Before you get in the water, take a moment to understand the river you are about to float. This map shows your complete float route at Floatery on the Dan River in Madison, NC — from the moment you put in to the moment you take out, and everything in between.
Your Put-In — Where It All Begins Your float begins at the IN marker in Madison, NC. This is where you launch — where you hop in your tube and the Dan River takes over. Right here at the put-in is where the adventure starts immediately.
The Class 2 Rapids — First 2 Minutes The yellow section on the map shows the Class 2 rapids at the very beginning of your float. Do not let the word rapids scare you — this is a short, exciting burst of moving water that lasts approximately 2 minutes and is one of the most memorable parts of the entire trip. Be familiar with Eddy’s and getting out of them. During the rapids — stay in your tube, never jump off, and keep your life jacket on. If you need help, raise your hand and call out to fellow floaters around you. The Dan River community is friendly and always willing to help. After about 2 minutes — the river opens up, calms down, and the real relaxation begins.
The Class 1 Float — The Next 3 Hours The green section on the map is your float zone — approximately 3 hours of mostly calm, gentle, Class 1 water winding through some of the most beautiful river scenery in North Carolina. Class 1 is the gentlest river classification — slow moving water, small ripples. This is where you lean back, look up at the trees, let your feet dangle, and just float.
Your Take-Out — Where Your Car Is Waiting The green OUT marker is where your float ends at Floatery — approximately 3 hours after you put in. Your car is parked here waiting for you. Simply exit the river, rinse off at our rinse station, change in our changing room, and you are on your way home with a day you will never forget.
The Eden Dam — Why Our Location Matters You will notice the red DAM marker at the bottom right of the map — approximately 10/12 river miles downstream from where your float ends. This is the Duke Energy dam in Eden, NC. It is not on our float route. It is not near our float route.
An eddy is a calm pocket of water that forms behind rocks or along the riverbank where the current swirls back upstream. They are completely normal on the Dan River and easy to get out of once you know what to do.
If you find yourself caught in an eddy:
The Dan River at Floatery varies in depth throughout the float route. Guests should be aware of the following conditions before entering the water:
Typical River Depth The majority of the Dan River float route at Floatery is approximately waist-deep under normal water conditions. However, water levels fluctuate based on rainfall, upstream conditions, and Duke Energy water releases. Actual depth on the day of your float may vary. Floatery makes no guarantee of specific water depth on any given float date.
Deep Water Areas Certain sections of the Dan River float route contain deeper water pockets reaching depths of approximately 10 feet. The rapids section of the float route reaches depths of approximately 20 feet. Guests must be aware that deep water areas exist along the route and are advised to wear their life jacket at all times for this reason.
Life Jacket Requirements & Recommendations
All guests are required to wear a properly fitted life jacket upon entry into the Dan River. This requirement is non-negotiable and will be enforced by Floatery staff prior to water entry.
Floatery strongly recommends that all guests wear their life jacket for the entire duration of the float — regardless of swimming ability. River conditions can change without warning and deep water pockets exist throughout the float route.
Guests who cannot swim or are not confident swimmers are strictly prohibited from removing their life jacket at any point during the float. Removal of a life jacket by a non-swimmer is done entirely at the guest’s own risk and against the explicit recommendation of Floatery. Floatery assumes no liability for any incident resulting from a guest’s voluntary removal of required or recommended safety equipment.
By entering the Dan River at Floatery, all guests acknowledge that they have been informed of river depth conditions, life jacket requirements, and safety recommendations, and agree to comply with all Floatery safety policies.
If you have any questions about river depth, water conditions, or life jacket requirements on the day of your float — ask a Floatery staff member before entering the water.
This is one of the most important things we can share with you — and something we have seen firsthand on the Dan River.
Floating the Dan River in the summer heat is a wonderful experience. It is also physically demanding in ways that sneak up on you. The combination of direct sun, warm temperatures, physical activity, and time on the water can cause dehydration and heat-related illness faster than most people expect — especially when you arrive without food or water in your system.
Before You Arrive:
During Your Float:
Know the Warning Signs
If you or anyone in your group experiences any of the following on the river — signal for help immediately:
We want every guest to have the best possible experience on the Dan River. Eating well, staying hydrated, and protecting yourself from the sun costs nothing and makes all the difference.
Floatery welcomes guests who choose to bring beverages on the Dan River and enjoy their float responsibly. We are located in Rockingham County where there are no county-wide restrictions on bringing beverages on the river. However, Floatery maintains a strict conduct policy that applies to all guests at all times — on property, on the shuttle, and on the river.
Responsible Consumption
Floatery strongly encourages all guests who choose to consume alcohol to do so responsibly before and during their float. Please be aware of the following:
Guest Conduct Policy
Floatery is committed to providing a safe, enjoyable, and welcoming environment for all guests — families, groups, and individuals of all ages. Conduct that disrupts, endangers, or diminishes the experience of other guests will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The following behaviors will result in immediate removal from the river and property with no refund issued:
Floatery staff have full authority to remove any guest from the river, the shuttle, or the property at any time for any conduct violation listed above or for any behavior deemed unsafe or inappropriate at the sole discretion of Floatery management. Removal is immediate and final. No refund will be issued under any circumstances for guests removed due to conduct violations.
By booking and participating in a Floatery float trip, all guests acknowledge and agree to abide by this conduct policy in its entirety. Failure to comply constitutes a breach of the terms under which access to Floatery property and the Dan River was granted.
If you witness unsafe or disruptive behavior on the river — please alert a Floatery staff member immediately. We take every report seriously and will act swiftly to protect the safety and enjoyment of all guests.
Questions about our conduct policy? Contact us at gc@floatery.com or call 336-916-7070.
One of the things that makes the Dan River at Floatery so special is exactly what you don’t hear — no traffic, no city noise, no screens. Just the sound of the river, the trees, the birds, and the people you came with. We want every guest to experience that.
Our Music & Noise Policy
Guests are welcome to bring portable speakers and enjoy music on the river. We simply ask that you be mindful of the guests around you and the natural environment you are floating through.
Please observe the following:
A Note From Us
We built Floatery on the Dan River because we believe in the healing power of nature. The river has a sound of its own — and it is worth hearing. We encourage every guest to take at least a few minutes of their float to put the speaker away, look up at the trees, listen to the water, and just breathe.
You drove here to escape. Let the river do its job.
The Dan River at Floatery — This is Not a Manmade Lazy River
Before you float, there is one thing every guest must understand about the Dan River at Floatery. This is not a manmade lazy river. It is not a loop. It does not circle back to where you started. The Dan River at Floatery is a natural river flowing from Point A — your put-in — to Point B — your take-out. The river flows in one direction only. Downstream. It does not stop, it does not wait, and it does not bring you back.
You must exit the river at the designated take-out point.
Missing your take-out is not a minor inconvenience. The Dan River has high natural banks along much of its route making it extremely difficult — and in some sections impossible — to safely exit the water outside of designated access points. If you miss your take-out, the next safe exit point could be up to 8 hours further downstream. We are not exaggerating. We are telling you this because it is true and because we want you to go home the same day you came.
How to make sure you don’t miss your exit:
The Dan River is beautiful, peaceful, and one of the best floats in North Carolina. Respect it, understand it, and it will give you an incredible day. This page exists because we take that responsibility seriously.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Reach out and let us know. We will do our best to add it — the more informed our guests are, the better the experience for everyone on the river.
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