Experience the exhilarating adventure of whitewater rafting or a peaceful float, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Pisgah National Forest. Our team of professional, experienced, and entertaining whitewater rafting guides will ensure you have an unforgettable day on the French Broad River.
Zip & Dip
Ziplining + Half-Day Rafting
Half-Day Whitewater Rafting
Full-Day Whitewater Rafting
Half-Day Whitewater Rafting + Lunch
Guided Calm Water
Self-Guided Calm Water
Pedal & Paddle
Easy Riverside Off-Road E-Biking Trip + Half-Day Rafting
Dip & Zip (w/lunch)
Half-Day Rafting w/ Lunch + Ziplining
Chill & Thrill
Calm Water Rafting + Ziplining
Ridges & Rapids
Ziplining + Full-Day Rafting
Float and Fly
Self-Guided Calm Water Rafting + Guided Ziplining
Whitewater & Waterfalls
Half-Day Rafting + Full-Day Canyoneering
Whitewater & Waterfalls Plus
Half-Day Rafting (w/ Lunch) + Full-Day Canyoneering
Whitewater & Waterfalls Expedition
Full-Day Rafting (w/ Lunch) + Full-Day Canyoneering
Asheville’s Closest Whitewater Experience is an Unforgettable French Broad Adventure
Our whitewater rafting trips offer an exhilarating yet manageable adventure, perfect for beginners while still providing enough excitement for experienced paddlers. Starting and ending just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, these tours take you through the heart of the scenic French Broad River valley. Choose from half-day or full-day trips featuring Class II to Class IV rapids for an unforgettable experience.
Learn more about whitewater classifications.
Relax and Unwind On Calm Water Trips
French Broad Adventures provides both guided and self-guided rafting excursions on tranquil waters, showcasing gentle class I-II rapids. These serene float trips navigate leisurely through the picturesque, pastoral stretch of the French Broad River. Perfect for families with young children or anyone seeking a peaceful aquatic experience amidst stunning scenery.
FAQs
Food Options
We do not offer full food options at our Outposts.
We only offer Lunch Options for on-the-river activities; Half-Day Whitewater + Lunch, and Full Day Whitewater adventures.
We highly encourage you to bring lunch and snacks in your vehicle to have before or in between adventures.
We do offer a small variety of drinks, chips, candy and Ice Cream, for purchase, at our Rafting Building and Zipline Tower.
For Bike Tours, please bring snacks and a water bottle.
What Are The Age Requirements?
Our minimum age limit for whitewater rafting is 8 years old.
How Many People Per Boat?
Our rafts allow for 6 guests plus 1 guide.
Will I Fall Out Of The Raft?
Possibly! There is a chance that you may fall out of the raft. But relax and enjoy the float. Your guide will get you back in the raft as quickly as possible. BUT, before you even begin your trip and touch the water, your Trip Leader will go through a safety talk on how to brace into the raft, and what to do if you should fall in the water.
What Should I Wear When Rafting?
REQUIRED: shoes that won’t come off in the water (i.e. sandals with a strap on the back, water shoes, or old tennis shoes - no crocs or flip flops).
Spring and Fall – Layers, Layers, Layers!!! Complimentary wet suits (please wear swimsuits underneath) and splash gear (rain jackets and/or pants) are available for all guests as needed at no extra charge. We recommend that you wear wool or synthetic material (i.e. polyester, nylon, or dry-fit). We DO NOT RECOMMEND that you wear cotton (i.e. sweatshirts and sweatpants) or denim for your rafting trip. You may also want to wear wool or synthetic socks (i.e. SmartWool) with shoes during this time. Summer – Swimsuit with shorts and a t-shirt or tank top.
What Is A Duckie?
A duckie is an inflatable kayak made for one person. Prior experience is not required. If you would like to paddle a duckie, please request one when you make your reservation.
Is Whitewater Rafting Safe?
Like all adventure activities, whitewater rafting has inherent risk. Please keep in mind that French Broad Adventures has very experienced and professional staff. We will educate you on rafting procedures prior to your trip, and our guides will always have your safety in mind. However, French Broad Adventures does not assume liability for personal injuries. You will be asked to read and sign a waiver agreement prior to your trip. For everyone’s safety, we do not allow anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol to go on any of our trips. No refunds will be made.
Do Water Levels Impact Trip Distances?
The French Broad River is a free-flowing river and water levels fluctuate depending on rainfall. This is beyond our control. If the river is much lower or higher than normal this can potentially affect the quality and safety of your trip, so we will modify the trip distance or location as necessary. Check current water levels.
Do I Need To Know How To Swim?
No. We have taken many children and adults down the French Broad River who do not know how to swim. Not only does French Broad Adventures provide top-notch safety equipment (life jacket and helmet), but our guides are all certified in CPR and first aid, and our Trip Leaders have advanced medical certifications as well as swift water rescue experience.
What They Say
View More TestimonialsVisited the french broad this summer, what a blast. Me, my boyfriend and our four grown boy went and we can’t stop talking about it. The company was very well ran, and made us feel safe at all times! The rafting and ziplines were awesome but it is the guide who really make this trip stand out above all the rest. Mitch,Justin and Jason aka "bacon" knew their history of the area and very very very funny!!! Have recommended this company to many friends who were heading that way for vacation! If your vacationing in the area or just passing threw, this is a must stop for your trip!!!! See you guys soon! Can’t wait to nite zipline and planning to visit on my honeymoon!!!! You guys rock!!!
Awesome experience! I've been rafting before and it was terrible in comparison to this. Super knowledgable guides that knew exactly what they were doing. I felt safe the entire time even going through some rough class 3 rapids. Beautiful views and facility the whole way including the lunch area! Even the bus rides were entertaining with the guide telling jokes the whole time. I've got nothing bad to say!! An amazing and fun experience even for kids!!
Amazing trip & Great Guides! The best group of people we could have had to share with us the fun & pleasure that this trip offers. Beautiful views, a group of well-informed guides who know & love the river & the beautiful surrounding community...and funny, friendly personalities too! If you are in the area and you want to ride the French Broad, these are the guys to do it with!
This was so much fun! The staff are all very helpful and friendly. Their main objective is to make sure the customers have fun, but they are all about safety first and foremost. The entire trip was loaded with history and information which made it more than just a fun excursion. Richard was our guide, and he did such an awesome job keeping all of us focused and working together. He is very good at what he does. We had a great time!
Our first white-water rafting experience as a family was fantastic! Jim was an excellent guide who made our journey down the French Broad one we will never forget. From squeezing our raft through the smallest opening to running us up on rocks only to spin away and on down the river. So fun! Our oldest daughter even did a little cliff jump halfway down the route. My husband is a Civil War buff and Jim shared his knowledge of local Civil War stories, and also some history of the river and surrounding area. Highly recommend this adventure!
