French Broad Trip Whitewater Rafting Trip

• To get an early start for this action-packed day, you will meet us at Barnard Park by 10:30 a.m. in the quaint town of Marshall, NC.
• Once at the river, you’ll get personally fitted with gear and receive a safety talk from your guide.
• Hit the river and start your whitewater journey! Early rapids include Stairstep, Upper/Lower Maze, and S-Curve, followed by a jumping opportunity at Jump Rock.
• Around midday, enjoy a riverside deli-style lunch near Turtle Rock and Big Pillow Rapid.
• The afternoon is packed with exciting class III-IV rapids, including Needle Falls and Frank Bell’s.
• The trip ends at our take-out in Hot Springs, where we’ll shuttle you back to your vehicle.

This trip iis appropriate for adventurous first-timers and experienced paddlers. Previous rafting experience is helpful but not required, as our expert guides will walk you through everything you need to know. Be ready for a physically active day with lots of paddling and some class IV rapids.

This section of the French Broad features class III and IV rapids. Expect continuous waves, drops, technical features, and fast-moving water.

Guests often spot bald eagles, great blue herons, river otters, turtles, and white-tailed deer along the river. You may also hear songbirds and see woodpeckers in the forest. Black bears are rare but possible. Our guides keep watch to help you spot local wildlife safely.

We serve a deli-style picnic lunch on the riverbank with a variety of sandwich options (including vegetarian), chips, fruit, cookies, and more. It’s casual, delicious, and hits the spot mid-adventure.

You’re welcome to bring a water bottle, which can be left in the van or outpost before hitting the water. Due to the nature of the activity, snacks or drinks are not permitted on the raft itself.

Yes, guides are in every boat, and guides are in other rafts and kayaks around you during rafting trips.

All of our rafts are 13-14-foot self-bailing rafts. These modern rafts have an inflated elevated floor with holes along the side. When the water pours into the raft, it goes right back out through these holes. This boat has great finesse on the water because it is not carrying around heavy water. And you never have to pass the bailing bucket around.

Yes, this is an active adventure and you should be prepared to paddle!

Rafting is thrilling, exciting, wet, wild and unbelievably fun and educational. However, as in all adventure sports, there is an inherent risk involved. That risk contributes to the excitement and is one of the reasons people enjoy it so much. Our guides are trained to minimize risks. One state government found in an investigation that the injury rate for whitewater rafting is similar to that for golfing! But still, there is a risk, and you must accept that risk when you go on the river. By the way, the most common injury is sunburn, and most other injuries occur on land, especially getting into and out of the boats.

Everyone on commercial rafting trips wears a coast guard approved buoyancy vest. This will keep you afloat in the event that you find yourself in the river. Many non-swimmers go on rafting trips, and they have a great time. It is more important that you are not afraid of the water.

Rafting is an active adventure, and you will have a paddle in your hands and will be paddling. You should be reasonably healthy and must be able to fit into the life vests. Paddling can be tiring, but guides will instruct you on paddling technique. Oar boats, where you ride along as a passenger, are also available for those who need special accommodations.

Believe it or not, many people love falling out of the boat. It’s exciting. But it can be disorienting and a little overwhelming at first. Many people have taken multiple trips and never fallen in. Some people swim on their first trip. It’s a part of rafting. Before you go on any trip, you’ll be given extensive instructions on what to do if you fall in and how to stay safe. Follow you’re guide’s instructions, and your “swim” could be the most exciting part of your trip!