French Broad River Park

French Broad River Park is a great place for a picnic in Asheville. It’s very shady and perfect for a hot summer day. And it has an awesome dog park! Speaking of, if you’re visiting Asheville with dogs make sure you check out our guide to dog-friendly hotels in Asheville.

There are a ton of picnic tables scattered around and a paved trail that meanders next to the French Broad River. There are a lot of places to view the river and you’ll see a ton of kayakers and tubers in the summer.

The French Broad River Greenway runs through the park and continues along the French Broad River at both ends of the park. The greenway passes New Belgium Brewing to the north and Carrier Park toward the south.

You’ll find parking right when you enter, with paved spots and a gravel lot above. There are restrooms located right by the parking area and you’ll also find a trail map there. Apart from the loop, there is a large open area that is great for sitting in the sun or kicking a ball around.

French Broad River Dog Park

There is also a very popular dog park located at the far end of French Broad River Park. There are two separate fenced areas, one for large dogs and one for dogs under 25 pounds.