Book your Rafting Online! | |
  | Return to the French Broad River Main Page
Rapids Descriptions: French Broad:
Barnard Ledge: Class II
This is the first rapid, just fifty yeards downstream from the put in. It is a small ledge named after the town that the trip begins from with a nice splash at the bottom to get you a little wet right off the bat.
The School Yard: Class I
This is a 3/4 mile stretch of warm up to get you acquainted with your guide / raft mates or ducky and gives you the perfect chance to master all your paddle strokes before you need them downstream.
Beginners: Class II
After your warm up you come to Beginners where a boulder garden funnels most fo the water to the left side of the river and into some nice wave trains. At the bottom of the rapid there is an abrupt right hand turn over a shallow ledge that has been known to snag a raft or two.
The Maze: Class II+
This is the longest rapid on the river and earns its name from the many misleading routes available. Upon entering through a fun diagonal wave you have to work back to river right so as not to pin on the numerious rock shelves on river left. After crashing through some fun standing waves one must then avoid Prudential Rock--a large boulder with all the current running into it. After Prudential Rock, paddlers are presented with multiple choices at the Doors of the maze. Numerous slots and drops are available for you to work your way from right to river left in order to exit the rapid.
JR: Class II
Turtle Rock: Class II
This is a short but technical stretch that floats you post the infamous Turtle Rock.
Pillow Case / S-Turn: Cllass II+ / III
This rapid signals your approach to the big stuff on the French Broad. At both low and high flows, we usually run river left through S-Turn, which is our first Class III rapid. Paddlers must choose wisely as they pass Decision Rock, which determines how successful you be in the rest of S-Turn, which is named after the shape of the drop and the tight maneuvering involved in running it. At medium flows we typically run river right though Pillow Case. While not quite as technically demanding as S-Turn, Pillow Case is a Class II+ rapid that requires you to thread the needle between two large boulders before following a wave train out into a nice wet hit at the bottom.
Big Pillow: Class III
This is the most exciting rapid on the French Broad's upper section. As you enter over a 3.5 foot ledge start working hard right to avoid the Pillow, which is a large water-coverd boulder that the current wants to head you towards. If you hit Pillow, be ready for a big swim. If you successfully avoid Pillow, you still have to negotiate Bear Claw--a boat-swamping wave at higher flows, or a series of stickly ledges at lower flows.
Swimmer's Rapid: Class II
Sandy Bottom: Class II
Following a fun swim through the preceeding pool make sure you get back in your boat for this water coaster as you crash through some of the biggest and best waves on the river.
The Ledges: Class III
This is a long rapid consisting of four ledge drops. There are lots of routes to take but because of its length and the continuous nature of the ledges this should be considered a solid Class III rapid. The final drop is the largest at about 3 feet and makes a nice photo so be sure to smile.
Pit Stop / Tom's Tunnel / Pinball: Class II+ / III
This is another spot where we run different rapids depending on the water level. Pit Stop is the most common run at medium flows. this is a nice 3 foot Class II+ drop on the right side of the river as you duck under some rhododendron. Tom's tunnel is normally run at lower flows and is a narrow slot going around a sharp turn in front of the log jammed tunnel. Pinball is a Class III run through some large waves at higher flows while you dodge a number of hydraulics. Fun, fun, fun!
Rebar Rapid: Class II
This is a fun wave train on the left side of the river. The right side is choked with rebar--or the remnants of an old hydroelectric dam that crossed the river before it was washed away by the flood of 1916. Ah, I remember it well. Watch out for the rebar and also the sticky hole at the bottom that has been known to cause a few swims.
Upper Stackhouse: Class II+
This is a technical rapid consisting of a tight lead in to a steep and constricted 3 foot drop followed by your choice of exit. Left is open and easy but if you're up tot he challenge, you can try the short cut out the right side. Just stay off the rocks or you might be there for a while.
This concludes the five mile Half Day Trip. If you haven't had enough excitement yet, you can continue another three miles down the river to the town of Hot Springs for added thrills and beautiful scenery through the Pisgah National Forest.
Lower Stackhouse: Class II+
The more challenging brother to Upper Stackhouse, the lower offers you multiple routes through some small islands. No matter which route you pick, keep your game face on for there is probably a rock waiting downstream to snag your boat.
The Windy Flats: Class I / II
This is a 1.5 mile stretch through the widest section fo the river. While it doesn't offer much in terms of whitewater, it more than makes up for it in scenery as you enter into the Pisgah National Forest where you are surrounded by beautiful mountains covered in lush foliage.
Needle Rock / Kayaker's Ledge: Class II / III
This will be your first reward after working your way through the Windy Flats. If you choose to jump right back into the action you can run right of Mountain Island and into Kayaker's Ledge where you will encounter an abrupt 6 foot drop, which is usually run far left into an eddy. From here you can ferry over to river right (trying to stay out of the hydraulic at the bottom of the ledge you just ran) before being whipped around and down teh final drop. If you want another warm up before the grand finale you can run left of the island through some large standing waves and get a close up view of Needle Rock.
Frank Bell's: Class IV
And now for the big payoff! Frank Bell's is a solid Class IV rapid that is noticeably larger than anything else on the river. The typical line is right down the middle, but finding that line is difficult because of a blind entrance. But if you do find the middle, you crash into a fun wave train. Upon exiting the waves you have just a few seconds to wipe the water out of your eyes before you set up to clip a piece of Top Hole and slide down the smooth tongue into the deep pool at the bottom. Make sure you catch a piece of Top Hole though in order to keep you out of the much nastier Bottom Hole that has been the sight of quite a few dump trucks over the years.
Surprise Ledge: Class II
Just when you have let your guard down and are thinking about those dry clothes you get one last thrill as you drop over Surprise Ledge--just yards above the takeout. |
