Join us for a day of paddling along Section 8 of the French Broad River on Thursday, May 10! This 6-mile trip will be a leisurely float through some of the river’s most majestic scenery, with the thrill of some class II rapids along the way.
This section is one of most ecologically significant aquatic areas in the basin beginning in the town of Marshall into Tennessee. Numerous fish species found in no other rivers in the area appear here, including the freshwater drum, banded sculpin and mooneye. Two rare aquatic species live in all three watersheds of the French Broad: the hellbender, a large, uncommon aquatic salamander; and the Appalachian elktoe, a freshwater mussel that is federally listed as endangered.
While the bigger rapids are found in the next Section 9, the section from Marshall to Barnard hosts a few exhilarating class II rapids that are great for beginners and experiences paddlers alike!
- When: Thursday, May 10, 10am-3pm
- Where: Begin near Redmon Dam just beyond Marshall, NC and end in Barnard
- Skill level: Some paddling experience required, but no need to be an expert
- Cost: $10 members; $15 non-members
- RSVP: Joy Irby at joy@wnca.org or 828-258-8737