The French Broad River is the best place to paddle board in Asheville. The stretch from Bent Creek to Hominy Creek is mostly flat, slow water that floats you past the Biltmore Estate. For a lake with a famous view, head southeast to Lake Lure, which reopened in May 2026 after Hurricane Helene; for an easy rental on calm water, try Lake Junaluska, west of town.
Asheville works for paddling because it has a big, gentle river running right through the city, with mountain lakes in every direction. The catch is that Hurricane Helene in September 2024 changed a lot. Riverside parks, launches and outfitters were damaged, and some are still being rebuilt. We’ve noted what was open at the time of writing, but check before you drive out.
Quick answer
- The classic Asheville paddle: the French Broad from Bent Creek River Park to Hominy Creek, past the Biltmore Estate.
- Most scenic: Lake Lure, under the cliffs of Chimney Rock. Launching a personal paddle board is free.
- Easiest rental: Lake Junaluska, where the outfitter rents boards by the hour in summer.
- A big lake for a full day: Lake James State Park, with free day use.
- Not a paddling lake: Lake Powhatan, in the Bent Creek area, doesn’t allow boats.
The best places to paddle board in Asheville
French Broad River: Bent Creek to Hominy Creek
Directions
Best for: confident beginners and up, on a calm summer day. River current, mostly flat.
This is Asheville’s best-known paddle. You put in at Bent Creek River Park (1592 Brevard Road), southwest of town, and float about 6 miles down to Hominy Creek River Park (104 Hominy Creek Road). Most of the trip is flat water through woods and farmland, past the Biltmore Estate. Allow at least two and a half hours, and longer if the river is low.
Where to launch: Bent Creek River Park has a boat access at the river. Buncombe County was rebuilding its Helene-damaged launches at Bent Creek, Glen Bridge and Hominy Creek in 2026 with flood-resilient, accessible ramps, so check the county parks page for the current status before you go. You’ll need a car at each end, or a friend to shuttle you.
What to avoid: Don’t paddle the river after heavy rain. It rises fast, carries debris, and the current gets strong. Watch for downed trees (strainers) along the banks, which are much more common since Helene.
Rentals and lessons: French Broad Outfitters (704 Riverside Drive), which used to rent boards and run shuttles for this stretch, said it was closed because of Helene flood damage at the time of writing. Check its website for updates.
Good to know: RiverLink, the local river nonprofit, says bacteria levels in the French Broad spike after rain and are usually fine between storms. Part of the river around Asheville has been listed as impaired for bacteria since 2022, so give it a day or two after a storm, and rinse off after you paddle.
French Broad River: Hominy Creek to the River Arts District
DirectionsBest for: paddlers who want city scenery. River current, mostly flat.
Below Hominy Creek, the French Broad runs north past Carrier Park and the Amboy Road parks toward the River Arts District, where old industrial buildings are now studios, breweries and galleries. The French Broad River Greenway follows the bank, so you’ll see cyclists and walkers along the way.
Where to launch: The Hominy Creek River Access is at Hominy Creek River Park. The City of Asheville reopened the Craven Street Bridge Boating Access Area in May 2025, which makes a take-out at the River Arts District end. Other riverfront parks, including French Broad River Park and the Pearson Bridge River Access, were still closed after Helene when the city last updated its list. Follow posted signs and detours.
What to avoid: Stay clear of bridge piers and anything snagged on them. Get out above any section you can’t see clearly, especially after high water has moved debris around.
Good to know: The city is redesigning about 5 miles of riverfront parks to be more flood-resilient, and plans include a new paddler beach. Downstream in Woodfin, Taylor’s Wave, an engineered whitewater feature, was due to open in fall 2026. That’s for whitewater paddlers and surfers, not flat-water boards.
Lake Lure
Directions
Best for: scenery, calm mornings, a day trip. Flat water.
Lake Lure is a small mountain lake with under 27 miles of shoreline, set below Chimney Rock in Rutherford County. Helene buried it in sand, silt and debris washed down the Rocky Broad River. The town lowered the lake by up to 20 feet so the US Army Corps of Engineers could remove around 1.1 million tons of sediment, then refilled it. It reopened to boaters on May 16, 2026, after 20 months closed.
Where to launch: The town’s non-motorized launch is at Pool Creek Picnic Park (2662 Memorial Highway), beside Lake Lure Beach. There’s no permit or launch fee for a personal paddle board in 2026, and courtesy docks let you tie up for up to two and a half hours. A second paddler launch is being designed at Morse Park.
What to avoid: Swimming isn’t allowed from town property, including Pool Creek Picnic Park and Washburn Marina Bay. On summer weekends, stay near the shore and out of the main boat traffic.
Rentals and lessons: Lake Lure Tours (2930 Memorial Highway) has rented paddle boards and kayaks, but its marina base was still being rebuilt in summer 2026. Call ahead to check before you count on a rental.
Good to know: Lake Lure Beach charges admission ($12 for adults at the time of writing) and keeps limited summer hours. You can check the lake level on NOAA’s gauge (LRDN7) before you go.
Lake Junaluska
Directions
Best for: beginners, families, a short paddle with a rental. Flat water.
Lake Junaluska is a 200-acre lake near Waynesville, west of Asheville, surrounded by homes and the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. It’s small and sheltered, with mountains all around, which makes it one of the easiest paddles in the area.
Where to launch: Rentals go out from the beachfront next to the Lake Junaluska pool.
Rentals and lessons: Lake Junaluska Outfitters (77 Memory Lane) rents paddle boards, kayaks and canoes daily in summer, weather permitting. In 2026, the season ran from late May to Labor Day, at $10 per hour off-peak and $15 per hour from 1 to 5 p.m. You can reserve online or at the window.
Good to know: The lake is run by the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. If you want to launch your own board, check its rules with the outfitter first.
Lake James State Park
Directions
Best for: a full day on a big lake, paddle-in camping. Flat water, with wind and boat wakes.
Lake James is a 6,510-acre lake east of Asheville, near Nebo. The state park along its shore has two main areas, Paddy’s Creek and Catawba River, plus several boat ramps and paddle-in campsites.
Where to launch: Paddy’s Creek Access (2229 Lake James State Park Road, Nebo) has a sandy shoreline and a swimming beach. Day use is free. Hours vary by season, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in winter to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer.
What to avoid: This is a big, open lake with motorboats. Stay in the coves near the access, and head in if the wind builds.
Rentals and lessons: The park’s boat rentals were listed as unavailable at the time of writing, so bring your own board.
Good to know: Dogs are allowed on a leash of 6 feet or less, but not on the swim beach. The swim beach was also listed as closed at the time of writing.
When to go
Asheville’s paddling season runs from late spring to early fall. Outfitters on the French Broad have historically run trips from April to October.
- Summer (June–August): the warmest water and the most people. Paddle in the morning: summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms in the mountains.
- Spring and fall: fewer crowds and beautiful leaves in October, but cold water. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to suggest what to wear.
- River levels: after heavy rain, the French Broad rises, turns muddy and carries debris. Wait for it to drop before paddling.
Planning a river float? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long a stretch will take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Asheville
North Carolina treats a paddle board as a recreational vessel. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission:
- Life jacket: carry a Coast Guard–approved life jacket of the right size for each person on board. Children under 13 must wear one while underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- After dark: carry a white light, such as a flashlight, to show other boats where you are.
Local rules and habits:
- Use a quick-release leash on the river, not a standard ankle leash. A leash that snags on a branch can hold you under. On lakes, a regular ankle leash is fine.
- Check status before you go. After Helene, river parks and launches in Asheville and Buncombe County have reopened in stages, and some are still closed.
- Wait after rain. Bacteria and debris both spike on the French Broad after storms.
- No boats on Lake Powhatan. The Forest Service lake in the Bent Creek area doesn’t allow boats, paddle boards included.
FAQ
Can beginners paddle board on the French Broad River?
Yes, on the flat stretches around Asheville, if the river is at a normal level. Pick a calm day, wear a life jacket and a quick-release leash, and avoid the river after heavy rain. If you’ve never stood on a board, start on Lake Junaluska.
Is the French Broad open after Hurricane Helene?
Much of it is open for paddling again, but not every park and launch. The Craven Street Bridge Boating Access Area reopened in May 2025, and the county was rebuilding its Bent Creek and Hominy Creek launches in 2026. Check the City of Asheville and Buncombe County parks pages before you go.
Do I need a permit to paddle board on Lake Lure?
No. Personal non-motorized boats, including paddle boards, need no permit and pay no lake use fee in 2026. Launch from Pool Creek Picnic Park.
Where can I rent a paddle board near Asheville?
Lake Junaluska Outfitters rents boards in summer. On the French Broad, French Broad Outfitters said it was closed after flood damage at the time of writing, and Lake Lure’s rental marina was still being rebuilt in summer 2026, so call ahead.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are allowed at Lake James State Park on a short leash, though not on the swim beach. Read how to paddle board with a dog first, and start on a lake rather than the river. Not sure which board to bring? Our Board Fitter suggests a size for your weight and the water you’ll paddle. Planning a longer trip? See our guides to Chattanooga, to the west, and Raleigh, to the east.
