Enjoy The Closest Rafting Trips To Asheville And Be Back In Town For Dinner
Experience a fun-filled rafting adventure on the French Broad River. Our rafting trips begin and end just outside of Asheville, North Carolina and take you through the heart of the beautiful and scenic French Broad River valley. It’s the perfect way to get out in nature and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.
We offer two varieties of rafting trips on the French Broad River:
Whitewater Rafting
Calm Water Rafting
Which Rafting Trip Is Right For My Family?
The five-mile whitewater trip is our most popular trip because it is exciting but not overwhelming. It is a great introduction to whitewater, but also provides enough thrills for the experienced paddler. The nine-mile trip covers the same section as the five-mile trip but continues on for four additional miles. This additional section of river includes a higher class of rapids (class IV) and is a good choice for those seeking even more excitement. The calm water float trip is a much more relaxed trip because the river is slow and meandering. It’s a great option for families with smaller children and those who simply want to be on the water and take in the scenery.
What to Expect
On the day of your trip, arrive at the designated outpost 30 minutes prior to your trip time. Check-in at the store to complete your waivers and process your payment. Lock everything in your car that you don’t want wet, lost, or broken (including towels, dry clothes, and cell phones). Your Trip Leader will collect your car keys so that we can keep them safe in the store during your trip. We will outfit you in the proper gear and drive you to the river put-in where you’ll be given a safety talk and rafting orientation.
Finally, we send you downriver to enjoy your rafting trip with a talented and humorous Guide!
We will meet you at the take-out and drive you back to the outpost where you can change clothes, look at your pictures and pick out a souvenir.
NOTE:
All trips leave on time. If you are late for your trip French Broad Adventures will do its’ best to accommodate you, but this is not always possible. Otherwise, we will have to reschedule your trip for another day. Additional fees may apply.
Reservations
Because we guarantee a guide in every raft, we strongly encourage making a reservation so we can have the appropriate staffing for the day. If you are planning to come in June, July or August we recommend making your reservation early because our peak season trips fill up quickly.
Call us and let our friendly reservations staff assist you in scheduling your rafting trip between 8 am and 6 pm. You may also book your trip online 24 hours a day. Have a quick question? Use our online chat feature 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. Full payment is required to confirm your reservation and this can be done with any major credit card or check (time permitting).
Cancellation Policy
Reservations are refundable with a call to our office with a minimum three-day (72 hours) notice and are subject to a 6% non-refundable credit card processing fee. Any cancellations under three days to trip time will result in a forfeit of trip cost. Trips booked under three days in advance are not eligible for refunds. French Broad Adventures trips go rain or shine, 7 days a week, March through October. If you need to reschedule your trip within three days to trip time, a $50 rescheduling fee will apply. Contact us with questions upon cancellation.
Discounts
We offer a 10% discount to groups of 10 or more people. We also offer discounts to active military personnel and AAA members. Additionally, we offer discounts when rafting and zipline trips are booked together, as well as packages with other area attractions. Please see our packages page for more information.
Rafting Safety Practices
French Broad Adventures has a long history in the outdoor industry. Started as a small, family company called French Broad Rafting in 1981, we are as committed to your safety today as we were then. But a lot has changed, and improved, in 38 years – new gear, new hardware, and new certifications to name a few. There is an inherent risk in any outdoor activity, but we believe that the only thing more important than providing your family with an exciting and memorable adventure is mitigating and managing any potential risk. Your family’s safety is our number one priority!
- Our whitewater rafting guides are some of the most experienced guides in the industry, many with years of experience – some of them have been guiding since our company began nearly four decades ago!
- All of our Guides have First Aid and CPR Certifications, and our Trip Leaders have advanced medical certifications and Swift Water Rescue training.
- We will give you instructions before you get on the river with us. Our guides are trained to “show you the ropes” before you begin your adventure. Among other things, they will show you how to paddle, how to brace in the raft, and how to float in the river.
- We teach the class! Owners Mitch, Korey, and Michael Hampton, along with some of their Senior Guides, teach the Whitewater Rafting class at a nearby college.
- We are members of the America Outdoors Association – the international trade association for the world’s finest adventure travel outfitters.
