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Scenic, remote, and awash with breathtaking beauty, the French Broad Section 9 (FB9) rafting adventure takes you through 5 miles of intermediate-level, class II, and class III rapids starting at Barnard River Park. Between rapids, enjoy a laid-back vibe with opportunities to stop for a jump off the raft or rocks for a refreshing dip in the river.
The French Broad River spans 218 miles from Rosman, North Carolina, through Asheville, and toward the state of Tennessee. Section 9 of the French Broad River starts approximately 45 minutes away from Asheville near Marshall, North Carolina, and runs through the Pisgah National Forest. The majority of French Broad Section 9 flows through protected lands and is beginner-friendly. Your guide will navigate you through approximately 5 miles of Section 9, where you will raft through class II and class III difficulty levels, and you may briefly encounter class IV drops depending on the time of year, and the amount of rainfall.
Trip Highlights
As a complete white water outfitter, Asheville Adventure Company provides all the equipment you’ll need for your trip through the classic French Broad Section 9. Our equipment is white-water certified, and it includes:
The French Broad river spans 218 miles from Rosman, North Carolina through Asheville, and toward the state of Tennessee. Section 9 of the French Broad river starts approximately 45 minutes away from Asheville near Marshall, North Carolina, and runs through the Pisgah National Forest. The majority of French Broad Section 9 flows through protected lands and is beginner-friendly. Your guide will navigate you through approximately 5 miles of Section 9, where you will raft through class II and class III difficulty levels, and you may briefly encounter class IV drops depending on the time of year, and the amount of rainfall.
Waivers
Before embarking on the FB9 adventure, all participants must sign a touchless liability waiver. Waivers for participating under the age of 18 must also be signed by a parent or guardian. You’ll receive links to the waiver with your trip confirmation.
Our French Broad Section 9 rafting trip is recommended for adults or children aged 8 and up. Everyone participating must wear PFDs, a helmet, and footwear with a heel strap during the entire outing. Although the rafting trip is relaxed, participants need to be in good health and physically ready to paddle throughout the trip for the experience. Those under the influence will not be allowed to participate.
Transportation
The French Broad River Gorge is located approximately 35-45 minutes from Asheville. Asheville Adventure Company is located in the heart of downtown Asheville and is the only company offering group transportation to and from the Gorge.
Your whitewater rafting adventure will begin in the morning at Asheville Adventure Company Outpost. From there, we’ll head to the rafting location in our shuttle vehicle. After your trip the shuttle vehicle will meet us at the take-out point, we’ll drive you back to our Outpost. You can expect the total trip time to last approximately 4 hours.
Parking
While our headquarters offers parking, it can be rather limited on weekends. Taking an Uber or Lyft to our shop lets you relax to the fullest.
Your Guide
Our rafting tours are led by highly experienced raft guides with years of experience who have undergone Swiftwater Rescue Training. Asheville Adventure Company’s guides are familiar with and have spent extensive time navigating the rivers of North Carolina. Prior to your rafting adventure, your guide will provide an intro lesson to paddling and river navigation while sharing intriguing information about the area.
Group Size
For the optimum rafting adventure, groups are limited to a maximum of 18 participants age 8 and up. As noted, we provide PFDs that can accommodate between 50 lbs and 275 lbs. Please call us if you have any questions about kids taking the trip.
With FB9 as one of our most in-demand guided tours, we get a slew of questions. Here are some of the most common.
Refunds can be provided for your FB9 adventure with at least 48 hours of notice, or if the rafting trip is cancelled due to inclement weather. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your reservation so we may discuss options.
The FB9 stretch is well-suited for beginners, featuring a combination of calmer waters and stronger currents. Participants are provided with protective equipment, instruction on paddling and navigation, and an experienced guide at the helm. As long as you hang on, you should be good!
Safety is our top priority (with fun ranking a close second). The French Broad Section 9 trip is no exception. All participants are provided with safety equipment and given instructions on paddling and river navigation. Our guides are not only extensively experienced with rafting, but they are also trained in swiftwater rescue.
No food will be provided during the tour. We recommend eating prior to your arrival at our Outpost. Snacks and cold water will be provided when you return to the shuttle vehicle. If you need to have snacks on hand, our guides can store them in their dry bags.
The FB9 guided tour is rather laid-back and relaxed, but we do recommend participants be in good health and physically ready for the adventure. You will need to paddle throughout the trip particularly through the rapids.
The French Broad Section 9 rafting adventure is appropriate for most children 8 and up, we provide PFDs that can accommodate anyone between 50-275 lbs. Our tours are family-friendly.
The rule of thumb for rafting adventures is to bring only what you absolutely need. We Recommend leaving personal belongings locked in the car, we are happy to hold your car keys at or check in area. Taking your phone or camera on the river is at your own risk.
The entire adventure is four hours long, with about two hours of paddling. Your guide will provide ample opportunities to take breaks in ideal stretches of the river for stopping.
Section 9 of the French Broad River vacillates between class II and class III rapids, with a couple of class IV drops near the end of the stretch. This gives participants an exciting mix of stronger currents tempered by calmer waters. It’s a good stretch for beginners to get their feet wet (literally) with a rafting adventure.
The scenic beauty surrounding the FB9 stretch is in its greatest glory from May to October. That’s also when the water is warmest. Once autumn hits, the fall colors make for a spectacularly amazing backdrop. Just keep in mind that the water will be cooler if you plan on rafting in October.
Tours will be canceled if the weather creates unsafe conditions. Decisions to cancel trips are made as close to the tour date and time as possible, allowing participants to plan accordingly.
As a temperate rainforest, Asheville typically experiences a short burst of rain every day in the summer. In these cases, the trip will proceed as planned. If the schedule changes due to the weather, we will notify you by phone or text.
