You must do this ! This rafting trip has been on my bucket list for years and I was trying to find the perfect place and this surpassed my expectations. I am more of an adventure seeker than my friends but they agreed to go and I was thrilled that they both raved about the trip. Matt was our guide and he was great. All of the guides seemed to love their job. This trip was the perfect combo of excitement and relaxation and gorgeous scenery. read more

First time white water rafting and this was the right place to do it. All the employees were friendly and professional and the operation was very smooth. Big thanks to our guide Auggie for being a legend and making the whole experience very enjoyable! read more

This is the best place to go!!! Everyone is so nice. We had a great time. We did the whole day program, 5 miles water rafting and an afternoon ziplining. It was fun, they have a nice break for lunch. We had burger and hotdog:) read more

Had a great time canyoneering today. It was an exciting and fun adventure. Matt and lily were awesome guides. They kept us safe but also made it enjoyable. We also had the opportunity to jump into the water and slide down some rocks. So cold but so fun. Also ziplining with French broad adventure was incredible as well. Lily and hannah were great guides and matt was a great photographer. Would highly recommend French broad adventures read more

I participated in French Broad Adventures' white water rafting on the French Broad river and it was fun. I liked the scenery, it was nice and pleasant. The guides gave us some info on the danger of rafting and what to do to avoid drowning. One was to keep your feet tucked into the raft so you won't get to fall off the raft. I didn't always do that when rafting because it was distracting. I think seat belts are better. I nearly drowned in this rafting unfortunately. Our raft ran into a big rock and our guide was not able to steer it away from the rock as the current was too strong. The strong force of the impact knocked me off the raft into the water and the rushing water pushed me underneath the raft. I was stuck under the raft for like almost a minute. The water under the raft was crazy and wild! It was shallow and I could feel rocks behind my back. The guide finally moved the raft out to free me. My life vest helped floated me up to the top and it kept me floated. The life vest was a savior. As the guide pulled me out of the water into the raft I was very exhausted and tired and I thanked the guide for trying to steer the raft off of me. Wearing life vest is very important. But it is useless if you're under a raft! Raft had no seat belts but I'm not sure if seat belts would help when raft flips over. I think the seat belts is a must for this situation that happened to me. The guide said similar situation happened to another person before. I informed the company of this incident but I did not get their reply so it seems the company cares more about making money than people drowning. If you decide to go rafting take your risk. This was my second time rafting. My first one went well but it was a little more rough than this one. This one was a freak accident that I did not expect! Also, another warning, they said if you paid and did not show up for rafting you would lose the money. We almost missed it. I set my alarm clock incorrectly and I woke up at the time we expected to leave! We hurried and skipped breakfast and zoomed and arrived in time just 20 minutes before starting time. They advised us to arrive 30 minutes before start. We certainly almost lost $120. Like I said all they think about is money. read more

The water here was amazing. When Brooks and Dunn sing about the Appalachians and the time they had here as children could not have been more spot on. I emerged myself in a much simpler time, with simpler folk, and simpler dreams. All could not have been possible to the refreshing white water. Richard was also cool AF and needs a big raise. It's not easy being cheesy with all those jokes he do. read more

Staff is excellent, guides are fantastic! We river raft a lot, so if you are experienced this maybe a little slow for you. If you are new, have young children, or just like an easy trip the French Broad is for you. We enjoyed our guide, Jim; wonderful story teller and knowledgeable about the area. Rapids are more 1-2, water is warmer then some others. Scenic view is beautiful. Price is responsible too read more

We did the 1/2 day rafting and it was a great experience! The day was forecasted to have rain so they provide heavy duty rain jackets for us which made the ride so much comfortable. The guide explaining the activity was super nice and funny and our guide - Cory - was a super sweet lady and we really enjoyed our time with her. They are requesting everyone to use mask at the meeting point and at the bus that takes us to the river and back and during the rafting, we can be without masks while the guide keeps hers. They are also not mixing the groups, so one raft per party which was great. Thank you French Broad Adventures! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Richard as our guide. It was our first time white water rafting and he gave us a comfortable balance of being in control with a slight chance of uncertain rapids. All equaled a perfect harmony of fun and fear lol. Richard also was mindful to keep our raft close by our relatives' raft which made for lots of extra fun. We enjoyed our two stops along our 5 mile trek as well as the narrative throughout the trip. read more

Awesome fun! Jim and the French Broad team were incredible. I had a blast, will definitely be back again. The group had four rafts, and everyone had fun, newbies and seasoned rafters alike. Class 2 and 3 rapids, with stretches of easy river flows, a chance to swim, float, jump off rocks. Worth full price. I can't recommend it enough! read more

This was a fantastic whitewater rafting experience. We had two kids (8, and 10) and 4 adults. We did the 5 mile ride with Timmy as our guide. He was so knowledgeable and fun. One of the highlights of our vacation to Asheville! Great place and people. read more

Showed up with eight people and were split into two groups (perfect for us). Went rafting first... the water was a little slow, but they made it fun by taking us down the more challenging parts of the river. Our guide, Richard, was awesome. Lunch was great. Ziplining next. Bryan and Amber were fun and helpful. Sort of terrifying, in a good way. Fair warning: they all tell the same jokes. Ask them what you call a deer without eyes. read more

This was my first rafting trip so I'm not going to rate the rapids. We visited this place while on a trip to Asheville. We were with my 79 year old mother and two 11 year olds and 4 of us in the middle of that. We did a 2-3 level course. It was great fun but since I have nothing to compare the river with I'll talk about the guides. Jordan was our guide and he was fabulous. He clearly knew what he was doing and took his guiding very seriously. He was super nice, absolutely cared that we were having a good experience, was very attentive with my mother and the kids. He knew about the nature around us and the history of the terrain (oldest river in the world or was it in the US?) very interesting. The whole company clearly have their stuff together. They work well as a team and play off each other. The other bonus was that Jordan at least, was hysterical. He peppered out bus ride to the river and our rafting experience with jokes... true some were hokey, but he had us all in stitches. We will definitely go back again when we visit Asheville again. read more

We had a phenomenal time. We decided to do this for my fiance's birthday. This was our first ever white water rafting trip and it is definitely well worth the 9 hr drive. They are very big on safety which was great, but they also let you have some fun in the water as well. Calvin was our guide and was fabulous. Not only did he give us a history lesson about the area, but also just vibed with us. It was nice to have a conversation about whatever and for Calvin to still be able to give us commands and get right back to the conversation. He told us to come back again if we'd enjoyed ourselves and we can even request who our guide will be. Calvin also told us about other places on the east coast to go to that have higher class rapids. This guy definitely deserves a raise. He made us all feel safe and comfortable which helped us to enjoy ourselves that much more. Great guide and very personable. So if you're looking for a good time and a great guide, Calvin is your guy!!! read more

We had an amazing trip down the river with Calvin. He was knowledgeable and friendly and made our experience even better. It was a great introduction to white water rafting for our two teenagers! read more

This was my first experience White Water Rafting (I don't count the US National White Water Center since it is man made and a more controlled environment) and it was a lot of fun. The water was a lot higher and faster than normal (the cutoff for being able to go out is 14,000 cfs, the river was at 12,500 cfs when we started) which caused the trip to be more intense than expected. Two of our four rafts flipped due to the conditions, which caused us to cut the trip short. The rafts guides were incredible in making sure everyone was safe and accounted for. I would recommend taking this excursion, hopefully with the water at a more manageable level. Shout out to our guide Katie, who kept us right side up the whole trip! I will definitely be going back! read more

French Broad Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Marshall, North Carolina

We did the zipline course through the forest- 2 of us (parents) and 2 girls aged 16 & 20. Everyone loved it! Our guides were Dee and Matt, and they were super helpful, very patient, and made it an enjoyable experience for us. Great instructions. Course isn't nearly as difficult as we'd thought, but I can see where without the top notch instructions and equipment, it could be much more difficult. They have a good mix of short lines and longer, faster lines and start you out w/a very slow, short line so you get the hang of it first. Would highly recommend this company and zipline course- I can't see how anyone could do it any better! read more

My family and I went white water rafting with French Broad this past summer. Amazing experience. We were all beginners and our guide "Auggie?" (Not sure on the spelling) was awesome. We watched other outfits get stuck while our guides had us on the correct paths and having fun. Definitely recommend you check them out. And do the longer floats because it's well worth it!! read more

Had a fantastic time! Calvin was an awesome guide and ensured that we were safe while still maximizing the fun. The company did a great job a keeping people socially distance and enforcing masks during Covid. Would definitely recommend a trip here! read more

So much fun!! This company is super experienced, organized, and responsible. I've never been rafting before, and this is the perfect first experience. I never felt unsafe, but it was also really fun. Definitely not tame or boring (which can sometimes be three car for "beginner" experiences). My husband has been rafting before, and he didn't even necessarily notice that it is sort of suited for beginners. The guide is helpful but also makes sure that you learn how to do it yourself (he doesn't just do it all for you). This definitely made me want to go out and try even higher class rapids! read more

Tim is the quintessential tour guide - historical knowledge, understanding names of Rapids and even explained what "CFW" meant for those of us who don't raft for a living. Keep employing people like that and FBR will continue to be the only five-star white water rafting go-to place for the Asheville section of the river. We will be back for the zip lines! read more

Really fantastic place. Richard was an amazing guide and Marty did a nice job teaching as well. These guys clearly love what they do and are very good at it. I've been on several similar raft trip like this before -- but this was by far the best. read more

This place is just fantastic. We had Richard for our rafting and Mitch and Allison for our zip lining. Hilarious crew super knowledgable and professional - these guys def know their stuff and how to have a good time. My wife was a little scared and they took great care of her and she has a blast. Will def be back !! read more

Took the family on a great trip/adventure. The staff was helpful and our guide Chris was great. He was very knowledgeable and experienced. Chris was great with the kids and tapped into the strengths of the group to make it an exciting experience for all. We all got to jump off "Jump Rock" and got to swim down a section of the river. All an all this was a good time for all (ages 7-42) I definately recommend this adventure for you stay in North Carolina. read more

Updated: we returned this morning for zip lining after it was canceled due to weather on Monday and it was an even better experience than rafting! I HIGHLY recommend it and you should definitely request Peter and Dickie as your guides. They were awesome! read more

My boyfriend and I went whitewater rafting yesterday and it was a great experience from start to finish. Jim and Mat were both wonderful guides. Jim explained safety and what to expect. He's definitely a pro with so much knowledge of rafting. You can tell he loves what he does with how extremely positive he was all day. Mat was our guide in the raft. He was also very knowledge about rafting and the French broad river. He told stories about the river and explained all the details about what paths he's taking and why. It was my first time rafting and I loved every minute of it. The views are magical. A picture just can't do it justice. I highly recommend it! read more

My friend and I had reservations to zip line and white-water raft but had to cancel due to the fact that we live in South Florida and are victims of Hurricane Irma. Our reservations were for the day it hit and French Broad is still charging us the 6% cancellation fee. Unbelievable! Mary Brenner and Louise Wilson read more

Our 2nd adventure in the past 2 years with this company and it was a blast! Everyone there is friendly and extremely professional. We had a great trip on the river and our guide - Marti - was the best. If you are planning on white water rafting in the Asheville area book your trip with them. read more

We traveled from central PA to Asheville for Memorial Day weekend with two other friends of ours and booked a trip with French Broad Adventures for rafting. We are SO glad we did. They were friendly, organized, funny and safe. Jim was our guide and he was incredibly funny, personable, enthusiastic and made us feel comfortable at all times. We had someone with us who had a medical condition and he was sure to keep that person nearest to the dry box to be able to access his supplies. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with French Broad Adventures and if we ever come back to Asheville, we will go out with them again and request Jim! read more

My husband and I did the 5 mile trip and it was nice. It was a lot faster and calmer than we expected, but we had fun. We had a great time but I think we would choose the 9 mile next time. The trip seemed much shorter than we thought it would be. Would recommend for kids as well. Next time we go we'll bring our 8 and 10 year old with us. read more

This company knows what they are doing and gave me an amazing experience! I got to the office and it was an easy check in. Make sure to get there on time though! There was a family of 9 that held up our entire group but that wasn't the companies fault. The guides were great with going over safety and making sure we had a fun but safe trip. We took a bus to the location where we put in our rafts and then we were off on the river. We stopped at several stops along the way for swimming. The lunch provided was great. It was hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly, hummus, salsa, chips, and a very soft and delicious chocolate chip cookie. The drinks provided were water and lemonade. We started off with class 2 rapids then class 3 and ended on two class 4 rapids. Our guide Sydney was the best. She was super sweet and helpful and was a great team leader. While white water rafting you really got to work together so she was great at encouraging us and cheering us on. She was smart and fast to act when things would get bumpy. She was also helpful with answering any questions and giving us recommendations for hikes around the area. All in all a great trip! I would definitely recommend to everybody. read more

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What an awesome adventure! I booked the zip lining and white water rafting your and couldn't be happier! The trip started with a slow drive up slightly washed out country mountain roads to the zip line starting point. After a thorough explanation and demonstration, the group proceeded to zip line several times, before learning to rappel. The guides were funny and knowledgable and made sure everyone was comfortable and was having a good time. I am planning a night time zip lining tour here next. Great experience and great overall trip. Thanks French Broad River! read more

My husband and I chose French Broad Rafting and Ziplines out of all of the competitors in the area due to all of the great reviews on TripAdvisor and yelp. What an awesome decision we made to choose them! As rafting newbies, we opted for the five mile rafting tour which ran for slightly less than three hours. The tour took us on many class 1,2, and 3 rapids. There were people in our group who were experienced rafters and yet, they enjoyed the experience as much as we did. It was exhilarating. The guides were friendly and funny, yet very professional. They also gave the group interesting facts about Marshall and Madison County. When you go, please make sure you tip your guide. It seemed as though many people missed that important concept- they don't exactly advertise it. The facilities are clean with separate changing areas and bags for dirty clothes. Pictures of the trip are available, and though expensive, they're worth it. How many times in your life do you get such an opportunity?! If you choose white water rafting, go with French Broad Rafting and Ziplines. All of the staff are friendly, it's reasonably priced, and facilities are neat. Awesome! read more

Great experience with French Broad Rafting - the river was low and it was pretty calm (didn't stop me from falling out though), but TJ, our guide, made it so interesting and fun. You can tell that he loves what he does and the river, as he shared with us stories about the history of the area, tidbits about the flora and fauna, local 'gossip', and his favorite places to visit on the river. Highly recommend and I'll be coming back when the water is higher! read more

Nothing Can Compare!! This WhiteWater Rafting Adventure blew our mind. Words can't explain how much Fun we had!! The scenes were beautiful & we had such a good time, We still can't stop talking about it! Chance was our Guide & I must say he was THE MAN ! He was adventurous, knowledgeable, & funny !! The Bus ride was insane ( fun) & everyone who worked there was friendly & outgoing !! So no need to look anywhere else... This is the place to Go !!!!!!!!! read more

This was my first time rafting. They were professional, funny and made the trip fabulous! I took my 12 year old daughter and we gad an awesome time! I would highly recommend them. read more

First, I spoke with a very sweet and patient young lady to book our "zip and dip" specials, as well as calm water rafting trips for others in our group of 9. Unfortunately, there was a mix up and our trip was booked for a week later than I requested. Fortunately, they were able to accommodate us for our afternoon rafting, but our morning zip line adventure was a bust. This did allow us to explore the nearby town of Hot Springs instead of returning to our cabin, which was an hour away. Despite the scheduling difficulties, we had a great time on our 5 mile rafting trip. Dan was our guide for the roughly 3 hour trip down the French Broad River. He was tough in the beginning, but once we got in sync, everyone was able to relax and enjoy the scenery. He loves to tell jokes, so have some ready, too! We weren't the only ones with scheduling issues yesterday, so I suggest you double check (which I should have done too) your dates to be safe. read more

I enjoy whitewater rafting (not that I go so much) and was a little concerned after hearing the river was so low for so long. We ended up at French Broad as a referral from Gary at Smoky Mountain Trail Rides (check out his review). The whole experience from booking long distance to getting there and checking in was easy and everyone was friendly. Kaylor was our guide and explained that with the river being lower it is more about technique to have a good ride. He was good at keeping us in line and in sync! Kaylor was a great joke and story teller and really made the experience pleasurable. He jokes about the mistakes on the other boats and coached us though ours! On my next trip to the area, I just hope I am able to do a longer trip with French Broad Adventures! read more

My family and I were not sure which outfitter to use... but this was the best choice! A lot of us were first timers when it came to raft riding and the instructors were very understanding and were able to put our minds at ease. We had tons of fun! The instructors were kid friendly and were entertaining (especially Shawn!) 6/5 and would do again! read more

Such a fun time! Jim, our guide, was great! He was very knowledgeable and made sure we had a great experience. Cool experience for small or large groups. read more