This is a great way to see a long beautiful stretch of river without any rapids or portages. At low water on the left side of the island and access the island from the sand bar on the downstream end of the island. Just find an access point up and downstream that suits the distance you want to paddle and enjoy.

There are rifles and rocks to play in and a wonderful class II hydraulic near Franklin to practice your whitewater skills. Start at Hap Simpson Park in Brevard and paddle 5 miles to the Pisgah Forest Access. French Creek State Park is an

You can continue downstream, but the rapids become much larger and more frequent after the Barnard take out. Hap Simpson to Rhodes Ranch – 17 miles Finish the next day with an easy float to Blantyre river access. French Creek State Park. Meander your way to Riverbend for a nice night of camping in the sunny field or in the shade of the trees.

Put in at the Westfeldt Park ramp for a seven-mile float to the island or put in at Glen Bridge River Park for a three-mile float.

Look for Firefighter Island on river left about a mile past the Long Shoals Road Bridge. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Interactive GIS Map has turn-by-turn driving directions to the park office from the Park Information Window. Wagner Rd Powel Chapey Woodland Shores SEVIER Washout I-40, exit 424, HWY 114 North, 1.3 mi, access on right Tellico Reservoir Alder Springs Access HAMILTON Porters Chapel Public Boat Access Hwy 11W to Long Bend Rd. Once an industrial complex for the fledgling United States of America, today French Creek State Park is an oasis for people and wildlife. The paddle will take you down the long shoals of the French Broad River before you veer away from the interstate and camp at a quaint secluded feeling island.

To gain more info, check out the French Creek Valley Conservancy web site.

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Penn State Extension’s Spotted Lanternfly website, DCNR Reminds Potential State Park Visitors of Possible Crowding This Holiday Weekend at Many Parks Throughout Pennsylvania, DCNR Extending Closure of State Park and Forest Facilities Statewide, Open Spaces will Remain Accessible as Part of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts, DCNR Closing State Park and Forest Facilities Statewide, Open Spaces will Remain Accessible as Part of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council. Wilson’s RV to Woodfin Park – 8 miles. Enjoy your French Broad River Paddle Trail℠! Riverbend to Little River – 6 miles Evan’s Island to Barnard – 3 miles.

**Note, Sierra Nevada river access is only sometimes open to the public. Extremely popular lake known primarily for Walleye and Crappie. Not true of Utica, Meadville, Cambridge Springs and Rt.19 & 6N. Reading Hospital6th Avenue and Spruce StreetWest Reading, PA 19611866-988-4377.

Pass by the famous trout fishery of the Davidson River and through the area of the French Broad River famous for muskie fishing. Those same habitats are homes to many animals and plants that are rare in this corner of the commonwealth. Directions: You can access French Creek from State Rt. Many overlook the fine largemouth and smallmouth fishing. It is not uncommon to see eagles, osprey, heron and turkey if you are quiet. Stay at the nice campground, walk to dinner or soak in the natural Hot Springs just across the street from the campground. Weaver’s Bend is accessible by car, so sometimes on the weekends you can get a lot of noisy neighbors. Meander under tree canopy as you wind your way past Middle and East forks of the French Broad River toward a very nice campground (just past the Green Road bridge on the right), maintained by Headwaters Outfitters (to make a reservation contact Headwaters Outfitters). There are hotels in Franklin, Meadville and a quaint old hotel in Cambridge Springs aptly named "The Riverside Inn". Firefighter Island to the Bywater – 14.5 miles. This campsite is a Forest Service site and is unmarked.

Paddle across the state line the next day and past the very scenic Paint Rock and Chimney Rocks. Keystone State. at higher water levels you can kayak upper French Creek or take Leboeuf Creek to meet French Creek above RT, 6N. Find more fishing reports in Pennsylvania.

These trip options are only suggestions.