Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 030 September 2013 | Page 24

Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina
French
Broad River
The French Broad River begins near
Rosman in Transylvania County. A great
way to experience it is via one of the
outfitters that offer full-day and halfday rafting excursions. One of the most
respected outfitters is the French Broad
Rafting Company, located in Marshall, for
information, call 800-570-RAFT or visit
www.frenchbroadrafting.com

F

ew waterways are more storied
than the French Broad River. It’s
the third-oldest river in the world,
only the Nile and New rivers are
believed to be older. Named by
English settlers because of its flow
toward French-occupied land, the
French Broad travels more than
200 miles northward from North
Carolina into Tennessee. That’s right,
northward! And it’s wider than
the average mountain river, with
low currents and gently sloping
topography, all of which combine
to create an ample flood plain.
As the river flows northwest of
Asheville through Pisgah National
Forest toward Marshall, its waters
become more intense, with steep
gorges, narrow channels, and
excitin