French Broad Rafting Expeditions

Check-in for whitewater rafting trips: French Broad Rafting Expeditions MARSHALL OUTPOST
Check-in for calm water & float trips: French Broad Rafting Expeditions HOT SPRINGS OUTPOST
All trips leave on time. If you are late for your trip French Broad Rafting Expeditions will do our best to accommodate you on another trip. Otherwise, we will have to reschedule your trip for another day. Additional fees may apply.

French Broad Rafting Expeditions has provided an Information Sheet to assist you with your whitewater rafting trip. French Broad Rafting Expeditions is located outside of Marshall, North Carolina (30 minutes from Asheville and 25 minutes from Hot Springs, North Carolina). French Broad Rafting Expeditions rafts on Section IX of the French Broad River beginning at Barnard and ending in Hot Springs. This section of the French Broad River flows through Class I-IV whitewater rapids. French Broad Rafting Expeditions also provides guided calm water trips or unguided rentals on Section X of the French Broad River beginning in Hot Springs and ending at Murray Branch Park. ALL TRIPS WILL LEAVE ON TIME. On the day of your trip, please meet at the designated Outpost 15 to 30 minutes prior to trip time (Marshall Outpost for whitewater trips and the Hot Springs Outpost for calmwater or rental trips). This time will allow you to check-in, sign waivers (or you can download the waivers from the website and fill them out prior to your trip), change clothes in the changing rooms provided, and get geared up for the trip. If you have any medication (inhaler, epi-pen, etc.) that you will need while you are on the trip, please bring it with you and inform your trip leader upon arrival so they can make sure that it is placed in a waterproof container and protected while on the trip.

Spring and Fall - - Layers, Layers, Layers!!! Complimentary wet suits (please wear swim suits underneath) and splash gear are provided for all guests. We recommend wool or polypropylene sweater and nylon pants and then the splash gear as the top layer. DO NOT WEAR sweatshirts, sweatpants or jeans for your rafting trip. REQUIRED: shoes that won't come off in the water (sandals with strap the back or old tennis shoes). You may want to wear wool socks with shoes during this time of season.

Summer - Swim suit, shorts, t-shirt or tank shirt. REQUIRED: shoes that won't come off in the water (sandals with a strap on the back or old tennis shoes). Additional things to remember - shoes, sunscreen, hat, strap for glasses, towel and a change of dry clothing for after the trip. If you forget these items we do have them for sale in our store.

French Broad Rafting Expeditions has Moved and has a New Outpost!

From Asheville:
Depending on where you are staying in Asheville, you want to take I-26 west/19-23 North toward Weaverville. Stay on I-26/Hwy 19-23 for approximately 8 miles. Take Exit 19A toward Marshall/Hot Springs/Hwy 25-70 North. Stay on Hwy 25-70 for approximately 14.4 miles. DO NOT TURN TO DOWNTOWN MARSHALL. Stay on 25-70 and the sign will then read By-Pass 25-70. You will see an Ingles Grocery Store on the right. Continue through the second red light (Madison Middle School will be on your right) and French Broad Rafting Expeditions is on the right.

From the South (Spartanburg SC, Savannah GA, Jacksonville FL):
Take I-26 West until you reach Asheville. Look for the 3 way split between I-40 East and West and 240. Take I-240 toward Asheville. Stay on I-240 and take Exit 4A (exits to the left) toward Weaverville/UNCA/Hwy 19-23 North/Future I-26. Stay on I-26/Hwy 19-23 for approximately 8 miles. Take Exit 19A toward Marshall/Hot Springs/Hwy 25-70 North. Stay on Hwy 25-70 for approximately 14.4 miles. DO NOT TURN TO DOWNTOWN MARSHALL. Stay on 25-70 and the sign will then read By-Pass 25-70. You will see an Ingles Grocery Store on the right. Continue through the second red light (Madison Middle School will be on your right) and French Broad Rafting Expeditions is on the right.

From the East (Charlotte NC, Raleigh NC):
Take I-40 west toward Asheville to I-240 west. Take exit 4A toward Weaverville/UNCA/Hwy 19-23 North/Future I-26. Stay on I-26/Hwy 19-23 for approximately 8 miles. Take Exit 19A toward Marshall/Hot Springs/Hwy 25-70 North. Stay on Hwy 25-70 for approximately 14.4 miles. DO NOT TURN TO DOWNTOWN MARSHALL. Stay on 25-70 and the sign will then read By-Pass 25-70. You will see an Ingles Grocery Store on the right. Continue through the second red light (Madison Middle School will be on your right) and French Broad Rafting Expeditions is on the right.

From the North (Johnson City TN):
Take I-26 East from Johnson City. Take the Mars Hill exit 11 onto Hwy 213 West. Go through the town of Mars Hill. Follow 213 toward Hwy 25/70 North toward Hot Springs. You will see an Ingles Grocery Store on the right. Continue through the second red light (Madison Middle School is on your right) and French Broad Rafting Expeditions is on the right.

From the West (Knoxville TN - 2 different ways):
Take I-40 East to Newport. Take Exit 435 onto Hwy 321 North. At the intersection of Hwy 25-70 go right toward Hot Springs. Follow Hwy 25-70 for 34 miles (note that at approximately mile 26 you must stay right at the fork). French Broad Rafting Expeditions will be on your right. OR Take I-40 East to Asheville, NC. Take I-240 East toward Asheville. Stay on I-240 and take Exit 4A (exits to the left) toward Weaverville/UNCA/Hwy 19-23 North/Future I-26. Stay on I-26/Hwy 19-23 for approximately 8 miles. Take Exit 19A toward Marshall/Hot Springs/Hwy 25-70 North. Stay on Hwy 25-70 for approximately 14.4 miles. DO NOT TURN TO DOWNTOWN MARSHALL. Stay on 25-70 and the sign will then read By-Pass 25-70. You will see an Ingles Grocery Store on the right. Continue through the second red light (Madison Middle School will be on your right) and French Broad Rafting Expeditions is on the right.

Follow the directions listed above to the FBRE Marshall Outpost. Once you have past our Marshall Outpost you are about 14 miles from the Hot Springs Outpost. Continue on Hwy 25-70 toward Hot Springs. When you get to the bottom of the mountain, turn left toward Hot Springs (follow signs). You will travel another 5 miles up the mountain and down the mountain. When entering the Town of Hot Springs you will cross a small bridge over the French Broad River. You will see the Hot Springs Spa Suites on the right and the Hot Springs Campground on the left. Just past the campground you will see a brown fence (railroad ties) along the property line. Within the brown fence is our Hot Springs Outpost (small brown building with tents and picnic tables in front). If you go over the railroad tracks you have gone too far.