Public access to the popular Tuckasegee River will improve when Duke Energy opens the new Whittier Access Area Sept. 1.  

The site is located at River Mile 20.6 or 120 Church St. in Whittier. This new public boat access area is the second of six planned new or improved Tuckasegee River main stem access sites by Duke Energy in Jackson County. The C.J. Harris Access Area in Dillsboro opened last year above the former Dillsboro Dam site.

“The need for this access area and others is a fruit of the thousands of person-hours devoted by the Tuckasegee Cooperative Stakeholder Team in relicensing Duke Energy hydroelectric projects in the county. The team’s settlement agreement and subsequent new federal licenses support that need,” said Fred Alexander, Duke Energy district manager.

The Whittier Access Area, designed for launching and retrieving canoes, kayaks and drift boats, includes one boat launch ramp with a paved turn-around area, a gravel parking lot for 11 vehicles with trailers, an information kiosk and security lights.

The site also includes an Americans with Disabilities Act parking space with an accessible sidewalk leading to the boat ramp.