Whitewater rafting and canyoneering adventure. Experience two days of adventure with our half-day whitewater rafting trip (w/ lunch) and a canyoneering adventure that takes you off the beaten path to places few can find.
Trip Details
Season
Age
Minimum age for canyoneering is 12. Under 18 must be actively accompanied by parent or guardian.
Class Rapids
Duration Info
Required to Wear
Rafting: shoes that won’t come off in the water (i.e. sandals with a strap on the back, water shoes, or old tennis shoes).
Canyoneering: Closed-toe shoes with a secure backing (so they won’t fall off your feet).
Intensity
weight
Notes
We provide
Canyoneering
- Water Shoes - We supply Astral water shoes for maximum performance. On check out, note your shoe size (whole size, not half).
- Rappelling Gloves - On check out, note: S, M, L, XL
- Small bottle of water
- Small backpack
- All safety equipment
Rafting
For Whitewater Trips:
- Raft gear
- PFD
- Helmet
- Paddle
- Raft
- Guide
- Splash gear (if requested)
- Beverages (water, lemonade)
- Snacks (nutrition bars, crackers)
For Calm Water Trips:
- Raft (minimum 4 people required)
- Single Duckie
- Splash gear (if needed)
Please Bring
Canyoneering
- Any medication that you may need immediate access to while on the trip (e.g., asthma inhaler, epipen or diabetic glucose).
- Change of clothes and a towel to leave in the van.
- For taking photos, a small waterproof/shockproof camera or disposable camera is best.
- A “brown-bag” style lunch (i.e. a sandwich or wrap) and/or your favorite energy bar (i.e. Clif, Lara, or Rx bar) or trail mix.
- Extra water. If you feel the need for more than 8fl oz of water, please bring your own water bottle.
Rafting
If you forget these items we have many of them for sale in our store.
- Shoes
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Strap for glasses
- Towel
- Change of dry clothing (for after the trip)
Do Not Bring
- Animals to the outpost, no exceptions.
- Valuables or anything else that you would mind having lost, wet, or broken.
- Canyoneering: Your cell phone is unlikely to work. We recommend not bringing it on the actual trip.
- Hiking poles
Participation Requirements
Canyoneering
Weight
There is no weight min or max. Participants must fit a climbing harness with a waist measurement between 18-45″ and a leg measurement between 10-28″.
Age
Minimum age of 12. Any participant under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Physical Fitness
You are fit enough if you can comfortably walk 3 miles unassisted on a trail carrying a light pack, comfortably hike on uphill and downhill slopes, climb or descend 5 flights of stairs, and climb a ladder with ease. You must also be comfortable with heights.
Health and Medical Conditions
- You cannot participate if you have an existing medical condition that could require urgent care (such as major heart problems or seizure disorders) or if you have a condition that could jeopardize your or another participant’s safety.
- We also do not recommend that you participate if you are pregnant or have significant musculoskeletal problems – please seek the advice of your physician before booking your trip.
- You cannot participate if you are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any medication that could impair you in any way.
If you may require any fast-acting medications such as an EpiPen, diabetic glucose, or an asthma inhaler please bring them on your trip and inform your Guides.
Waiver
All guests are required to sign a waiver. You participate at your own risk.
Rafting
Physical Fitness
Participants should feel comfortable sitting for an extended time in the boat and be able to paddle and assist in their own rescue if possible.
Health and Medical Conditions
- You cannot participate if you have an existing medical condition that could require urgent care (such as major heart problems or seizure disorders) or if you have a condition that could jeopardize your or another participant’s safety.
- We also do not recommend that you participate in whitewater rafting if you are pregnant or have significant musculoskeletal problems – please seek the advice of your physician before booking your trip.
- Calm water rafting trips are suitable for pregnant persons.
- You cannot participate if you are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any medication that could impair you in any way.
If you may require any fast-acting medications such as an EpiPen, diabetic glucose, or an asthma inhaler please bring them on your trip and inform your Guides.
Waiver
- You participate at your own risk.
- All guests are required to sign a waiver.
Our half-day whitewater rafting trip lasts 3-4 hours depending on the river level and includes a stop for lunch by the river about half way through the trip. After a short 10-minute bus ride, we'll arrive at the put-in for the trip in Barnard, NC. Along the way, our expert guides will navigate you as you paddle through a series of Class II and III rapids in between calmer sections where you can relax and admire the scenery and wildlife of the Pisgah National Forest. At the end of the trip, after covering 5 miles of the river, we'll arrive at the Stackhouse takeout, where we will complete the trip and return to the outpost.
Our canyoneering adventure departs from our downtown Asheville location and will take you to places most tourists never find as we do a short hike in and set up rappelling gear to descend a stunning waterfall. On the way out, you'll have an opportunity to hop in the streams for a dip. Depending on water levels, our secret locations may include laid back waterslides and/or a more adrenaline-pumping plunge!
Meeting Locations
Please refer to your confirmation email for your scheduled times and locations.
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We Offer Group Reservations
Bringing a group to Asheville? French Broad Adventures caters to groups of all sizes.
Group Reservations
Photos
What They Say
View More TestimonialsIt was awesome! Zip line and white water rafting for the first and they made the experience very memorable. I would recommend this place 100%.
Amazing trip & Great Guides! The best group of people we could have had to share with us the fun & pleasure that this trip offers. Beautiful views, a group of well-informed guides who know & love the river & the beautiful surrounding community...and funny, friendly personalities too! If you are in the area and you want to ride the French Broad, these are the guys to do it with!
Everyone who knows me would’ve never believed how much of an adventurer I became with French broad adventures! The team is knowledgeable and because they’re calm and fun they bring that side of you out! I would’ve never thought about water rafting and jumping into the river but I did, and I would’ve not traded it for the world! It is an experience that I will forever cherish and given me confidence that I am thankful for! THANK YOUUUUUU!! More than five stars if I could! Thank you Robert (water rafting) and Sam and Thomas (zip lining) an experience of a lifetime!
We did the 9 mile rafting trip and it was awesome!! Our guide Cory is a pro! We loved all the rapids along the route! We enjoyed the stories and wildlife we saw (bald eagles and nest). It was our first whitewater trip and we were comfortable because the guides have fun with safety in mind. We will be back!! Thank you, Cory!
This 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!
What a great time! A little bit of tranquil relaxing mixed with exhilarating excitement. Our guide Christian was awesome! Definitely recommend this to anyone visiting the area. Thanks for a great day guys!
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