Paddle and Overnight Camping Trip

Sleep riverside, Wake up to the Smell of Wood Smoke and Frying Bacon

overnight paddling/camping trip

island Ford paddle & Camp Trip

Day 1: 8 Miles/3 hour Paddle    day 2: 2 miles/1 hour paddle

$70.00 per adult (age 18+)

$65.00 per youth (age 4-17) 

Book Your island ford paddle & Camp

Hap Simpson paddle & Camp Trip

Day 1: 8 Mile/3 hour Paddle    day 2: 12 miles/5 hour paddle 

$90.00 per adult (age 18+)

$85.00 per youth (age 4-17) 

Book Your Hap simpson paddle & Camp

CAmpground rental information

Have your own boats and just need to rent a paddle in campsite? 

CampsiteS- $15.00 per person

Looking to rent the entire campground for a group camping trip or event?

You can rent our entire campsite – $275 for 24 hour rental 

to Book Your campsite or entire campground please call 828-877-3106

Campground Amenities:

Our campground is a gated, primitive, riverside, paddle-in private campground. There are no RV hookups, electricity, bath house or showers. Designated fire-pits, charcoal grills, and picnic tables are available at each campsite. There is a shared potable water spicket located onsite. A porta-john will be onsite April thru October and is cleaned weekly. We recommend bringing extra sanitary supplies for your group.  No vehicles are allowed at the campground overnight unless your group has rented the entire campground. With approved access vehicles are allowed to drive in and drop off camping gear after your trip check in. Overnight parking is located at a secure separate location. If you are planning a multi-night French Broad Paddle Trail camping trip please contact us regarding shuttles and extended overnight parking options.

You are responsible for packing out all trash and recycling. Please practice Leave No Trace principles during your stay with us. In order to prevent unwanted wildlife encounters please help us keep the campground clean and in a natural state!   

Trip Rates Include:

Canoe or kayak, life jacket, paddle, shuttle service to and from the river, a river map, river information & safety orientation, secure offsite overnight parking, and use of camping facilities at our private Hannah Ford Campground and river access.

Trip Rates Do Not Include:

Camping gear and equipment, food and water supplies, firewood (available for purchase at shop), gratuity for river hosts and/or shuttle drivers. 

Paddle & Camping Trip Overview

Looking for a great way to spend some time in the great outdoors or perhaps a quick weekend getaway? 

A canoe camping trip with Headwaters Outfitters on the scenic French Broad River is the perfect way to get outdoors and introduce your friends and family to the joys of canoe camping. Fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the river, then wake up to the smell of wood smoke and frying bacon (or cast iron pancakes!).

We make it easy, by providing all the essential paddling gear, as well as transportation to and from the river. You can even set up your campsite before you get on the water!  Now is the time to discover our overnight canoe camping trips in the mountains of Western NC.

Headwaters Outfitters offers you and your family two options in canoe camping. Both options are the same on the first day; a scenic 8 mile / 3 hour paddle down the first few miles of the French Broad River. The difference is your take-out location on day 2. Our Island Ford overnight paddling trip gives you a 2 mile / 1 hour paddle the second day, or you can be picked up from campsite and not paddle on day two. The Hap Simpson overnight paddling trip gives you a 12 mile / 5 hour paddle the second day. Either way, you’re paddling through some of the prettiest scenery to be found in Western North Carolina, past old homesteads, farm fields and woods.

Bring your camping gear and food; leave the rest to us!

If your planning a multi-night trip on the French Broad River please visit The French Broad Paddle Trail website: Click Here 

 

Paddle and Camping Trip Day One:

8 mile / 3 hour paddle to our privately owned campground at Hannah Ford

1. Arrive at Headwaters Outfitters’ river shop to complete pre-trip check in. Everyone will need to read and complete a release form, and our 12-minute safety video must be watched by your entire party. You can do release forms and video ahead time, all information will be included in your reservation confirmation email.  

2. For your convenience, you may then drive your vehicle to the campground and set up camp before getting on the river. It is just a short 10 minute drive from our river shop.  Folks love this! 

3. Once your campsite is set up, you return to the river shop, dressed in your river clothes and ready to get on the water.  We try to get all campers on the water by 2pm each day.  

4. Once you return to the river shop you will follow our staff on a short 5 minute drive to our private river put-in and overnight parking area.  Everyone will be outfitted with all paddling gear, which includes life jackets, paddles and canoes or kayaks. Your river host will then review your river map, and provide a river safety orientation to your group.  Then you are ready to launch your canoes or kayaks and paddle three hours downstream to Hannah Ford paddle-in campground.

6. Arrive at Hannah Ford and spend the evening around the campfire enjoying the sounds of the French Broad.  

Paddle and Camping Trip Day Two:

2 mile / 1 hour paddle to Island Ford – OR – 12 mile / 5 hour paddle to Hap Simpson Park.

On day two of your adventure wake up to the sounds of the river! For those of you choosing the Island Ford take-out you will have a short 2-mile, 1-hour paddle before meeting your river host. For those of you paddling on to Hap Simpson take-out you will have a full 5 hours, 12 miles of paddling under your belt before you meet your river host. Either trip is a great way to get outside!

Your river host will shuttle you and your group back to your vehicles, where you can then return to the campsite to pack up and head home, or return to the river shop for an after paddle beer at the Forks of the River Taproom.  Don’t forget your river map T-Shirt, so you can share your journey with friends and family. 

 

Select Your Trip Below to Book Now