North Carolina · Asheville, NC

French Broad River float season

Gauge 03451500 on the Asheville in-town run through the River Arts District. Asheville's summer social scene floats right past the River Arts District, coolers and riverside breweries in equal supply.

tubingsupkayakcanoe Fullest: Feb–Apr Leanest: Aug–Oct
French Broad River — typical flow through the year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 400 1.5k 4k 6k
median flow for the date middle half of years (25th–75th percentile) most years (10th–90th)

Right now at this gauge

loading CFS

Checking the live gauge…

Live reading from the USGS gauge page for French Broad River. Provisional data — subject to revision.

The year on this river

In a typical year at the Asheville gauge, the French Broad River runs fullest Feb–Apr and leanest Aug–Oct. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past March days at this gauge ran above 2,280 CFS; the October median is 1,030 CFS.

Median of daily flows in each month across this gauge's full record — half of past days ran above these figures, half below.
Month Typical flow (CFS)
January 1,960
February 2,150
March 2,280
April 2,240
May 1,860
June 1,560
July 1,340
August 1,200
September 1,070
October 1,030
November 1,245
December 1,640

Record context

This gauge has measured daily flow since 1896 — 130 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 68,900 CFS, in September 2024. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.

Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.

More North Carolina float rivers

Common questions

When is the French Broad River usually at its fullest?

At the Asheville gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Feb–Apr, with the single highest monthly median in March (about 2,280 CFS). The leanest months are usually Aug–Oct.

What is a typical summer flow on the French Broad River?

The July median at this gauge is about 1,340 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Check the ribbon chart above to see how summer compares with the rest of the year here.

Is the French Broad River safe to float right now?

No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 130 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.

Which USGS gauge does this page use?

USGS gauge 03451500 (FRENCH BROAD RIVER AT ASHEVILLE, NC), chosen because it best represents the Asheville in-town run through the River Arts District. Daily records here reach back to 1896.

Data: USGS gauge 03451500, approved daily records 1896–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.