Exploring Western North Carolina & Beyond!
Outdoor Adventure
Canoe Camping
The mountain lakes of western North Carolina offer a unique opportunity for boys to discover the beauty of our area at a more relaxed pace than on our whitewater trips. Campers take part in two and three day canoe camping trips on Lake Fontana and Lake Jocassee. Boys learn outdoor living skills as they have fun!
Whitewater Paddling
Falling Creek offers an outstanding paddling program oriented toward single and multi-day trips on exciting whitewater rivers, as well as peaceful and scenic mountain lakes.
On the lower lake at camp, boys learn correct paddling technique. Working with a partner in a tandem canoe, campers run the gates course and prove that they can control their boat with the proper strokes.
After mastering skills on the lake, campers move to the Green and Tuckaseegee Rivers to learn river running skills in whitewater. As campers progress, they advance to more challenging rivers like the French Broad and Nantahala.
Once a camper has completed his progressions in a tandem canoe, he may continue his whitewater training in a solo canoe, C-1, or kayak. Each summer builds on the progression made previously, and our talented and experienced paddling staff are equipped to continue teaching and offering new challenges, no matter the paddling level of the boy.
Examples of Where We Paddle
- Green River: lower & upper
- Tuckaseegee River: I, III & V
- French Broad River: VI & IX
- Chattooga River: II & III
- Pigeon River
- Ocoee River
- Nolichucky River
- New River Gorge
- Lake Jocassee
- Lake Fontana
Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking is a special signup activity during the June and Main Camp Sessions, and is offered as an in-camp activity during the 2-week session. Campers can sign up for trips when they hear a counselor make an announcement for Mountain Biking during the Morning Assembly or after lunch.
Mountain Biking will take you on fast and flowy trails both in and out of camp. Boys will start with an introductory skills clinic and progress to ride on the camp trails, which offer a variety of terrain. Once they show proficiency on the bike in-camp, boys will then have the option to go on out-of-camp rides and overnight trips. Our knowledgeable mountain bike counselors will also teach bike handling skills and basic bike maintenance, so boys can learn how to take care of their bikes and how to improve their form while riding.
Examples of Where We Ride
- Dupont State Forest
- Pisgah National Forest
- Tsali Recreation Area
- Fontana Village
- Mills River
- Jack Rabbit Trails
- Paris Mountain
- On trails around Falling Creek’s 900+ acres!
Rock Climbing
Climbing is a special signup activity. When campers hear announcements for trips during Morning Assembly or after lunch, they can sign up for any trips that interest them.
Rock On!
Though we also have a 40 foot rock climbing wall on property, the Climbing program gives boys the opportunity to learn how to climb on real rock faces, improve skills, and enjoy the beautiful views from the summit. We start out by teaching you the basics at camp, then head to nearby Gilbert’s Rock for the first climb.
If campers enjoy the activity they can continue signing up for Rock Climbing trips and work up to multi-day and multi-pitch climbs on a variety of beautiful rock faces in this area.
Examples of Where We Climb
- Cedar Rock
- Crowders Mountain
- Gilbert’s Rock
- Linville Gorge
- Looking Glass Rock
- Red River Gorge
- Rumbling Bald
- Stone Mountain
- The Obed
Falling Creek is an authorized Special Use Permit Holder in the Pisgah, Nantahala, and Sumter National Forests.
Backpacking
Backpacking and hiking trips are special signup activities. We offer trips of various lengths from short half-day trips to epic five-day adventures. You will hear announcements for trips each day at Morning Assembly, which will let you know where to sign up.
Backpacking and hiking give you the opportunity to experience the rugged beauty of Western North Carolina firsthand, admiring waterfalls, open vistas, rhododendron tunnels, and hardwood stands dating back hundreds of years.
On these trips, campers gain self-reliance and outdoor survival skills as they learn to safely build a fire, cook outdoors, how to find and purify water in the wilderness, and read a map. Each member of our Backpacking and Hiking staff are Wilderness First Responder certified, and possess valuable knowledge of the local area, along with years of trip leading know-how.
Examples of Where We Backpack & Hike
- Appalachian Trail
- Art Loeb Trail
- Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
- Nantahala National Forest
- Pisgah National Forest
