Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Rapid NC Class IV

Frank Bells

French Broad - 9. Barnard to Hot Springs (NC)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
French Broad River at Marshall, NC Upstream Primary
Runnable: 700.0 – 7,000.0 CFS

1200 is a reasonable minimum for the section from Stackhouse to Hot springs

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
Frank Bells
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

Frank Bells is the second to last rapid on the French Broad (Section 9). It consists of a broken ledge at the enterance to the rapid and two large holes at the bottom of the rapid. There are many routes a raft can take depending on the water level, below ~1500 cfs there is a line rafts can take called horseshoe which is far river right from the middle of the rapid. Above ~1500 cfs the rocks in the middle of the rapid start to get covered by water allowing a raft to pass through. At lower flows on the French Broad a kayak can usually slide down the chutes created by the rocks at Frank Bells but horseshoe is also an awesome line to take in a kayak.

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class IV
Mile Marker
7.1 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
9. Barnard to Hot Springs
French Broad
III-IV 8.2 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater