Western North Carolina – MountainTrue and the French Broad Riverkeeper announced a 10-day paddle trip set to begin on April 30, 2025, aimed at assessing storm damage and celebrating recovery efforts along the French Broad River. The journey will cover the river’s entire length, from its headwaters in Rosman, North Carolina, to its confluence with the Holston River in Newport, Tennessee.
Assessing Storm Damage and Community Resilience
Hartwell Carson, MountainTrue’s Clean Waters Director, expressed the challenges faced after Hurricane Helene struck the region last fall. “When Hurricane Helene tore through our region last fall, the French Broad was hit hard,” he stated. The storm caused significant damage, collapsing river access points and scattering debris across the floodplain. However, Carson highlighted the community’s response, noting, “But as always, our community stepped up.”
Since the hurricane, MountainTrue and its volunteers have made substantial progress in recovery efforts. They have removed over 2.8 million pounds of debris, repaired damaged sections of the French Broad Paddle Trail, and restored access to key campsites and launch points. Carson emphasized that the paddle journey would serve a dual purpose: to assess remaining storm damage and to celebrate the resilience of the watershed and its caretakers.
Inspiring Community Engagement
Anna Alsobrook, the French Broad Riverkeeper, shared her perspective on the significance of the trip. “This trip isn’t just about evaluating conditions on the water,” she remarked. “It’s about lifting up the people who have shown up for this river, recognizing the work that’s been done, and inspiring folks to get back out on the water.” She reassured that despite the challenges, “The river is still beautiful and paddle-worthy—it just needs us to keep showing up for it.”
The 140-mile paddle trail offers a scenic experience for paddlers, stretching from Transylvania County, NC, to Cocke County, TN. In 2016, Outside magazine recognized it as one of the Best Trips of the year. Throughout their journey, Carson and Alsobrook plan to share daily updates featuring photos, videos, and commentary on river health and cleanup progress.
The trip will conclude in Newport, TN, where Carson and local partners will reflect on their experiences and outline future steps for protecting and improving the river corridor.
MountainTrue will provide real-time updates on social media and its website, mountaintrue.org, encouraging public involvement in river protection and cleanup efforts.