Discover lush trails and hidden cascades with certified guides ensuring safety and local insights.
3–8 hrs
Up to 6 people
Guide, permits, optional transport
Join certified guides for a tailored hike to a waterfall or scenic mountain ridge in Pisgah National Forest. Learn about native flora, fauna and waterways while exploring at a pace suited to your group.
Trips accommodate up to 6 hikers and cover uneven terrain; moderate fitness required.
Full payment due at booking; walk-ins not guaranteed. Trips run rain or shine. If the company cancels for severe weather you receive a full refund. Cancel 7 or more days before departure for a full refund. Cancel 1–6 days prior for a 50% refund or full credit. No call/no show on the day of the trip receives no refund.
25 Parkway Road, Rosman, NC 28772
This family-owned outfitter has clearly mastered the art of making everyone feel at home on the French Broad River. The staff consistently earns praise for being friendly, professional, and genuinely passionate about what they do. Guides like Jeremy, Patrick, Gavin, Ty, and Bret get specific shoutouts for their patience and expertise, particularly with first-timers who've never touched a fly rod or sat in a kayak. Multiple reviewers mention feeling confident and comfortable even as complete beginners, which speaks volumes about the instruction quality. Beyond the guided trips, the self-guided kayak floats are a major draw. The three-hour paddle seems to be the sweet spot for a relaxed, scenic journey where you'll likely spot deer, osprey, herons, and kingfishers along the way. Equipment stays in excellent condition, and the logistics run smoothly from start to finish. The base has evolved into more than just a put-in point too, with a taproom, coffee truck, and food trucks making it easy to turn your river day into a full experience. Repeat visitors keep coming back, which tells you everything you need to know about consistency here.
My wife, and I, plus another couple, did the Hannah Ford Kayak trip on May 15, 2026 and had a terrific 3.5 hour trip. headwaters staff was terrific, we interacted with 4 different people and all were very friendly and helpful, Danielle was our main person and she was a delight. Friendly, knowledgable and interesting and caring. The river was at low flow, so, not ideal, but still was so enjoyable. We were on tandem kayaks and scraped in about 10 spots, but it wasn't a big deal, the riffles were very enjoyable. The trip is scenic and on a weekday in mid May, we had the river to ourselves. Saw kingfishers and other water birds, no herons or otters, but immensely enjoyable. The taproom is a good hang as well.
Neal Zimmermann
May 16, 2026
My wife, and I, plus another couple, did the Hannah Ford Kayak trip on May 15, 2026 and had a terrific 3.5 hour trip. headwaters staff was terrific, we interacted with 4 different people and all were very friendly and helpful, Danielle was our main person and she was a delight. Friendly, knowledgable and interesting and caring. The river was at low flow, so, not ideal, but still was so enjoyable. We were on tandem kayaks and scraped in about 10 spots, but it wasn't a big deal, the riffles were very enjoyable. The trip is scenic and on a weekday in mid May, we had the river to ourselves. Saw kingfishers and other water birds, no herons or otters, but immensely enjoyable. The taproom is a good hang as well.
Neal Zimmermann
May 16, 2026