French Broad Adventures
French Broad Adventures
French Broad Adventures
5
River Rafting & TubingCanyoning & Rappelling ToursZipline & Aerial Adventure ParksBike Tours
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
WHERE ASHEVILLE COMES TO PLAY SINCE 1981 Whitewater rafting, ziplines, e-mountain biking, and canyoneering expeditions are just 30 minutes from downtown Asheville. Experience Asheville’s natural wonders; the French Broad River & the majestic Pisgah National Forest. French Broad Adventures is only 24 Miles from Downtown Asheville, North Carolina. We are the closest Asheville zipline /canopy tour and rafting adventures to Asheville, Johnson City, TN and Greenville, SC. The French Broad River is the closest whitewater rafting to Asheville, NC. Whether it's the adventure and excitement of whitewater rafting, ziplining through the forest, canyoneering down waterfalls, or riding bikes in the National Forest, French Broad Adventures has the adventure for you, your family, or your group.
Marshall, North Carolina
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
2,754 reviews
Excellent
2,619
Very good
95
Average
23
Poor
9
Terrible
8
mchollan9
Tampa, Florida7 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Amazing experience!! Our group of 13 made a reservation for the 5 mile morning trip (included lunch) via their website. Booking was simple and easy--and they answered all of my questions regarding concerns with my 70 year old in-laws coming with us in the trip. The guides did a fantastic job reviewing the rules and safety guidelines, and the process of equipping everyone with vests, helmets and oars was seamless. Speaking of guides, our guide Will was beyond expectations. He made our trip down the river such a wonderful experience! He had our raft rowing like professionals and his trip included the history and fun tidbits of information about the area. Highly recommend this company and Will as your guide.
Written June 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review! We love hearing from our guests. Come adventure with us again soon.
Written July 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Frank&Barbara
1 contribution
Oct 2020
What a great time! My new spouse had never been whitewater rafting, and Shawn made her feel quite comfortable during our adventure. COVID rules limited boat to the two of us plus guide, but it was well worth the incremental cost. River was high and running fast because of recent rains, so that we finished the trip in half the expected time.
Written October 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kim f
Trophy Club, Tx323 contributions
Jun 2021
This was the highlight of our North Carolina vacation! It was absolutely pure fun and excitement from start to finish. Easy breezy check in and thorough review of rules and safety tips with helped relieve the anxiety of our 12-16 year olds. The bus ride from the office to the raft launch was a hoot with the main guide telling local jokes which put everyone at ease, plus the ride down the hill was a thrill a minute. Midway through the ride all 3 rafts pulled into a resting spot for snacks, water and lemonade provided by the company. Plus we stopped near a medium size cliff where anyone brave enough could jump off into the deep part of the river. The kids really enjoyed the section of the trip where they could get out of the raft and individually float through the rapids. Our guide Christian was the BEST!! He related well with the kids and put them at ease since we had a couple of first timers to white water rafting. Once the kids felt safe spinning in the raft through some of the rapids , he encouraged them to row more aggressively to spin several more times which they gladly did. We did a half day trip starting at 9 to avoid any afternoon thunderstorms which turned out to be the perfect time and the river wasn't as crowded. Load up with sunblock as there is no shade on while cruising down the river. I worn long sleeves. Follow the company guidelines on shoes, no loose articles or expensive jewelry or glasses. All that stuff will be lost for sure when the raft negotiates some of the fast rapids. We recommend this trip as a must do for any families vacationing in North Carolina.
Written July 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for coming on your adventures with us. We love hearing from our guests. Come adventure with us again soon.
Written July 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Elissa T
Memphis, TN112 contributions
Jun 2020
We booked a whitewater rafting excursion with French Broad Adventures for a party of 7 (3 adults, 4 teenaged boys...). We also booked a time for the boys to come back and zipline on a second day. Both experiences were great.
The company paid close attention to ensuring we were distanced and wearing masks at all appropriate times.
For the rafting, we were split into two rafts -- adults in one, teens in the other. That was great, because the boys got the thrilling ride they wanted, and the adults were able to have a smoother ride. Cal lead the boys' raft, and he gave them all the adrenaline rush they asked for! AJ was our guide, and he was awesome.
For the ziplining, the boys had a great time. I'd return to French Broad Adventures on a future trip.
The company paid close attention to ensuring we were distanced and wearing masks at all appropriate times.
For the rafting, we were split into two rafts -- adults in one, teens in the other. That was great, because the boys got the thrilling ride they wanted, and the adults were able to have a smoother ride. Cal lead the boys' raft, and he gave them all the adrenaline rush they asked for! AJ was our guide, and he was awesome.
For the ziplining, the boys had a great time. I'd return to French Broad Adventures on a future trip.
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly B
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Family
We had a group of 8 and did the half day rafting trip starting at 1:00 pm. The place was easy to find and had essentials stocked at their store just in case you forgot something! We really enjoyed our guides, Matt and Jim. They both kept our rafts entertained with funny jokes and stories. We stopped for a snack and had the chance to jump off of a rock into the river (about 15 feet). There was also a chance to swim for a short time if you chose to. We all got wet with the rapids splashing us but no one fell out. The rapids were fun enough for our teenagers but calm enough for the adults to enjoy the trip also. The only drawback I can think of is that we didn’t get any pictures from our trip. I would get a waterproof case for one cell phone per raft with a float attached next time I go. They do have a photographer at one of the bigger rapids but the pics are $25 each. Overall each and every employee we encountered was very friendly and helpful and I highly recommend French Broad Adventures. We will definitely return when we are in Asheville!
Written July 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for coming with us on your adventure! We appreciate the feedback!
Written July 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bojana Z
Charlotte, NC2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
Well organized, on time, safety on the adventurers was the main priority, every step of the activities was full filled as explained And expected. Amazing professional, caring and friendly staff. We loved Richards jokes at the white water rafting!
Korey and Allie Took us canyoneering, and made sure we enjoyed every single minute of it!
We'll definitely do the zip line on our next trip to Asheville!
I highly recommend this amazing crew!!
Korey and Allie Took us canyoneering, and made sure we enjoyed every single minute of it!
We'll definitely do the zip line on our next trip to Asheville!
I highly recommend this amazing crew!!
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NewAdventures
2 contributions
Aug 2020
What a great day on the French Broad River! It started at the outpost with a full explanation of the trip from Jim and our car keys safely locked up. Then down to grab our gear, meet our guides and hop on the bus. Little did we know we were lucky enough to get the best guide on the river - Marti. We enjoyed the “Class V bus ride to the Class III rapids”. Kudos to our bus driver. At the river’s edge, Jim again put us at ease with a full (and entertaining) quick guide to rafting and safety on the river. Once on the river Marti (with FBA for 14 years) gave us a great history of the river and each rapid as we approached. Our most favorite of all was when she skill fully maneuvered us through a tiny chute between two rocks... only to see the raft behind us not do it quite as gracefully as we had done... go Marti.
Even the squall did not dampen our enthusiasm for rafting and the trip was over sooner than we wished. Thanks to everyone at FBA we will be back!
Even the squall did not dampen our enthusiasm for rafting and the trip was over sooner than we wished. Thanks to everyone at FBA we will be back!
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim L
Beaune, France26 contributions
Jul 2020
Our second trip with FBA was just as great as the first. What is remarkable is that they made us feel very safe in this dangerous time. I even watched them sanitize all the equipment afterwards!!! Our guide was Kathryn, a very experienced and knowledgeable personality who kept us entertained and focused all day for a great rafting experience. This trip is perfect for first-timers and more experienced river rats as well.
Written July 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ace
New York City, NY31 contributions
May 2021
My wife and I did the canyoneering activity. We met the guides in Asheville’s River Arts District along with two other participants. We then drove drove separately an hour south to Brevard.
After hiking in one mile to the falls we did ground school, which was basically 10 minutes of training. Each guest rappelled down the waterfall. My wife and I went a second time too.
At this point we were satisfied with this waterfall and expected to go find another waterfall to rappel down. Except that was it. Only one waterfall to rappel down, except we didn’t know it at the time.
We went to a natural rock water slide and did that a couple times. The other couple had pre existing injuries and chose not to partake.
After that it was a 1/2 mile hike out and the trip was over.
Overall I’d say the guides were nice. But the overall experience left me wanting. I can’t imagine how frustrated I’d be if I was the other couple who paid $125/person to rappel once. I was very disappointed to rappel twice down the same waterfall and do the rock water slide twice. Just very overpriced for what you get.
After hiking in one mile to the falls we did ground school, which was basically 10 minutes of training. Each guest rappelled down the waterfall. My wife and I went a second time too.
At this point we were satisfied with this waterfall and expected to go find another waterfall to rappel down. Except that was it. Only one waterfall to rappel down, except we didn’t know it at the time.
We went to a natural rock water slide and did that a couple times. The other couple had pre existing injuries and chose not to partake.
After that it was a 1/2 mile hike out and the trip was over.
Overall I’d say the guides were nice. But the overall experience left me wanting. I can’t imagine how frustrated I’d be if I was the other couple who paid $125/person to rappel once. I was very disappointed to rappel twice down the same waterfall and do the rock water slide twice. Just very overpriced for what you get.
Written May 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the feedback. We have received and appreciate the feedback.
Written May 4, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Diane B
1 contribution
Jul 2020
Best time ever!! The people there are so nice and a great team to work with. Cory was amazing with our autistic daughter allowing her to have a fantastic time. We had 2 boats and Cory always positioned our raft to allow us to see the our other children coming thru a set of rapids. Highly recommend this business, the zip-lining was equally professional.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you need experience for canyoneering? What level of fitness requirements?
Written June 17, 2022
We did the long rafting trip and you don’t need any experience. They’re really good with beginners. Not sure about a minimum fitness level though. We had an older couple in our raft that did fine. Hope this helps
Written June 18, 2022
Are you thinking about going zip lining?
I can't edit my review, and I can only post one review every three months. So I just want to add that Sarah and I also went zip lining yesterday with French Broad Adventures, and I highly recommend it. Mars and Shu were our guides. They're fun, great teachers, and made sure everything we did was done safely. They have a few lines over 1000 feet, a couple spots to repel, and a gorgeous tree house at the end of a swinging bridge.
Written August 3, 2021
One additional point. I've been zip lining at a few places, and although this was a lot of fun, this is more a beginner and intermediate zip lining experience. So if you're looking for some lines that cross a ravine several hundred feet in the air, this isn't it. You'll get some long runs, I think 1200 feet is the longest, and they can go fast, but kids and not very/little/no experienced people were able to get through without an issue.
Mars and Shu are fun, great sense of humor, definitely climbers, and all around awesome people. We were happy with our experience and we'd go again.
Written August 3, 2021
How do I add a AAA 10% discount to my order? There is only an option for a promo code. We are only booking one White Water Trip for two adults.
Written August 6, 2019
What are the physical fitness level requirements for the Class I-III trip? Can Granny go? :)
Written August 3, 2016
I'm really sorry it took so long for me to respond to your question! I don't really look at the notifications on trip advisor that much, I wouldn't worry about the physical fitness requirements, either for zip lining or for rafting, there were people of all ages and all fitness levels who were comfortable all day
Written September 12, 2016
alenepinsky
Asheville, North Carolina
what are the weight restrictions for children?
how many people in each boat?
Written June 28, 2016
There are no weight restrictions for children. The minimum age is 8 for the Whitewater Trips and 4 years for the Calm Water Float trips.
The average number of guests per raft is 6.
Written June 30, 2016
First time visiting the area. Is there lodging and restaurants near the French Broad rafting?
Written June 16, 2015
We stayed at the Water's Edge Cabin, less than 10 minutes away. It was a great stay, too. We rented it through VRBO. We cooked in the cabin and only ate out once at Bojangles in Weaverville, about 30 minutes away.
Written June 28, 2015
Hi Savanna - i'm doing some last minute planning. How far is this from Asheville?
Did you see any hotels or cabins that wouldn't require renting a car?
Written May 25, 2015
We are 24 miles (30 minutes) from downtown Asheville. There are on hotels are cabins within walking distance of our outpost. Let us know if you have any further questions.
Written May 25, 2015
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