Group of river tubers at Cape Fear River Adventures in Lillington, NC

Lazy River Tubing

Highlights

  • Activities

    River tubing

  • Duration

    2 miles; 1.5 hours up to 5 hours depending on water level

  • River features

    slow moving flat water; 1 small Class I rapid; 1 shallow rock garden

  • Skill level

    beginners

  • Age

    3+

  • Weight limit

    300lb/person

Video Trailer




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Lazy River Tubing on Cape Fear River

Our river tubing excursion sets off from our river shack in Lillington and offers 2 extremely lazy miles of unspoiled rolling forests and wildlife. Our Cape Fear River exudes a cool, Southern charm that will have you whistlin’ Dixie by the time you arrive at your trip’s end. Enjoy one Class I rapid, a rock garden and a very unique, wild habitat. Our shuttle will then whisk you back to where you started in Lillington. Trip duration depends heavily on river flow. A summer low river will make your trip last around 5 hours. Please contact us for questions about current river conditions for this trip.

The Cape Fear River is a very slow moving river, especially in summer time, and can be very rocky and shallow in places! It can take up to 5 hours to cover 2 river miles. At times you might need to swim, walk or paddle to keep yourself moving. You will float through a very shallow rock garden where you are likely have to get out of tubes to maneuver around rocks.


Things to know before you go:

  • River is not a water park or a swimming pool!

    River is an uncontrolled wilderness environment with unpredictable outcome! You are exposed to all nature's elements (sun, rain, wind, thunderstorms, etc). There are rocks that can scratch you, mud that can get you dirty, deep spots where you are not able to stand, thunderstorms that might form over you, wildlife and other unpredictable factors that can harm you! There is no way to abandon the trip early!

  • Slow and Low!

    It's the river that's "LAZY"! Typical water levels are low creating a very slow current! Normal tubing trip will last around 5 hours in the summer time. You move a half mile an hour and some areas might be stagnant. The river bottom is very rocky, water shoes are strongly recommended! After heavier rains the river level might come up creating stronger and faster current; at higher levels the trip can be as short as 1.5 hours (not typical for summer time).

  • You will have to walk, swim, or paddle!

    We ask you to be ready to walk, swim, or paddle with your hands along the way. There is a very good chance you will have to get out of the tube at some point of the trip. You go through a rock garden at the end of the trip where you have a lot of rocks to maneuver around or walk around!

  • No glass containers!

    We will check coolers to ensure no glass containers are being brought on the river.

  • There is a cut off time!

    Sat - Sun last tube goes out at 12:00pm!
    Mon - Fri last tube goes out at 10:30am!
    Cut off time is subject to change without notice. Reservations are strongly recommended. We are not able to set you up for tubing if you arrive after the cut off time, we will recommend paddling trips instead.

Trip Cost Prices are per person and include life jackets, tube and return shuttle



We require 24-hour notice for weekday reservations during our slow seasons (March - April and mid-Sept - October)
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Picture Gallery

What to wear

Since tubing is a mostly summer months activity when the weather and water are warm, you can plan on wearing a swimming suit, shorts or something you can plan on getting wet and swim in. Wear closed-toe shoes: water shoes, sandals, or sneakers is highly recommended, no flip-flops!

What to bring

  • Plenty of water! Plan on taking one 12 oz bottle of water per person per river hour. Absolutely no glass containers! Nalgene bottles or regular plastic bottled water is your best option.
  • Sunscreen is a must, even on cooler days!! Alternatively, you can wear long sleeve clothing.
  • Closed-toe shoes are highly recommended! There is a great chance of you having to walk on rocky riverbed at some point or another.
  • Lunch and snacks. Bring along your cooler, mid to larger sized coolers fit very nicely in our cooler carrier tubes.
    Please note: our cooler carrier is just a carrier and doesn't include a cooler.
  • Phone(s). We will ask you to bring at least one phone per group. We have dry pouches, dry boxes, and dry bags for sale in our shop, if needed.
  • If you’d like to bring a change of dry clothes to leave in your car, please do. We have changing rooms you can use at the end of your trip.
  • A string or cord to attach tubes together, if you choose to. We also have cord for sale at the shop. We are no longer offering a complementary cord due to excessive littering and overuse. Please be sure to remove your cord at the end of the trip.
  • Cameras, water toys, speakers, etc.

Trip F.A.Q.

We strongly recommend making online reservations! It allows you to complete all the required paperwork online and it will speed up your check-in! That's also the only way we can guarantee the equipment you need.
IF YOU MUST CANCEL or reschedule your activity, please contact us at least 48-hours before your scheduled activity with your request. No changes are allowed, and no refunds will be issued less than 48-hours prior to the activity.
IF WE MUST CANCEL your activity due to unfavorable water conditions or severe weather, we will reschedule the activity at your convenience, either by offering a different activity or a different date. If you are unable to reschedule, you can request a refund less 20% cancellation fee.
3 years old and up.
300lb. The heavier a person, the lower a tube sits in the water, making it more challenging to float on a low, rocky river!
We promote healthy living and healthy enjoyment of the great outdoors! Alcohol is not recommended to have an amazing time on the river, however if you must… Responsible, moderate consumption is strongly enforced. All North Carolina and Waterways laws apply and are closely monitored by local and Wildlife Law Enforcement. ABSOLUTELY NO GLASS CONTAINERS OR LIQUOR, it's one of the state laws!
You have to have at least one 18 year old individual in your party out on the water. Anyone else under 18 must have consent from a parent or legal guardian.
We offer 10% off for groups 12-23 people and 20% off for groups of 24+ people ONLY if reservation is made and paid online at least 48 hours before the trip. Contact us via phone or email to request a large group discount code that we set up just for your group. You can make as many separate online reservations as needed depending on how many people are paying. Be sure to complete waiver forms online!
Yes! We offer 10% discount for military, EMS, Fire, Police and Teachers. Use Promo Code "service" when making your online reservations. Be sure to have your military or relevant ID when checking in.
No, the trip is limited to the take-out at a 2 mile mark.
Yes, you can. We do not offer a discounted rate if you are using personal tube.
Yes we do! We accept all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
There are no gators or sharks, but there are water snakes. They are mostly non-aggressive type, but we ask you to respect wildlife and keep your distance. Checking your surroundings while on water goes a long way. Any incidents with wildlife are extremely rare and generally it is a unique experience to spot any wildlife while out on the river!
Dogs are not allowed on this trip.
Indeed, all of the above! Due to the very slow river current we ask you to be prepared to swim, walk, paddle with your hands or use other means to keep yourself moving, especially during summer months when the river is at its low summer level.
1.5ft x 2.5ft of inner usable space.
It can be more difficult than it looks, especially in deeper water. It will take some upper body strength to pull yourself up.
Yes!
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