MADE BY MOUNTAINS STORY
french broad paddle trail
“The thing I love about rivers is that they will come back. Rivers will heal themselves if we do the right thing and don’t continue to add pollution. “
The French Broad River State Trail was established in 1987 on the French Broad River, one of the oldest in the world. The paddle trail begins at the confluence of its North and West Forks in Transylvania County, and travels through Henderson, Buncombe, and Madison counties, all the way into Cocke County, Tennessee. A vital partnership exists to protect and promote it for outdoor recreation.
Written by MountainTrue
The French Broad Paddle Trail
The French Broad Paddle Trail is a 140-mile recreational watercraft trail between Rosman, NC and Newport, TN. The French Broad River was designated a Tennessee State Scenic River in 1968, a North Carolina State Trail in 1987, and officially launched as the French Broad Paddle Trail by MountainTrue and RiverLink in 2012. MountainTrue is North Carolina State Parks’ Partner Organization for the French Broad River State Trail and leads watershed-wide Paddle Trail efforts through its French Broad Riverkeeper program based in Asheville.
on the trail
The French Broad Paddle Trail hosts over 40 public access points and 20 riverside campsites managed by federal, state, and local governments, non-profits, businesses, and volunteers. The Paddle Trail has its own website with information on access points, campsites, and other on-river amenities, details on existing blockages and other obstructions, recommended gear, suggested trips, outfitters and retailers, flow information, and water quality readings.
a partnership of stewards
A vital partnership of non-profit organizations, government agencies, local businesses, and individual volunteers exists to work together to monitor and enforce water quality and pollution regulations, encourage agricultural best practices, restore neighboring streams and floodplains, improve habitat for native fish, remove garbage from the river corridor, create passage through obstructions, and improve and expand public access, camping, signage, and information.
The Outdoor recreation economy
From swimming to fishing to kayaking, rafting, and camping, the French Broad Paddle Trail is a hub of outdoor recreation activity that supports many guides and outfitters along the way. The river has given rise to companies like Headwaters Outfitters, Lazy Otter Outfitters, French Broad Outfitters, Zen Tubing, French Broad Adventures, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Blue Heron Whitewater, and many more. These businesses play a vital role in keeping the river and the surrounding communities healthy and help maintain a thriving outdoor recreation economy.
Helene impacts
On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented amounts of rain to Western North Carolina, causing devastating flooding along the French Broad River and throughout the southern Appalachian Mountains. The aftermath of the flood left several local waterways, including the French Broad, choked with tons of unsightly garbage and debris. By early 2025, contractors hired by county governments and the Army Corps of Engineers have begun their efforts to remove large debris that threaten public infrastructure. When paired with MountainTrue’s post-Helene volunteer and staff-based efforts, which to date total more than 40 clean-ups, 600 volunteers, and 150,000 pounds of garbage, the recovery is already beginning to take shape.
These efforts are only the beginning. More funding, resources, and volunteer hours are needed to tackle the monumental task of cleaning up the French Broad, and other river corridors, for the sake of restoring ecological integrity and recreational sustainability.
How to support
Whether you’re a long-time local, a first-time visitor, or somewhere in-between, your presence, interest, and support for a healthy and accessible French Broad River is most welcome. Visit MountainTrue’s website and the French Broad Paddle Trail’s website to learn about opportunities to celebrate the river, advocate on its behalf, and volunteer for stewardship endeavors.
If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to Jack Henderson, MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, at jack[at]mountaintrue[dot]org.
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