Family Whitewater Rafting

It's mid September and as you paddle your raft down the French Broad River, just north of Asheville NC, you can see fall colors starting to seep through the leaves along the river banks. The weather and the water are still warm, the summer crowds are gone, and the glory and majesty of the mountains are on full display.
Just 20 minutes from Asheville, Blue Heron Whitewater is the closest outfitter to Asheville for this whitewater stretch of the French Broad River. The French Broad River is one of NC rafting's hidden treasures. Warmer water, fewer crowds, and gorgeous, isolated scenery make rafting on the French Broad River with Blue Heron Whitewater a great adventure for the whole family. The rapids are moderate (minimum age is 8), your guides are fantastic and experienced, and this ancient river is full of fun and the unexpected.
Join us as we go rafting with North Carolina's fall colors. Thrill to the class 2 and 3 rapids (class 4 if you go on a full day trip). Between rapids, sit back and take in the timeless splendor of the mountains as they make the miraculous transformation from summer green to autumn orange. It's a great time to go rafting.
For more information log on to our website at www.BlueHeronWhitewater.com or give us a call at 888-426-7238 (h2o-raft). We will be running trips through October and into early November. Actually, if you want to go rafting in December, January, or February, we'll go with you.

It's not really an "end of season" party because we still have a good 6-8 weeks of great rafting on the French Broad River ahead of us. It's more a moment of reflection and thanks for all the great friends and memorable guests that made 2009, our second season as Blue Heron Whitewater, a great success. So we raise a toast of thanks to you all, friends, patient families, competitors who were so generous with their time, gear, and advice, new guides, old guides, very old guides, and of course, our guests, who make everything we are trying to do possible. We appreciate you all.

Wow! Can you believe summer is gone. How did that happen? Must be true though, a sure indicator is the appearance of the fall flowers. Cardinal flowers are in bloom. The tobacco flowers have been cut and the leaves are being hung to dry. The great thing is, early fall rafting on North Carolina's French Broad River is a fantastic time to do some mountain and river exploring. The weather is still warm and trips are small and personal. And with fewer people on the river the chances of seeing some wildlife are improved. Whether you're spotting our namesake, the great blue heron, or a black bear foraging for acorns before the winter, there is much to see on the French Broad River.
Conditions now are just about perfect. Cool mornings with the sun warming things up by the time we get to the river. Small trips with wonderful guests. Warm water and clear, Carolina blue skies.
Join us at our new outpost and help us give thanks for a great summer by joining us on the river this fall. There have been some absolutely gorgeous days lately. It is a great time to go rafting in NC on the beautiful, fun, and family friendly French Broad River.
For more information see our web site at www.BlueHeronWhitewater.com or give us a call at 888-426-7238 (h2o-raft).

White water rafting on North Carolina's French Broad River with Blue Heron Whitewater is sure to bring out the kid in anybody. Buckle up your pfd (personal floatation device), strap on your helmet and push off shore for some adventure on the river. Leave your every day life on shore and enjoy the beauty and exhilaration of river-time. Float through the forrest under a Carolina sky. Laugh your way through the fun rapids of the French Broad River. Add a new layer of connection with friends or family. Join us for a classic river trip of adventure, fun and memories. Only 20 minutes from Asheville, but a world away. Blue Heron Whitewater on the French Broad River.
www.BlueHeronWhitewater.com
888-426-7238 (H2O-Raft)

There is no better way to cool off a hot summer day than hitting the waves of a class III rapid on North Carolina's famous French Broad River. Blue Heron Whitewater is running morning river trips, afternoon river trips, and all day river trips on this free-flowing, beautiful old river.
Conveniently located right on highway 25/70 bypass near Marshall NC, Blue Heron Whitewater is the closest outfitter to the city of Asheville NC, and has a variety of boats to make sure we can squeeze the most fun out of your day on the French Broad River.
Only twenty minutes from downtown Asheville, a rafting trip on North Carolina's French Broad River is a great way to spend part of your day floating down an ancient river through the oldest mountain chain in the world. I you have a full plate of activities planned, a morning or afternoon trip can fit nicely into your schedule. If you have the time, a full day trip lets you fully immerse yourself into the flow and lore of these wise old mountains.
So please join us for a North Carolina rafting classic. Family-friendly moderate rapids, swim-friendly water temperatures, and fun-friendly experienced guides will make your time with us on the French Broad River memorable and possibly addictive. Give us a call at 888-426-7238 (H2O-Raft) or check out our website at www.BlueHeronWhitewater.com.

Asheville North Carolina's French Broad River is a great NC rafting river for groups of just about any type. Corporate, church, school, scout, and family. All these group types and more can benefit from a NC rafting trip on the French Broad River. Only 20 minutes from Asheville, NC, Blue Heron Whitewater is the closest outfitter for this stretch of the French Broad River. You can spend a half day on river, or a full day and still be back in Asheville for other activities.
Rafting with Blue Heron Whitewater is an amazing way to get out into these ancient mountains of western North Carolina, and has the added benefit, for groups, of providing a natural format for team building, cooperation, and just plain fun.
Rafting through North Carolina's majestic Blue Ridge Mountains is a tradition for many families. Many folks tell us that they are bringing their families rafting because they have such positive memories of their own childhood rafting trips in North Carolina. Many even incorporate a rafting trip into wedding and family reunion plans. A family rafting trip on the French Broad River can be a long-lasting and even a profound bonding experience for families. The minimum age for Blue Heron Whitewater's standard whitewater trip is 8 years. If you have children as young as 4, or you just want river float trip,  that kind of trip is an option for you as well.
Among the traits that make the French Broad River ideal for groups is the moderate nature of its rapids. Not too scary for the inexperienced, but plenty of action for those who have been rafting before. Another group-friendly trait for a group rafting trip on the French Broad River is the variety of boats you have to choose from. The variety of boat types means that a group that has different experience levels can still go down the river together as a team. If some members of your group have more rafting experience an inflatable kayak or a self-guided raft might be an option. If everyone in your group wants to stay together in guided rafts that is up to you. A raft with a guide is always one of your options. (The French Broad River is a free-flowing river so water levels can affect the boat choices available.)
So if you are looking for a group activity that is fun, unique, and educational consider a group rafting trip down the French Broad River. We are proud to say that we have 20+ years of experience with group rafting trips and can accommadate groups of just about any size. From two to two hundred (or more), a group rafting trip down the French Broad River will be a fun and memorable time for all.
For more information please give us a call at 888-426-7238 (H20-Raft), and check out our web site at www.BlueHeronWhitewater.com.

High on the hillsides along the French Broad River the Mountain Laurel is blooming. Highlights of pinkish white nestled in the rocks surrounded by the verdant green of what has been a luscious May. Look up between rapids while rafting one of North Carolinas great rivers and you might be lucky enough to spot the blazing orange of a flame azalea. Closer to the edge of the French Broad River you can find fire pinks, fringe trees, trillium, pink lady slippers, and the hard to spot, green violet.
The rapids and the river environment of North Carolina's  French Broad River are beautiful and fascinating with the added bonus of a diverse plant ecosystem  that thrives along the river and is visible on the hillsides of the river valley. Another example of what makes N.C. rafting some of the best in the world. The combination of the scenic beauty of the souther Appalachian Mountains and the fun and excitement of French Broad River's moderate rapids make a trip down the river with Blue Heron Whitewater a memorable and fulfilling experience. Get more info about the French Broad River and Blue Heron Whitewater at our website, www.blueheronwhitewater.com or call and talk to us at 888-426-7238 (H2O-Raft)

Being a white water rafting guide on the French Broad River, near Asheville, NC has some pretty nice perks when it comes to family vacations. You see, my family, parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews often visit me, knowing we’ll get to spend a fun day rafting together on a beautiful river. Blue Heron Whitewater on the French Broad River provides the closest, family-friendly, whitewater rafting trips to Asheville, NC. It’s wonderful to live in such a place, with so many cool things to do, that family wants to visit! Check out our website www.blueheronwhitewater.com or call 888-426-7238 (H2O-Raft).

North Carolina rafting is some of the nations best. Western North Carolina is home to a variety of whitewater opportunities. From experts-only steep creeks to mellow, meandering water ways. Smack dab in the middle of this range of river trips is the French Broad River. Born in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Smoky Mountain National Park, the French Broad River flows north and west toward the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. The stretch of river just outside Asheville, NC and near Marshall and Hot Springs, NC has a wonderful stretch of moderate white water. This North Carolina rafting river is a free-flowing river. Never a worry about the water being shut off by power companies and dam operators. Thats how we like it here at Blue Heron Whitewater. The free flowing aspect means the river is never the same twice. One day the water is up and we take bigger rafts, then the water drops a bit and we get to try out inflatable kayaks (aka: ducks). We also appreciate the historic and natural aspects of this river trip. There are no roads along this stretch of the river giving river runners on this North Carolina river the feel of a true wilderness river experience. Blue Heron Whitewater is now running both half-day and full-day rafting trips on the French Broad River here in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. This is the perfect river trip for families, couples, youth groups, corporate groups, and just about anyone who loves to get out in nature for a unique view of the world we live on. The moderate nature of the rapids combined with the variety of boat choices we have available means that the French Broad River and Blue Heron Whitewater can satisfy the whitewater desires of both the beginner and those with more experience. So if you live in North Carolina, or you plan to visit come rafting with Blue Heron Whitewater on a great North Carolina river. You can reserve online at www.BlueHeronWhitewater or call us at 888-H2O-RAFT (866-246-7238).

It is time. Time to shake off winter and get outside. Get out on the French Broad River and enjoy the rapids and views of the mountains. If you are in the Asheville NC area head to the white water of the French Broad River. Only 20 minutes from Asheville, Blue Heron Whitewater is the closest rafting outfitter running half-day and full-day rafting trips on the mighty French Broad. The French Broad River is wide and warm with moderate rapids that are fun and sure to make you smile. Between rapids the spectacular spring scenery will have you in awe of the natural beauty of the hills and mountains of Western North Carolina. As you float down this ancient river your guide will regale you with stories of the natural and human history of the area. Until, that is, the next rapid. Then it's time for your group or family to focus, work together and navigate the rapid. That's how it is rafting on this river. Fun and excitement one minute, then the sudden realization that you are floating on a river through the oldest mountain range on the planet. Rafting North Carolina's French Broad River. Come join us.
Check out our website at www.BlueHeronWhitewater.com or give us a call at 888-426-7238(H2O-Raft).

Now that the Sarvis berry blooms have come and gone, it is time for the Dogwood to strut it's stuff. The best possible way to view North Carolina's state flower is, of course, to go on a white water rafting trip on the French Broad River with Blue Heron Whitewater. Heck, bring the entire family rafting. Rafting is great for groups and kids love messing around in boats. And at this time of year the dogwoods are putting on a spectacular show.
You might be asking, why is this tree called a dogwood? One idea is that it was once called a dagwood tree because the very hard wood of the stems made excellent daggers or skewers. (Nothing to do with sandwiches or cartoon characters). Another thought is that when two dogwood limbs rub against each other the sound is like that of a barking dog. Or maybe it's because dogs used to be washed with soap made from the tree's bark. And, did you know,  the fruit can be know as dog berries. And, last little fun-fact, a spring-time cold snap can be known as a dogwood winter.

There is also a Christian legend about the dogwood tree being changed by Jesus after the crucifixion. What was once a large and strong tree was changed into a small tree with twisted limbs so that it could never again be used to make crosses for crucifixions. The four white petals of the flower represent the four corners of the cross with the red indentations on the tips of the petals being the nail marks, the red stamens of the flower represent the crown of thorns, and the red fruit represent His blood.

Please join us for a wonderful and informative rafting trip down the French Broad River near Marshall, NC. Our outpost is only a 20 minute drive from Asheville, NC. We are the closest outfitter to Asheville that runs whitewater rafting trips this stretch of river. The rapids are fun and floating down the river is a great way to experience the spectacular spring foliage.

A common question asked of river guides is "what do you do when you aren't rafting on the French Broad River"?. Many guides go back to their real jobs as teachers  in Asheville, NC, some return to school, and some move out West for a winter to work in the ski industry. Back in the day we called ourselves migrant sports workers and at the end of the rafting season we would pack up all of our worldly possessions (which would conveniently fit into a small car) and head west to Colorado, trading a life revolving around flowing water for one revolving around frozen water. Jobs, once again, dependent on precipitation.  
One of the destinations these days is Mammoth Lakes California. Located in the Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Mountain gets lots of snow but has moderate temperatures. White water rafting guides who used upper body muscles all summer now have a chance to get those legs in shape.
Two of our guides, Jon and Dana worked and lived in Mammoth this past winter. Jon drove buses and was a dispatcher for the town transit system and Dana was a cross-country ski instructor and yoga teacher. Unfortunately for us Jon has decided to stay in California and explore the Sierras this summer, and Dana has decided to go back to school and study physical therapy. An interest prompted by a couple of skiing accidents perhaps? In any case they will be sorely missed. We wish them the best of luck of course and thank them again for their positive energy and hard work. Their invaluable help and input made our first season fun and successful. Fortunately, the family of whitewater rafting guides forms a tight circle and we are confident that we will be paddling with Jon and Dana again soon. Hopefully we will not be in need of Dana's skills as a physical therapist.

It's starting to look like spring here on the French Broad River and there have been more warm day than cold recently.
Spring means there's ducks on the French Broad River! I'm talking about both the smaller flying kind and, more pertinent to Blue Heron Whitewater, the inflatable kind that we can paddle.
Ducks are a really fun way to get out on the river near Asheville, NC and enjoy the arrival of spring. It's also great to get in a raft with a few friend or family members. Getting out on the river is the perfect way to shake off the winter blues.

Yes, Blue Heron Whitewater is still running whitewater rafting trips on the French Broad River. Just north of Asheville NC, the stretch of the French Broad River we run rafting trips on runs through some of the most scenic and beautiful parts of the southern Appalchian Mountains. The river level is moderately low so we can use both guided rafts and ducks (it's your choice), the water is still warm, and the fall colors are spectacular. It's a great time to get the family out and enjoy one of the most magnificent seasons in the mountains. Floating and paddling down the French Broad River is great way to enjoy the spectacle of the changing season. The rapids are moderate and fun and there is time between rapids to take in and appreciate the gorgeous scenery. Blue Heron Whitewater offers trips daily. Give us a call at 888-H2O-Raft (426-7238).

Every fall water is released into the Gauley River in West Virginia from the Summersville damn creating some of the best class IV and V whitewater rafting in the country. So on a beautiful fall day some staff and friends of Blue Heron Whitewater met for a great day of whitewater rafting. The air was clear, the leaves were changing color and the water was big. The other great thing about Gauley season is the fact that it's a gathering of whitewater boaters from across the country. Sort of a family reunion. Old friends from years and rivers past, competitors, new guides, all come together as a community to share their love of rivers and paddling and to honor one of the matriarchs of rivers, The Gauley.

Rafting on the French Broad River was a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon with all of my friends and co-workers from Wink Heads and Threads in Asheville, NC! The conditions were PERFECT and everyone had the best time! Our guides were Sandy and Eleanor, and Ciro took some wonderful photos of all of us. Blue Heron Whitewater is a great place for family and group rafting trips in North Carolina. Our group met in Asheville, NC and drove to the Blue Heron Whitewater meeting place only 15 minutes away! We had thorough gear-up and instruction time, loaded on the bus, and away we went to the French Broad River with our wonderful driver Ciro. Our group split between duckies and rafts, and people switched out while on the river to test out the duckie; a single person inflatable boat. Sandy and Eleanor were great instructors as well as story tellers as we ventured down the river. We had an awesome time on the river while running rapids, getting in splash fights, and jumping off "Jump Rock". All in all, Blue Heron Whitewater provided us with an unforgettable outdoor experience!

The beautiful and amazing thing about free flowing rivers is watching how they change. In the usual day-to-day the changes tend to be small. The most exciting times are seeing the extremes, really high or really low water. It is also really exciting when big changes happen fast; the river is 4oo cfs one day and 9ooo cfs the next day.
We at Blue Heron Whitewater have had plenty of experience with the low river level end of the scale this year. In the last week, courtesy of the rain associated with tropical storm Fay, we got to see the higher river level end of the scale. The rocks we had been intricately threading our rafts and ducks through for months disappeared and instead there were big waves and holes.
After a couples of days of high water, which were thoroughly enjoyed by all, the river came back down to more average levels, perfect for groups and families ready for a  rafting trip on the French Broad River.

Hey Folks!
We’re building a user friendly book-on-line reservation system, and getting our website up and running. The effort will be worth the wait.  In the meantime, here’s what we do at Blue Heron Whitewater!
 
Rafting trips on the French Broad River, near Asheville, NC
We provide all the stuff required for a fun trip for couples, family rafting, and group rafting:

• Capable, professional guides who delight in sharing their skills and knowledge,
• all the river related gear,
•  once you arrive at Blue Heron Whitewater meeting place, transportation to and from the river,
•  and if you choose a trip with lunch, a fresh deli-style lunch served riverside.

 
Half Day Trip
5 miles of delightful class II-III rapids
minimum age 8 years
$40 per person
 
Half Day Trip with Lunch
Same as above and add time for a delicious lunch served riverside
$48 per person
 
Full Day Trip
Take the Half Day Trip with Lunch, add three river miles and the classic class IV Frank Bell’s Rapid.
$62 per person
 
A bit about our philosophy
We love what we do!  And we have invested in a fleet of inflatable boats, rafts and single person kayaks (aka “ducks”) so you can choose the craft that suits you, and is appropriate for the changing water levels of the free flowing French Broad River.  Experience the mountains by way of the river, and see for yourself!
1-888-426-7238
 

So what do people who work guiding boats down the French Broad River for Blue Heron Whitewater do on their day off? Why, we go rafting, kayaking, canoeing, or ducking of course. On Saturday the crew of Blue Heron Whitewater took a day off the French Broad River and headed over to the Green River. Just east of Asheville, NC  the Green is home of the famous class V narrows. Not my cup of tea but fortunately just upstream of the narrows stretch of river there is a beautiful and fun stretch that is clear and narrow with a couple of attention getting class III+ rapids. And while the French Broad River is wide, free-flowing and ancient (predating the Smoky Mtns.), the Green is narrow and cool and damn controlled. Both rivers are great for family and group rafting trips. The fantastic variety of rivers available in the Asheville, NC area is one of the great things about rafting in North Carolina.
Our little adventure on the Green was great fun but we are excited to be back here on the French Broad River because after a summer of drought it has started to rain and the French Broad will be a different river tomorrow. Thank you tropical storm Faye.