BANFF Tickets on Sale Now
BANFF Tickets on Sale Now
As Summer heats up, there are new ways to access and enjoy the French Broad River in Transylvania and Henderson counties thanks to MountainTrue and its partners.
The French Broad Paddle Trail, managed by MountainTrue in partnership with several government agencies, non-profit organizations, local outdoor recreation businesses and volunteers, has added a campsite near Etowah in Henderson County. Additionally, the non-profit’s French Broad Riverkeeper team has helped complete upgrades to two river access sites in Transylvania and Henderson counties.
“We are really excited and grateful to have helped bring these improvements and opportunities to the river.” says Jack Henderson, French Broad Paddle Trail Manager for MountainTrue. “Transylvania and Henderson counties have some of the most beautiful and beginner-friendly sections of the French Broad, and we hope these new assets will make it easier for folks to get on the water and enjoy it once they’re there.”
Beech Bluff is a new site roughly halfway between the Poplar Bend campsite in Pisgah Forest and the Mud Creek campsite near Mills River, splitting what was once the longest stretch south of Asheville without a campsite. Boaters who previously had to paddle about 20 miles to make it from one campsite to the next can now split that section into a 12 and 8-mile run, allowing for more flexibility for paddlers looking for multi-night trips on the water.
The new site features a set of hand-built locust log steps, a white oak picnic table, a metal fire ring, informational signage, and an open grassy area — all beneath the shade of a massive beech tree, Henderson says.
Conserving Carolina owns the land and is providing public access for this site, while the AllTrails Stewards Fund and the North Carolina Complete the Trails Project provided funding.
“Paddle trail sites have become a big part of our publicly accessible offerings,” says Torry Nergart, natural resources manager with Conserving Carolina. “We want to connect folks back to nature, and a great float can make that happen. There’s a different perspective from the water level. Moving at the pace of the river, seeing how alive the whole system is; that’s the opportunity we want to make happen. It can’t be done without safe places to get in and out.”
MountainTrue manages five of the about 24 camping sites along the 146-mile French Broad River between Rosman, NC and Newport, TN, all of which are marked on the trail’s interactive online map. The map and other planning resources are available at frenchbroadpaddle.org. While Beech Bluff does not yet have a toilet (it will by early fall), all of MountainTrue’s other sites contain a picnic table, fire ring and elevated composting toilet, and require a reservation for overnight stays. Four are only accessible by river.
The first step to enjoying the river is getting on the water, and MountainTrue and its partners have restored one river access and upgraded another to improve that experience.
Near Mills River in Horse Shoe, NC, a former Henderson County outfitter, closed since 2024, has partnered with MountainTrue to create river access again at 10 Banner Farm Road.
“This is a wonderful site to make available to the public.” Henderson says. “The Horse Shoe Bend is a unique piece of the Paddle Trail not just because of its natural beauty, but also because it’s so convenient for paddlers in Hendersonville, Brevard, and Asheville.”
Nearby public access sites are located four miles upstream and seven miles downstream, making the scenic, tree-lined section removed from road noise perfect for an easy afternoon or evening paddle.
“We had so much fun introducing thousands of paddlers to a stretch of the river in Henderson County that was relatively unknown before we opened,” says property owner and co-founder of Lazy Otter Outfitters, Matt Evans. “It’s always been our intention to make our boat ramp available to paddlers again. MountainTrue was a great partner to Lazy Otter, so we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue working together.”
MountainTrue will maintain and operate the access site while it is open to the public, made possible in part by the Community Foundation of Henderson County.
“This initiative was made possible by Field of Interest grants from two donors who recognize that environmental literacy and recreation are vital to ensuring Henderson County remains a satisfying place to live,” said Kris Merritt, Senior Program Officer at the Community Foundation of Henderson County. “Connecting people to our rivers is one of the most effective ways to inspire long-term stewardship. Thanks to the incredible generosity of these donors, CFHC was able to steward support to this collaborative project that opens a beautiful new access point for kayakers, anglers, and families, while establishing a critical foothold for habitat restoration and water quality protection—especially in the wake of Helene.”
Upstream, near Rosman in Transylvania County, with funding from the N.C. Trails’ Complete the Trails program and the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, MountainTrue led a complete rebuild of the Lyons Mountain River Access site. The project widened the access, poured a concrete boat ramp, added a boulder seating area and a sign, and improved relationships with neighboring property owners along the way at one of the river’s more heavily-used access sites, Henderson notes.
“We’re proud to support the incredible work MountainTrue continues to do along the French Broad River, including the recently completed improvements at the Lyons Mountain access,” said Clark Lovelace, executive director of the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority. “Investing occupancy tax proceeds in projects that protect and enhance our natural resources is one of the best ways we can strengthen both our community and the visitor experience.”
The NC Department of Transportation provided permission, Wildlands Engineering did the design work and Baker Grading and Landscaping constructed the site. Planning for vital upgrades began when the site was placed on Transylvania County’s Strategic Master Plan, or Blueway Plan, in 2021. Now, paddlers can more safely hop on the river at Lyons Mountain, located just four miles from the outset of the 146-mile paddle trail.
About the French Broad Paddle Trail
The French Broad River was designated a Tennessee State Scenic River in 1968, a North Carolina State Trail in 1987, and officially launched as the French Broad Paddle Trail by MountainTrue and RiverLink in 2012. MountainTrue is North Carolina State Parks’ Partner Organization for the French Broad River State Trail and leads watershed-wide Paddle Trail efforts through its French Broad Riverkeeper program based in Asheville. Learn more at frenchbroadpaddle.org
