This is our premier full day, high adventure wilderness whitewater rafting experience!

About

• Distance: 13KM/8+miles
  
• Number of Rapids: 30+
  

This is our premier full day, high adventure wilderness whitewater rafting experience. This trip flows for more than nine breath-taking miles through the pristine wilderness of Pisgah National Forest. Abundant class three and four rapids await you on this unforgettable stretch of river. Your trip includes top of the line equipment, expert guides with years of experience and an all you can eat, deli-style lunch featuring delicious foods. (even pb&j taste awesome when you are on the river) We guarantee your journey down the French Broad will become one of the top ten trips of your life!

• To get an early start for this action-packed day, you will meet us at our Boone outpost by 7:30am if you are going to ride in our shuttle van (riding the shuttle is not as comfortable as your own car but you can leave the driving to us) or at our log cabin outpost in the quaint town of Marshall by 9:30am if you are going to ride to the river in the comfort of you own car. Once you have been personally fitted with our top of the line gear, the river is a stones throw away from our Marshall outpost. To prepare you for the adventure ahead, you will then receive a fun and educational safety talk from one of our expert guides.

• A plethora of rolling rapids await as you load your crew onto the raft and prepare for the ultimate adventure! The first few rapids you will encounter include the continuous, downward drops of Stairstep, the twisting and turning maneuvers throughout upper and lower Maze, and the exhilarating switchback of S-Curve.

• Following these jolting, introductory rapids, the raft will drift to overlook a cliff twenty feet tall known as jump rock. Make sure to snap a photo as your friends and family plunge into the river below. We continue our adventure battling countless class two and three rapids until we reach our immaculate, riverside picnic lunch spot overlooking the infamous Turtle Rock and Big Pillow rapid. As you munch on our delicious, premium-grade lunch watch other rafters and veteran kayakers run this technical, class four rapid.

• This hearty lunch will provide you the energy to continue down and conquer the long, boulder-clogged chute, culminating into a four-foot drop and large hole that is Big Pillow. Next, glide through Sandy Bottom rapid and eddy out to cool off with a swim in the fresh mountain water. Now coast pass the center island and ride some big waves and deep holes at the Ledges. Look off to the right and catch a glimpse of the historic Stackhouse, but remember to keep paddling!

• Pass by the bridge where Big Laurel flows into the French Broad and don’t miss the awe of jutting, slender boulders towering above you as you ride the rollercoaster towards Needle Rock rapids. Hold on tight and paddle hard for the upcoming rapid known as Needle Falls or Kayaker’s Ledge. This world-renowned class four rapid is a five-foot plummet down rushing, exhilarating whitewater.

• The grand finale of your whitewater experience consists of a series of big broken ledges funneling down to a giant, roaring hole. This extreme, class four, deep water rapid is known as Frank Bell’s. Venture straight down the middle or curve around the horseshoe for over a football fields worth of thrilling whitewater! Cruise on down some bumpy waters until you reach our take out in the town of Hot Springs where a River and Earth Adventures van will be waiting to escort you back to your car. Exhale and be sure to take plenty of pictures because your friends will never believe your wild ride!