browsing the amazing destinations we have planned and start thinking about which program you’d like to join. Then be sure to log in to the FD Portal on February 2 to submit your choices! Don’t have a login yet? Submit an inquiry form HERE.
All programs are FREE and include lodging in a spectacular location, plus gear, pro-guided instruction, chef-prepared meals, and time to kick back with fellow members of our incredible FD community.
JOIN US FOR A 2026 HEALING ADVENTURE!
Nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Bryson City offers some of the best whitewater kayaking in the American Southeast. With a rich history in the kayaking world and one of the greatest kayak learning centers in the country, this is an unbeatable place for your First Descents kayaking adventure!
During the day, the beloved instructors at Nantahala Outdoor Center will teach you new kayaking skills and guide you through one of the only temperate rainforests in the entire continental United States. Then, after a day of paddling down turquoise rivers, you’ll kick back at the Watershed Cabins enjoying chef-made meals, stories over the campfire, and new FD friends! This program is a First Descents classic and you won’t want to miss it!
Registration is open! Please fill out an inquiry if you are new to First Descents or log in to your FD Portal to sign up for a program!
WHERE: Bryson City, NC
WHAT: Whitewater Kayaking
WHEN: May 21 – 26, 2023
COST: Free!
FOOD: Professional chef-prepared meals
AIRPORT: Asheville, NC (AVL)
TRAVEL: Participants are responsible for getting to/from the program. Travel scholarships are available through the registration form.
HEALTH & SAFETY:All Participants are required to fill out a registration form. FD will select participants based on available space on the program. Once selected, participants may be required to get a medical form from their Doctor. FD strongly recommends that all Participants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Read more here.
