MILLS RIVER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Henderson County has regained a recreational river spot, now open for public use at the former site of Lazy Otter Outfitters in Mills River, N.C.
The access point, dubbed Lazy Otter River Access, was developed by regional conservation group MountainTrue in collaboration with Lazy Otter, who leased the site to the nonprofit in June 2026 after shutting down operations in 2024.
The access point is located at 10 Banner Farm Road, Mills River, at mile 45 of the French Broad Paddle Trail.
Reviving river access
According to Matt Evans, the founder of Lazy Otter, the MountainTrue collaboration will keep Henderson County easily navigable for all river-users. The reopened access point provides a mid-point between the Horse Shoe Boating Access Area and Westfeldt Park, an 11-mile stretch of unbroken river now divided into 3.5-mile and 7.5-mile chunks…