U.S. National Whitewater Center

The U.S. National Whitewater Center is a privately owned outdoor recreation park on 1,300 acres along the Catawba River on Charlotte’s west edge, near Mount Holly and Belmont. It’s built around the world’s largest man-made recirculating whitewater river, where Olympic paddlers train and visitors raft Class II to IV rapids.

Beyond the water there are more than 40 miles of hiking and mountain-bike trails, rock climbing including a deep-water solo wall, zip lines, a canopy tour, ropes courses, flatwater kayaking and paddleboarding on the river, a winter ice rink, a restaurant and bar, and free River Jam concerts in summer. There’s no admission; the center charges a daily parking fee and sells activity passes, and the trails are free once you’re in.