đź’§Water Quality & River Stewardship at Zen Tubing đź’š
At Zen Tubing, your safety and the health of the French Broad River are our top priorities.
Our tubing route runs a beautiful stretch of river in South Asheville, located above Bent Creek Park, between Rosman, NC (the river’s headwaters) and Bent Creek. The section of the river between the headwaters and our take-out is especially pristine, with no commercial or industrial-scale farming or development along the banks. While there were historically agricultural fields in the area, none are currently active today. In addition, the tubing section runs alongside of the Biltmore Estate and Pisgah National Forest as well as some private property.
📍About Water Monitoring
You may hear about water quality monitoring at Pearson Bridge in the River Arts District—that location is approximately 25 miles downstream from our put-in point and about 20 miles downstream from  our take-out point. The E. coli levels recorded there are not reflective of the water quality where Zen Tubing operates, as that area is much more urban and subject to city runoff.
Our section of the river is not monitored daily, and currently, the Pearson Bridge site is the only official monitoring location in the Asheville area.
It’s important to understand that E. coli levels can fluctuate significantly within a 24-hour period, depending on rainfall, runoff, temperature, and other environmental conditions.
🏞 Know Before You Float
We encourage all guests to educate themselves about the risks associated with outdoor recreation in natural bodies of water, including the potential for E. coli exposure.
Because our section is not part of a monitored site and natural water conditions can vary:
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Zen Tubing does not offer refunds due to reported E. coli levels at Pearson Bridge.
- If you are concerned about weather, water quality, or the possibility of needing to cancel your float, we strongly recommend purchasing trip protection at checkout, which allows you to cancel up to the morning of your reservation.
- If you do not purchase trip protection, our standard policy allows cancellation up to 72 hours in advance for a refund.
Our activity qualifies as secondary contact recreation (like kayaking or paddleboarding), and our custom tubes—with bottoms, backrests, and cupholders—significantly reduce prolonged water exposure, making your float safer and more comfortable.
🌿A Healthier River, A Shared Responsibility
Over the years, we’ve seen significant improvement in water quality and a return of species that indicate a thriving ecosystem, including fish, herons, turtles, otters, and more. This is thanks to the work of environmental organizations, the community, and mindful visitors like you.
Zen Tubing is proud to support groups like Asheville GreenWorks, and we remain deeply committed to protecting this beautiful resource.
To help us do that, we ask all guests to follow our Leave No Trace principles:
-  🗑 Keep all trash in a cooler or enclosed container — no loose cans, bags, or debris.
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🚯 Never leave anything behind on the river.
- 🧴 Please use physical (non-chemical) sunscreen to protect river life — zinc- and titanium-based products are better for the ecosystem.
🚧River Arts District Update
We are continually monitoring conditions in the River Arts District section of the river, which has traditionally shown higher E. coli levels due to urban runoff. While this area has been a popular float route in the past, we have paused operations there as part of the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene.
We’ll continue to provide updates as the ecosystem and fragile riverbanks in that area heal and develop. Our goal is to ensure that any future operations are both safe for guests and respectful to the natural environment.
Thank you for being a thoughtful part of this river community. By floating with Zen Tubing, you’re helping support clean water, sustainable recreation, and a vibrant local environment. 💚