French Broad River, North Carolina

French Broad River, North Carolina at a Glance
Price
Class of Rapids	II-III, IV
Trip Miles	Section IX: 8 miles
Trip Duration	1 day
Season	March-November
Raft Type	Paddle Raft, Oar Raft, Inflatable Kayak
River Sections	Section IX: Barnard to Hot Springs
Nearby Towns	Asheville (NC)
Driving Times	Asheville (NC): 0.5 hour; Knoxville (TN): 1.5 hours
Recommended For	Beginner, Families, Accessibility, Tubing & Duckies, Fall

Full steam ahead down the French Broad River near Asheville, North Carolina (courtesy, North Carolina Tourism)

The French Broad ventures through the Pisgah National Forest. The favorite section for most people is the run between Barnard and Hot Springs, which makes an eventful trip through a series of wooded gorges. This river alternates between quiet pools and challenging rapids, so you have time to catch your breath between whitewater runs. This is a good river for intermediate paddlers to improve their skills. Spring and summer flows are generally dependable, while abbreviated half-day trips and guided inflatable-kayak tours are available during lower summer water flows.

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