The 5 mile half day trip with lunch offers wide, open channels, beautiful mountain vistas and fun, splashy class II and III rapids - perfect family rafting fun! Also included is a delicious deli-style lunch served along the river! The 5 mile French Broad River trip is a great choice for families with kids looking for a first time whitewater rafting trip. 

Includes time to play at Jump Rock and Swimmers Rapid. There are many class 2 and 3 rapids, such as Pinball, S-Turn, Stack House, Sandy Bottom and Ledges! 

At average summer water levels, expect to spend 4+ hours with us, including outfitting, safety talk, shuttles and river trip. Please note: higher water trips in spring or after rain can be much faster.

1/2 day trip with lunch details:

• a guide in every raft -always.
• ages 8+. no experience required.
• cost: Sun-Fri: $49.95 per person. Saturdays: $52.95 per person.
• group discounts: 9-26 people: $4 per person discount: 27+ people: $6 per person discount.
• spring/fall 10% discount on all French Broad River rafting trips (before May 15 or after September 1st)!
• we offer this trip at 10:30 AM March through November.
• adventure packages for groups.

"Thank you so much for hosting the NC Division of Tourism’s United Kingdom Press and Tour Operator Group. Rafting was the HIGHLIGHT of the trip. Your guides were outstanding. They were skilled, knowledgeable and fun. Thanks again!" Wit Tuttell. Public Relations Director. North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

Please arrive 1/2 hour before your scheduled rafting trip time.

Please note: Trip times on free flowing rivers can vary. We have no control over water levels or trip times on the French Broad River, which is a free flowing river - not dam controlled. All trip times are approximate! Water levels can rise and fall very quickly on the French Broad River. We reserve the right to lengthen or shorten trip distances, or alter section of river we raft in the interest of customer satisfaction or safety.

Our French Broad rafting outpost is just 30 minutes from Asheville, NC, near the town of Hot Springs, NC. We're an easy drive from Black Mountain, Lake Lure, Brevard and Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Making your rafting reservation is as easy as dialing 1-866-USA-Raft. Our professional whitewater consultants are experts at arranging successful river vacations. USA Raft’s wide variety of rivers and river options enables our friendly consulting staff to create the exact vacation to match your wants and abilities. Call Today!

View availability and book online 24/7  1-866-USA-Raft

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Which rafting trip is right for your family or group?

Family Class Trip:

Perfect for younger children and first-time rafters. Family class trips provide a more moderate, low-risk introduction to rafting for the whole family. French Broad River 1/2 day trip, French Broad River 1/2 day trip with lunch, Watauga River Family Float Trip, and Lower Nolichucky Family Float Trip).

Adventure Class Trip:

Action packed and exhilarating, our Adventure trips pick up the pace. More challenging and/or longer than our Family class trips, these rafting adventures are ideal for older children, adventurous first-timers, and experienced rafters. (French Broad Day Trip and Nolichucky River Gorge full-day trip and 1/2 day Nolichucky River Gorge Express).

View a regional map of the area.