Craven Street Bridge

Located at 192 Riverside Drive in Asheville, the Craven Street Bridge access is the only public boat ramp in Asheville and serves as a primary launch point for the French Broad River. This site accommodates both kayaks and larger trailered boats, with designated parking for trailers, though spaces can fill during peak times. The ramp provides easy water access for paddlers and anglers looking to explore this major river system.

The French Broad River at this location is a substantial waterway with an average flow of approximately 7,600 cubic feet per second and a moderate gradient of 6.5 feet per mile. Paddlers should expect moving current and plan trips accordingly. The river has a stream order of 8, indicating a major river system with significant volume. Common paddling distances from this access include shorter floats to nearby takeouts like the Salvage Station area in Woodfin (popular for tubing), or longer expeditions further downstream.

The Craven Street Bridge access connects paddlers to the French Broad Paddle Trail, which offers dozens of public access points along the river. Given the river's size and flow characteristics, this is a suitable launch for intermediate paddlers and boaters. The site's central Asheville location provides convenient access to the scenic Blue Ridge region and nearby National Forests.