Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
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. This tour combines an incredible stretch of exciting and continuous rapids with some of the most breathtaking scenery around.
Additional Info
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your trip time
CLOSED TOE SHOES ARE REQUIRED!
What To Expect
Scenic, remote and awash with breathtaking beauty, the French Broad Gorge, also known as Section 9 (FB9), rafting adventure takes you through 5 miles of intermediate-level, class II and class III rapids starting at Barnard River Park where the water enters Pisgah National Forest. Enjoy a laid back vibe with opportunities to stop for a jump off the raft or rocks for a refreshing dip in the river. Rafters will be on the water for 1.5-2 hours which will be filled with some of the best whitewater in all of Western North Carolina.
Options
French Broad Gorge Whitewater Rafting Trip
What‘s Included
Helmet, Life Jacket, and Paddle
Air-conditioned vehicle
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
338 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent ride!
Becky H,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was so much fun! If in doubt, GO! Our guide, Damien, was so patient and knowledgeable! We had the best time and the mountains views were spectacular!
Ride the rapids on Asheville
I8167YKcarolinad,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Anna was fantastic! She guided us down the river with ease and made the whole experience a blast. From the rapids to the scenery, everything was even more enjoyable thanks to her positive energy and great attitude. We had so much fun and would absolutely do it again. If you’re visiting Asheville, this is a must-do adventure! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fun!
Jennifer a,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The rafting trip was super fun! Highly recommend. This is our 2nd time using this company and both times were great!
You gotta go. So much fun!
KElumba,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a fantastic day. Our guide, who's name escapes me, was the Lead Rafting Guide. She was spectacular. Very patient, kind and fun!! Thank you for being so patient with me. And our bus driver, Helga, was the best! I can't tell you how much she helped me. And she was funny and plays great music 🎶. The rafting experience was so fun! So many rapids. Our guide expertly directed through all the big rocks. I wish I could have brought my camera but they warned me that it'll wind up at the bottom of the river. Thank you Asheville Adventure Co. I'd love to come back.
Awesome Adeventure
Melissa A,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The Adventure raft tour was incredible. It was adventurous and an exciting experience. However you definitely need to be in fairly good athletic shape to participate. There was a lot of rigorous paddling through the Rapids as well as sitting on the edge of a raft holding yourself in with one foot for a couple of hours doing the ride. We absolutely loved it and my son is 12 but in great athletic shape. I don't suggest this trip if you have smaller children that are not strong or if you don't feel adventurous. The staff was so friendly and amazing, when we did get stuck in a situation that required lots of Hands-On deck they all participated and everyone made it safe and fun. Starting with Anna on the bus playing upbeat music while we rode to the rafting site and then all of the tour guides were bubbly and engaging. E will definitely be back to do this again!
Really fun day! Anna...
Nancy A,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Really fun day! Anna made the 35 minute bus ride fun with her playlist. Greta was a great and knowledgeable leader. Serious enough to make us feel safe and fun enough to make it an exciting time on the river. There was a stuck raft in our tour but the guides used their expertise to get us going again. Would definitely recommend this trip.
A good trip for beginners and very easy.
Lisa W,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We had an hour wait after our scheduled trip time, with the excuse that traffic held up the van. We later found out that on the earlier trip, they had a raft stuck that took almost an hour to free. I guess really you don’t want to tell a group of people waiting to go down river that that has happened. Our guide, Sara was excellent. She made some grade moves with our raft and was very experienced and friendly. The trip was worth the price for river conditions.
Jason was great! We had 2 family members fall out of the raft (one twice!) and he quickly got them back in.
Wanderer27616694668,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gorgeous views! Jason was great
My first rafting experience .
EVgenia G,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing experience ! I would highly recommend it , it was so much fun and guide person was excellent.
Katie was an excellent...
Ian S,May 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Katie was an excellent captain/guide. My group had a great time on the French Broad river. Great experience
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Operated by Asheville Adventure Company