Float the Upper French Broad River with a guided tubing setup
1–2 hours
Tube, Lifejacket, Transport
Cool off on a family-friendly tubing run down the Upper French Broad River, with transportation and a riverside orientation handled for you. Your float takes about 1–2 hours, depending on river levels.
All participants must be able to swim and complete a release form; minors need a parent or legal guardian signature. Appropriate shoes are required (no flip flops). No alcohol or coolers are allowed on the river, and outside alcohol is not allowed on the property.
Full refund if you cancel 7+ days before your trip. 50% refund if you cancel 1–6 days before your trip. No refund for day-of cancellations or no-call, no-show. Full refund if Headwaters Outfitters cancels due to thunder/lightning, unsafe air/water temperatures, high winds, or high water levels.
Yes. Everyone must be able to swim while wearing a lifejacket.
Wear river attire and appropriate shoes (no flip flops). Plan for sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, eyeglass straps, and a change of dry clothes for after your tubing trip.
No. Alcohol and coolers (including cooler tubes) are not allowed on the river. Outside alcohol is not allowed on the property, and no open containers can leave the property.
Brevard, NC
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