Float or Paddle the French Broad River

While not a typical trail, did you know that the French Broad River is designated as a State Recreational Trail? Float or paddle down this “blueway” to view Conserving Carolina-conserved land as well as newly Conserving Carolina-facilitated recreational access!

Conserving Carolina acquired 1.7 acres in Horse Shoe at Highway 64 along the French Broad River in order to create a new public access point for paddlers and anglers. The land was generously donated by Patten Seed Company, producers of Super-Sod turfgrass. The company owns the adjacent Horseshoe Bend Farm, on which it donated a 360-acre conservation easement to Conserving Carolina in 2003. Conserving Carolina donated the new river access tract to Henderson County Parks & Recreation in 2015, which in coordination with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission constructed a boat ramp and parking area as part of the new Horse Shoe River Access Park. Previously, only two public access points 18 miles apart existed for boaters on the French Broad River in Henderson County. This new river access in Horse Shoe enables shorter and more manageable trips for river enthusiasts. It could also one day serve as a trailhead for the proposed Ecusta Rail Trail between Hendersonville and Brevard.

CHALLENGE: Paddle or Float the French Broad to/from the Horse Shoe River Access park

Primary Route: Variable: start or finish a river float or paddle at the Horse Shoe River Access Park
Float/Paddle Distance: 3.8 mi. Horse Shoe to Lazy Otter Outfitters; or 6.5 mi. Blantyre River Access to Horse Shoe. Both trips are one-way; shuttle required.
Elevation Gain: Negligible
Difficulty: Moderate

Trailhead:

Click here to enter your address and receive turn-by- turn directions to Horse Shoe River Access Park. GPS users may enter N35.3296, W-82.5740 in their units. Turn off of US 64 and drive downhill one hundred yards to the parking area, kiosk, and boat ramp/floating pier.

Paddle/Float Directions: Click here or GPS uses may enter N35.3444, W-82.5600 in their units. Put-in at the Horse Shoe River Access Park and float or paddle 3.8 mi. down the French Broad River to Lazy Otter Outfitters on the right side of the river, just prior to the bridge over Banner Farm Road. For nearly the entire duration of your trip along this stretch of the river, the land to your right, Horseshoe Bend Farm, is protected by a Conserving Carolina conservation easement. For a fee, Lazy River Outfitters offers tubing, canoe, and kayak rentals as well as shuttles to the Horse Shoe River Access Park.

For a longer river trip:

Click here for turn-by- turn directions or GPS uses may enter N35.2989, W-82.6217.

Put-in at the Blantyre Park river access. Float or paddle 6.5 mi. down the French Broad River and take out at the Horse Shoe River Access Park, on the right just after passing underneath the Highway 64 bridge.