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.
Half-Day Whitewater Rafting
Half-Day Whitewater Rafting + Lunch
Full-Day Whitewater Rafting
Guided Calm Water
Half-Day Rafting + Ziplining
Zip & Dip
Half-Day Rafting w/ Lunch + Ziplining
Zip & Dip (w/lunch)
Full-Day Rafting + Ziplining
Ridges & Rapids
Half-Day Rafting + Canyoneering
Whitewater & Waterfalls
Half-Day Rafting (w/ Lunch) + Canyoneering
Whitewater & Waterfalls Plus
Full-Day Rafting (w/ Lunch) + Canyoneering
Whitewater & Waterfalls Expedition
Half-Day Rafting + E-Mountain Biking
Pedal & Paddle
Calm Water Rafting + Ziplining
Chill & Thrill
Calm Water Rafting + Canyoneering
Chill & Skill
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 offer a limited variety of drinks and snacks for purchase at our rafting and zipline / e-bike outposts in Marshall and our canyoneering outpost in Asheville.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, but we do not have lunch options at our Outposts.
If you are going on multiple adventures with us, we encourage you to bring lunch with you to have in between trips. We have multiple porch and picnic areas for you to enjoy.
What Are The Age Requirements?
Our minimum age limit for whitewater rafting is 8 years old.
How Many People Per Boat?
The rafts that we typically use on our guided river trips can fit as many as 7 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: You must wear shoes that won’t come off in the water (i.e. sandals with a strap on the back, water shoes, or old tennis shoes.)
- Clothes: Wear clothing appropriate for the weather. On warm days a swimsuit with shorts and a t-shirt / tank top may be enough. On colder days we suggest that you wear multiple layers, avoid cotton or denim, and we recommend wool or synthetic material (i.e. polyester, nylon, or dry-fit).
- We can provide complimentary wet suits (please wear swimsuits underneath) and splash gear (rain jackets and/or pants) as needed at no extra charge.
What Is A Duckie?
A duckie is another name for an inflatable kayak. If you would like to paddle a duckie on one of our trips, please request one when you make your reservation. Availability cannot be guaranteed and is dependent on river levels. Prior paddling experience is preferred but not required.
Is Whitewater Rafting Safe?
Like all outdoor adventure activities, whitewater rafting has inherent risk. A safety orientation and demonstration will be given prior to your trip, with an opportunity to ask questions. You will be asked to read and sign a waiver 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 TestimonialsThis company is amazing!!! Not much else to say really because every review says that, but I wanted to write a review because JUSTIN was the best raft guide ever and made it so much fun!!! He made jokes and told us history, but most importantly we knew we were safe in his hands! Make sure you say YES when he asks 'do you want to try something exciting?' It was my first time so we did the 5 miles, but honestly I wish I did the 9 mile instead! And the lunch is a delicious HOT meal in a great location!
Such an amazing experience! Marty was our tour guide for a family of 5, and we couldn’t have been happier! Thank you Marty for making this new adventure such an outstanding experience! (: For families looking for more info - we were provided safety jackets, helmets, and many safety talks. The majority of us had never gone white water rafting so we were a mix of nervousness and excitement! We did the half day, ~4 hour ride, and took on a mix of Class 2 and 3 rapids! Would highly recommend and we will be back!
My family of 4 had an absolutely amazing time both rafting and ziplining for 2 days! Calvin was our river guide - full of knowledge and fun. Next time we are ready for the 9 mi. rafting trip! We had never ziplined before, Cara and Becca were awesome guides - a lot of fun and laughs - we were in great hands. Will be back, and will recommend French Broad Adventures to everyone!! Wish we could give more than 5 stars!
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!
Visited 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!!!
