Know Your Neighbor: River & Earth Adventures
Date postedJuly 8, 2026
From a sign in the front yard to adventures with a regional reach.
LONG HISTORY IN THE HIGH COUNTRY
Grant Seldomridge (ASU 04) started River and Earth Adventures, Inc with his wife, Laura Mallard 22 years ago. They started the business with one raft and a sign in their front yard in Valle Crucis. Grant and Laura guided everyday - truly a guide owned and operated business. Later they rented a location on HW 105 near Sunrise Grill. In the following years they added an outpost on the Watauga River in Elizabethton, TN, an outpost on the New River in Todd, NC, and 2 little boys. Those kids, Asa and Bodie, attend Watauga High School and work for River and Earth in the summer.
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ADVENTURES ON THE RIVER
River and Earth Adventures, Inc offers guided white water rafting on the Watauga, French Broad, and Nolichucky Rivers. The Watauga River is perfect for all ages, offering crystal-clear water, fun rapids, and beautiful scenery. The French Broad River has miles of class III and IV rapids from Marshall to Hot Springs, NC. Guided rafting on the Nolichucky River is the newest offering from River and Earth. The Nolichucky winds its way through a deep gorge in the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests. There are 4 class IV rapids and numerous class III rapids in the world-class whitewater section!
Tubing, kayaking, and canoeing rentals are found at our Todd, NC outpost. The New River is the second oldest river in the world and one of the few that flows to the north! We offer this service downstream (deeper in the watershed) than other outfitters in the area. Thus, there are fewer crowds and more water!
ADVENTURES IN THE CAVE
River and Earth offers guided cave tours in an immense limestone/dolostone cave in East Tennessee. This is a real-caving experience with no sidewalks or guardrails. Guests leave muddy and stoked! The temperature in the cave hovers around 60° all year! Guides are trained in eco-education and can teach about the cave system's geology and ecology.
HURRICANE HELENE AND BEYOND
The storm washed away much of River and Earth's infrastructure and river/cave gear. Laura and Grant are forever grateful for the support of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Mountain BizWorks, and other businesses such as Stick Boy Bread Company in the aftermath of the storm. The 1.5 years since the storm have been a struggle, but they have not given up on providing the best guided adventures in the High Country.