Ken Kastorff

Ken Kastorff arrived in the Nantahala Gorge in 1975 and has been a force in the outdoor industry ever since. What began as a young man's love affair with wild water has grown into one of the most storied careers in American whitewater and fly fishing — a legacy built on innovation, teaching, and an unbreakable bond with one of the most beautiful river corridors in the eastern United States.

Ken's impact on whitewater kayaking is nothing short of transformational. Over decades of instruction and experimentation, he helped develop many of the foundational techniques used in kayak teaching, including the widely used C-to-C roll — a contribution that has helped countless paddlers find their confidence on moving water. He led whitewater instructor clinics for years, shaping educators and guides across the country. In 2021, the paddling community recognized his lifetime of contributions with a Hall of Fame induction.

In 1993, Ken and his partner Juliet Jacobsen Kastorff founded Endless River Adventures, building it from the ground up into one of the most trusted and respected outfitters in Western North Carolina. The company holds one of the rare permits issued by the U.S. Forest Service for guided float trips on the Nantahala River, and has been welcoming anglers, paddlers, and adventurers to the gorge for more than three decades.

As his whitewater career evolved, Ken brought that same gifted, instinctive teaching approach to fly fishing. Today he serves as the head fly fishing guide for Endless River Adventures, leading trips on the Nantahala, Tuckasegee, Little Tennessee, Cheoah, and Snowbird Creek. His international experience runs deep as well, with extensive time pursuing exotic species throughout North and South America and regular guided expeditions to Ecuador.

Those who know Ken well call him the 'Hemingway of the Nantahala' — a nod to his larger-than-life presence on the river, his storytelling, and his almost literary connection to the water he has called home for fifty years.