Price from:
95 USD
This is our premier full day, high adventure wilderness whitewater rafting experience!
Duration
5 Hours
About
- Distance: 13KM/8+miles
- Number of Rapids: 30+
**This is our premier full day, high adventure wilderness whitewater rafting experience.** This trip flows for more than nine breath-taking miles through the pristine wilderness of Pisgah National Forest. Abundant class three and four rapids await you on this unforgettable stretch of river. Your trip includes top of the line equipment, expert guides with years of experience and an all you can eat, deli-style lunch featuring delicious foods. (even pb&j taste awesome when you are on the river) We guarantee your journey down the French Broad will become one of the top ten trips of your life!
- To get an early start for this action-packed day, you will meet us at Barnard Park by 10:30 a.m. in the quaint town of Marshall, NC. Once you have been personally fitted with our top-of-the- line gear, you will receive a fun and educational safety talk from one of our expert guides.
- A plethora of rolling rapids await as you load your crew onto the raft and prepare for the ultimate adventure! The first few rapids you will encounter include the continuous, downward drops of Stairstep, the twisting and turning maneuvers throughout upper and lower Maze, and the exhilarating switchback of S-Curve.
- Following these jolting, introductory rapids, the raft will drift to overlook a cliff twenty feet tall known as jump rock. Make sure to snap a photo as your friends and family plunge into the river below. We continue our adventure battling countless class two and three rapids until we reach our immaculate, riverside picnic lunch spot overlooking the infamous Turtle Rock and Big Pillow rapid. As you munch on our delicious, premium-grade lunch watch other rafters and veteran kayakers run this technical, class four rapid.
- This hearty lunch will provide you the energy to continue down and conquer the long, boulder-clogged chute, culminating into a four-foot drop and large hole that is Big Pillow. Next, glide through Sandy Bottom rapid and eddy out to cool off with a swim in the fresh mountain water. Now coast pass the center island and ride some big waves and deep holes at the Ledges. Look off to the right and catch a glimpse of the historic Stackhouse, but remember to keep paddling!
- Pass by the bridge where Big Laurel flows into the French Broad and don’t miss the awe of jutting, slender boulders towering above you as you ride the rollercoaster towards Needle Rock rapids. Hold on tight and paddle hard for the upcoming rapid known as Needle Falls or Kayaker’s Ledge. This world-renowned class four rapid is a five-foot plummet down rushing, exhilarating whitewater.
- The grand finale of your whitewater experience consists of a series of big broken ledges funneling down to a giant, roaring hole. This extreme, class four, deep water rapid is known as Frank Bell’s. Venture straight down the middle or curve around the horseshoe for over a football fields worth of thrilling whitewater! Cruise on down some bumpy waters until you reach our take-out in the town of Hot Springs where a River and Earth Adventures van will be waiting to escort you back to your car. Exhale and be sure to take plenty of pictures because your friends will never believe your wild ride!
Booking Notes
FRENCH BROAD RAFTING TRIP MEETING IN MARSHALL, NC
Thank you for booking your rafting trip with River and Earth Adventures, Inc! You will be meeting at the Barnard Park River Access located in Marshall, NC. Please arrive by 10:30AM! You will need to bring clothing to wear on the river such as a quick-drying t-shirt, shorts/boardshorts, and shoes that will stay on your feet (Teva and Chaco sandals or basic water shoes are both great options.). You will also need sunscreen, a dry change of clothes for the end of the trip, a plastic bag for your wet clothes, and a towel. We sell water shoes, t-shirts, hats, sunglasses, and more at our central office located in Boone, NC. Please call ahead for availability.
Cell phone service can be spotty in the western NC mountains! You may not have service at times while driving to your destination – please plan accordingly.
We accept tips for our hardworking guides via cash or Venmo and over the phone. The industry standard for outdoor adventure guides and coordinators is similar to other service industries — 18-20% of your total trip cost is greatly appreciated by our staff who work hard to ensure you have an incredible experience with us!
BARNARD PARK RIVER ACCESS:
1995 Barnard Rd.
Marshall, NC 28753
DIRECTIONS FROM BOONE, NC:
Take US-221 S towards Banner Elk, NC
Turn right onto NC-194 S
Turn left onto Mullin Hill Rd.
Turn left onto US-19E S
Continue straight to stay on US-19E S
Merge onto I-26 E/US-19 S
Take exit 11 for NC-213 towards Mars Hill/Marshall
Turn left onto NC-213 W
Turn right onto US-25 N/US-70 W
Turn left onto Sharp Hollow Rd.
Turn left onto Barnard Rd.
Continue driving on Barnard Rd. until you see the river.
*Our staff will be located directly across the street from Barnard’s Station Post Office. We will be driving a 15-passenger River and Earth Adventures van. Check in with the guides who will get you outfitted with PFDs and store your keys and dry change of clothing for the duration of your trip.
MAPS LINK:
www.raftcavehike.com/locations
LINK TO WAIVER:
www.raftcavehike.com/wp-content/uploads/rea_release_form.pdf
*Print and bring your signed waiver with you on your trip or fill one out on site before your adventure begins.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 1-866-411-RAFT!
See you on the river!
CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE LINKS BELOW!
Like us on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/pages/River-and-Earth-Adventures-Inc/171869189528549
Follow us on Instagram at @riverandearthadventures!
*Use the hashtag #AppalachianEpic to tag your adventure with us!
Check out some amazing footage from our trips on YouTube!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=shfQxceWCVc
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Vouchers can be redeemed starting June 1 through September 30. Reservations are required and subject to availability. Vouchers are limited to one trip per voucher, per guest, based on availability. A 14-day cancellation policy applies. Any trips cancelled within the two-week window will not be refunded. A trip credit can be applied to a future trip during the same year if you notify River and Earth Adventures, Inc. of your cancellation more than 48 hours in advance of your trip’s scheduled departure time. All guests must sign a waiver on the day of the trip before any activities begin. Guests arriving more than 30 minutes late to their scheduled meet time may be asked to reschedule their adventure for a different date. Please plan accordingly to ensure that you will arrive at the meeting location mentioned above at the correct time. This deal cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts and must be used in one visit. For trips on the French Broad River, guests must weigh less than 400 pounds. Due to circumstances out of our control, at times the river stream flows are too low to make it all 9 miles of the trip and we may need to take out at the 5-mile marker. This will not affect how much time we spend on the river. In the event this is the case, we still spend the same amount of time on the water, but we get to soak up the cliff jumping, surfing and swimming. For any other questions or concerns, call River and Earth Adventures at 1-866-411-7238.
