THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Drift down the French Broad River or cast your line in pristine trout streams with Headwaters Outfitters. Brevard’s go-to spot for fly fishing, paddling, and tubing adventures.
Drift down the French Broad River or cast your line in pristine trout streams with Headwaters Outfitters. Brevard’s go-to spot for fly fishing, paddling, and tubing adventures.
Book with Headwaters Outfitters
Book directly with Headwaters Outfitters for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve NowVerified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Headwaters Outfitters · Brevard, North Carolina
moderate.
2–4 hours.
You should be comfortable sitting or paddling for extended periods and able to get in and out of the river safely.
Not at all! Headwaters offers guided trips for all skill levels, and their expert guides are great teachers.
The tubing float typically lasts around 2 to 2.5 hours depending on river conditions.
Yes, children are welcome on most trips. Tubing is suitable for ages 4 and up, and kids’ life jackets are provided.
Bring sunscreen, water shoes, a towel, and a dry bag. For fishing, polarized sunglasses and your fishing license are musts.
Absolutely. You're welcome to bring your own fishing rod or paddling equipment, or rent high-quality gear from Headwaters.
Trips run rain or shine, but may be rescheduled for lightning or unsafe river conditions. Always check ahead if storms are forecasted.
The French Broad River is one of the oldest rivers in the world, flowing north through the Appalachian Mountains for over 300 million years.
Headwaters Outfitters partners with local nonprofits to protect river habitats and minimize erosion through responsible recreation.
Headwaters Outfitters, based in Rosman, NC, operates guided fishing, paddling, camping and outdoor education on the French Broad River and surrounding lakes. The outfitter offers a wide range of experiences including guided fly-fishing lessons, trout wade trips on private waters, smallmouth and bass float trips, musky targeting adventures, and multi-hour self-guided paddling options like Hap Simpson and Island Ford runs. Classes and workshops include Fly Fishing Foundations, Advanced Casting, Spey Casting, Angler Entomology and Selecting a Fly, all taught with low student-to-instructor ratios for personalized skill-building. Paddling-focused offerings include guided Bear Lake sea kayaking trips to Sols Creek Waterfall, overnight canoe camping trips on the Upper French Broad, family-friendly floats, and festival paddles like Paddle to the Pork. Headwaters Outfitters also coordinates collaborative events with local breweries — Paddle then Pints with Ecusta Brewing Company and Cruise then Booze with Oskar Blues — and hosts seasonal community programs such as the Annual Upper French Broad River Clean-Up and Appalachian Santa Night. The business manages the first private campground on the French Broad Paddle Trail, featuring six primitive riverside campsites and options for full campground rental. Gear, shuttles and guided instruction are provided on many trips, and experienced guides such as local captains lead species-specific charters. Emphasis is placed on safety, Leave No Trace ethics, environmental stewardship and authentic local partnerships, making the outfitter a resource for anglers, paddlers and outdoor learners visiting Western North Carolina.
Book with Headwaters Outfitters
Book directly with Headwaters Outfitters for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now