Short answer: you don’t need to find a launch point yourself. Our self-guided kayaking trip runs from a put-in south of Asheville to our outpost in the River Arts District. Check in once. We handle everything after that.
Here’s why that matters. The French Broad doesn’t have a public boat ramp every mile. Access is limited. Long stretches cross private land. Show up at the wrong spot with a kayak on your roof and you’ve burned an afternoon before you touch water. Below is how our route actually works, and why it saves you the trouble.
Why You Can’t Just Pick Your Own Launch Point
Much of the French Broad runs alongside private property. Public access sits at a handful of fixed points, not wherever looks convenient. Our put-in is private land, so it’s off-limits to random public launches, and that’s exactly what keeps it clean and predictable. No fighting for space at a crowded public ramp. No muddy scramble down a bank that a hundred other people used that morning.
Asheville Adventure Company operates on this river under permit from the US Forest Service. That permit is why the shuttle runs on schedule and the access points stay consistent, trip after trip, all season.
Check-In Happens at One Spot
Every trip we run, rafting, tubing, kayaking, starts at the same address: 521 Amboy Rd, Asheville, NC 28806. Park there. Check in. Grab your gear. Sit through a short safety briefing before anyone touches the river.
That’s the only address you need to remember. No separate put-in to track down. No guesswork about river access.
The Route: South of Asheville to the River Arts District
After check-in, we shuttle your group to a put-in south of the city. That’s launch point number one, and the only one you need.
From there you paddle north on the French Broad, past the edge of the Biltmore Estate, with mountain views on both banks for most of the float. The current stays calm the whole way. First-timers handle it fine. So do people who’ve kayaked for years.
The trip ends where it started: back at our outpost in the River Arts District. No second car. No arranging a ride. No standing around waiting for someone to come get you. You paddle in, and you’re done.
What the Trip Looks Like
- Length: 3 to 4 hours, put-in to takeout
- Route: Self-guided float past the Biltmore Estate property
- Group size: Up to 15 people
- Age minimum: 12 years old
- Season: May through September
- Price: $61 per person
- Included: Kayak, paddle, personal flotation device, safety instruction before launch
This is self-guided, not a guided tour. You set your own pace. The water stays calm enough that you don’t need prior kayaking experience. You do need to be up for a few hours on the water, paddling on your own.
What to Bring
Keep it simple:
- Water. Bring more than you think you need. It’s a long float.
- Sunscreen
- A towel
- A snack, if you want one
Leave the dog at home. Animals aren’t allowed on our trips.
Book Your Spot
Skip the research on public ramps and access points. Check in at our outpost, let us run the shuttle, and spend your time on the water instead of untangling logistics.
Groups larger than 10 get a discount. Call (828) 417-7109 with questions, or book your Beautiful Self-Guided Kayaking by the Biltmore trip online.