RAD Rising: River Arts District Walking Tour in Asheville — History, Artists, & Glass Blowing
Difficulty
easy
Duration
2–2.5 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; minimal elevation and frequent stops make it easy for casual walkers.
Overview
Walk the River Arts District with local guides who stitch together flood history, reclaimed industrial space, artists’ stories and live glass-blowing. This compact 1.5-mile tour offers intimate studio access, tastings, and firsthand accounts of the RAD’s recovery.
RAD Rising: River Arts District Walking Tour in Asheville — History, Artists, & Glass Blowing
Select participants and date
The morning air off the French Broad has a way of making the city feel like a working studio: cool, slightly damp, and full of the faint tang of kiln heat. You meet outside a low, corrugated studio where paint-splattered hands and coffee mugs sit side by side; the guide is waiting by a mural, and the horseshoe of the River Arts District unfurls along the river like a chapter of the city’s history written in brick and steel.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Park at the visitor center
Use the free lot at 3 River Arts Place (midpoint) to avoid retracing the horseshoe-shaped route back to your car.
Bring a refillable bottle
There are limited public fountains; refill before you start to stay hydrated during the 2–2.5 hour walk.
Wear closed-toe shoes
Studios and riverfront docks can have uneven surfaces and stray glass—sturdy shoes keep you safe.
Budget for purchases
This is pay-what-you-wish; bring cash or card if you plan to buy small artworks or tastings to directly support artists.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Great blue heron
- River otter
History
The RAD grew from early 20th-century mills and warehouses; repeated floods—most recently a major 2024 event—have shaped its built environment and community-led recovery efforts.
Conservation
Artists and local groups coordinate riverbank stabilization projects and community clean-ups; visitors are encouraged to support sustainable practices like minimizing single-use plastics and buying locally.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Asheville
Recommended Gear
Comfortable walking shoes
Support and protection for pavement, cobbles and studio floors.
Refillable water bottle
Staying hydrated is important during warm months and inside hot studios.
summer specific
Light rain jacket
Riverfront mornings and sudden showers are common—pack a compact shell.
spring specific
Compact camera or phone with extra battery
Capture glass-blowing, murals and river reflections; extra power helps for long days.