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Murray Branch Picnic Area, Pisgah National Forest
The Murray Branch Picnic Area provides an easy opportunity to spend some time alongside the French Broad River near Hot Springs. We made a very quick stop at the day use area on a Saturday morning in May 2018 while in Hot Springs for the French Broad River Music Festival.
There are 10 picnic tables and grills at Murray’s Branch, including four tables under shelters, two accessible fishing piers, and vault toilets. The small park also allows access to the river for rafting or tubing. The River Ridge Loop Trail, across the access road, is a moderate 1.3-mile hike that gets about 200 feet above the river.
The other shelter does not have a river view.
The paved path that encircles the park includes a tight switchback to get onto the riverside section, which allows access to the fishing piers.
Someone added a bench to this pier …
A bench and a couple of picnic tables on the lawn …
The French Broad River at Murray Branch …
A kiosk at the parking lot provides a Forest Service map and other information.
The Murray Branch Picnic Area is on River Road (SR 1304) outside of Hot Springs in western Madison County. It is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily April 1 to October 31. Shelters, tables, etc., are first come, first served.
Approaching Hot Springs from the east on U.S. 25/70W, turn to the right just before the river bridge, then right onto SR 1304 for 3 miles. The last quarter-mile of River Road is dirt and gravel.
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