Steele Creek & Whitewater

U.S. National Whitewater Center

A 1,300-acre outdoor playground on the Catawba with the world's largest man-made whitewater river, plus ziplines, climbing, 50+ miles of trails, and live music at River Jam.

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Hours & practicals

Hours
No hours published. The number above is the only source.
Address
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214
From your base
Sorts every list here by walk time.
Access
Roped climbing carries a 45-to-265-pound rider weight range; bouldering has no stated weight qualifier. Closed-toe shoes for climbing. A single-activity climbing pass is $29, or climbing is covered by the All Access day or annual pass.
With kids
No ticket needed to walk the grounds — you pay per activity, plus $13/vehicle parking. Most activities gate by weight rather than age: 45–265 lbs for jumps and most ziplines, 70–265 lbs for the big ziplines, 45–275 lbs for ropes courses.
On the trail
More than 40 miles of trails on the 1,300-acre property, free to access with paid parking; no outside food or drink anywhere on property, and pets stay on leash outside the designated off-leash area.

The take

You can pay for the rafting or pay nothing at all — walking in, watching the rapids, and having a drink on the deck costs only the parking. Give it a half day minimum; between the ropes, the climbing, and fifty-plus miles of trail, the acreage could fill a full one.

Details

Since
2006

What it costs

Admission & play

  • All Access Day Pass $79All ages. The Annual Pass is $159.
  • Single activity: rafting $69, climbing $29, mountain biking $39, ice skating $25
  • Parking $13 per vehicleOversized vehicles $25; an annual parking pass is $45. Parking is sold on site only.

All read from the venue's own page on 2026-08-18.

Prices are what the venue published when we last read its own page — check with the venue for current pricing before you plan around one.

What things cost across Charlotte

Questions people ask

Do I have to pay to get in?

No — entry to the 1,300-acre property is free and needs no ticket or pass.

So what am I actually paying for?

Parking and activities, both charged separately from entry: parking is $13 per vehicle per day, $25 oversized, or $45 for an annual pass, and rafting, ziplining and the rest need an Activity Pass. The trails are free once you have parked.

This catches people out — the Center is free to enter but not free to arrive at.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes — leashed dogs are welcome across the property, and there is an off-leash dog park with its own pass at $12 single-use or $25 monthly per dog.

Do I need to book rafting or ziplining in advance?

Yes for whitewater rafting and the Figure 8 and Double Down ziplines; most other activities are walk-up.

How long does an activity take?

A rafting trip runs about 90 minutes and ziplining can take up to two hours.

Check in

Your passport…

Sources

More in Steele Creek & Whitewater

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The neighborhood

The 4 things this place connects to in the guide's map of the town — one step out, and nothing beyond it.

District

located in

Categories

serves

Places

competes with

See U.S. National Whitewater Center on the wiki, with every connection listedArriving in Steele Creek & Whitewater? The first-hour guide