Group River Rafting NC

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.

Last Saturday a group of 10 friends, who’d met at college some 15 years ago, reunited on a French Broad River rafting trip with Blue Heron Whitewater.  The guys came from all over the country, to base their reunion adventure out of Asheville, NC.  The French Broad River was prime!  Taking advantage of all the recent rain, the class IV Frank Bells Rapid delivered a big ride, for the grand finale of the trip. Good fun was had by all! There is talk of a return trip in 2010…
Give us a call at 888-426-7238 (H2O-RAFT) or check out our website at www.blueheronwhitewater.com.

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.

On Sunday 9-22-08 we of Blue Heron Whitewater had the great pleasure of paddling down the French Broad River with our good friends at Zuma Coffee in Marshall, NC. Marshall is a wonderful Western North Carolina town down on the river with a mix of traditional old hardware and general stores and a growing community of artist, musicians, and good restaurants. At the core is Zuma, an oasis of good coffee, good food, live music and wi-fi.
A whitewater rafting trip on the French Broad River is a great way for work, church, or school groups to get together in a different environment that is both fun and challenging. The wonderful thing about the French Broad River is that it is fun and exciting for all comfort levels. Whether you are a beginner or you have some whitewater experience under your belt, The French Broad River and Blue Heron Whitewater can meet your needs.

Before Blue Heron Whitewater had taken its first group rafting on the French Broad River we received many valuable gifts from many talented friends.  Julie Thorner, of WillowWorks, Inc. www.willowworks.bz  helped us get started with a marketing strategy, introduced us to The Blog, and wrote our first entry.  Monk shared his expertise and thoughtful approach to graphic design. He encouraged us to identify our strengths, and create promotional pieces that represent our values and help tell the Blue Heron story.  We thank them for giving our raft a shove off the bank and into the current! 

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!

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.

Blue Star Camps have been rafting on the French Broad River near Asheville, NC since the early 1990s. This year, they sought out Blue Heron Whitewater to take their campers, boys and girls ages 9-11, group river rafting. Their first trip was June 19 with 56 campers that day. Conditions were awesome, great weather and good water levels.



Blue Star Camps have a lot of experience with rafting outfitters and take hundred of campers rafting every year on North Carolina rivers, including the French Broad River near Asheville, NC. We are certainly no strangers to them!  They rafted with us for years when we ran the French Broad Outpost of the Nantahala Outdoor Center. When the camp director, Tom, realized that we had started our own company on the French Broad this season, he sought us out because he trusted our expertise, passion for rafting and kids, excellent service, years of experience (Fritz 18 years guiding, Sandy 30 years guiding, Ciro 26 years on the river. And they are all under 40!!) 

Small is Good!
Here's why we (Fritz, Sandy, and Ciro, founders of Blue Heron Whitewater) believe this:

1. We (Fritz, Sandy, and Ciro) and our good friends (all highly skilled river guides, with collectively decades of experience) can give you exceptional personal attention and service.
2. We always remember who you are and value your patronage, whenever you call, email, or arrive for your trip. Whether you bring one person or 200. (You'll hear more of this from one of our customers next week.)
3. We take the time to understand what YOUR goals are for your family trip, group trip, or friends trip, and will facilitate achievement of your goals.
4. We focus on you, your trip, and not the "next sale". 
5. We don't have a big "infrastructure" (we shudder at the word!) to support, instead they have a flexible, nimble, eco-preneurial business adventure.
6. We do what we do because we love it. Period. Isn't that refreshing?

Visit our photo album of Blue Heron Whitewater's rafting center under construction. (Yes - we are having great fun!)

Join us for family rafting, group rafting, and major Quality Time on the beautiful French Broad River this summer, only minutes northwest of Asheville, NC.  Blue Heron Whitewater is located in Marshall, NC.

You can email us at blueheronwhitewater@gmail.com, or call us at 1-888-H2O-RAFT (1-888-426-7238).

Or, while our online reservation system is under website development, you can request information or reserve trip space here on our blog using the comments field at the bottom of every entry! How nimble is that?