The French Broad River Paddle Trail project was born out of the public’s desire to explore the entire French Broad River by boat.
Click here to get details and registration information on the French Broad Float Trip scheduled for June.
French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson was featured on WCQS, talking about our efforts to create the paddle trail. His two successful paddle trips down the river showed that such a trip could be done and increased the public demand to explore the river beyond existing access points. Listen to the WCQS story here.
The Western North Carolina Alliance’s French Broad River Paddle Trail will
- Establish a world class paddle trail on over 120 miles of the French Broad River
- Stretch from the headwaters in Rosman, North Carolina into Tennessee
- Add seven additional campsites, one every 12-15 miles, on land leased from private landowners and the state of North Carolina
- Be managed by a reservation system at the Western North Carolina Alliance
- Open for public use this summer (2012), so stay tuned!
Benefits
Economic
• A 2001 economic impact study of eastern North Carolina indicated the coastal plain water trail system produced a significant $103.9 million for the local economy.
• A destination paddler on a multi-day paddle trip will spend about $88/day in local communities on food, lodging (including camping & cabins), retail sales, and recreation services.
Improved River Stewardship
• Paddlers want unpolluted waterways.
• Paddle trails in other communities have increased the public’s desire to improve their river.
Visit www.savethefrenchbroad.comfor more information on how you help make this paddle trail a reality!
Informational Links:
Outfitters
Headwaters Outfitters, Rosman NC www.headwatersoutfitters.com
Asheville Outdoor Center, Asheville NC www.paddlewithus.com
Nantahala Outdoor Center, Hot Springs NC www.noc.com
Huck Finn Rafting Adventures, Hot Springs NC www.huckfinnrafting.com
Restaurants/ Bars
The Bywater, Asheville NC www.bywaterbar.com
12 Bones Smokehouse, Asheville NC www.12bones.com
Zuma Coffee, Marshall NC hwww.zumacoffeemarshall.com
Good Stuff, Marshall NC www.goodstuffgrocery.com
Iron Horse Station, Hot Springs NC www.theironhorsestation.com
The Bobarosa Saloon, Del Rio TN www.bobarosasaloon.com
Madison County Visitors Guide www.madisoncounty-nc.com/directory/id24_restaurants_m.htm
Campgrounds
Headwaters Outfitters Camping, Transylvania County NC www.headwatersoutfitters.com/canoe_camping.html
Asheville Outdoor Center Camping, Asheville NC www.paddlewithus.com/camping.html
French Broad River Campground, Asheville NC www.ncrivercamping.com
The Hot Springs Campground, Hot Springs NC www.nchotsprings.com
Outdoor Stores
Diamond Brand Outdoors, Fletcher & Arden NC www.diamondbrand.com/home/index
The Frugal Backpacker, Arden NC www.frugalbackpacker.com/webstore/
REI , Asheville NC www.rei.com
Black Dome, Asheville NC www.blackdome.com
Second Gear Consignment, Asheville NC www.secondgearwnc.com
Bluff Mountain Outfitters, Hot Springs NC www.bluffmountain.com
Paddling/ Adventure Websites
The Asheville Area Boating Beta Page www.boatingbeta.com
American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org
Appalachian Trail Conservancy www.appalachiantrail.org
Chamber of Commerce /County Tourism Websites
Brevard Chamber of Commerce, NC www.brevardncchamber.org
Transylvania County, NC www.visitwaterfalls.com
Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, NC www.hendersonvillechamber.org
Asheville Chamber of Commerce, NC www.ashevillechamber.org
Madison County, NC www.madisoncounty-nc.com
Cocke County, TN www.cockecounty.org