Updated: July 22, 2010
There have been many requests for a list of favorite paddling trips. There is something to recommend for all of the trips included in the guidebook, but if you do not have time to see them all, here is a list of favorite trips. They are classified as to whether you are seeking a whitewater, flatwater, or camping trip.
Whitewater - Downriver Day Trips: Class I–II
Dan
River Section 3, page 372
The water often runs clear and there is little
development seen along the rhododendron-lined banks.
Eno River Sections
4–5, pages 257–259
Rain is needed to make this run through Eno River
State Park land. It is an excellent example of urban river preservation.
Haw River Section
8, pages 95–96
There is usually enough water if you know the best routes. It is half flatwater
and half class I–II rapids, with few signs of civilization between the bridges.
Whitewater - Downriver Day Trips: Class II–III
Buffalo Creek (Yadkin-Pee
Dee Basin) Section 1, pages 503–504
Good gradient with a deep gorge in the middle of
the run.
Haw River Sections
9–10, pages 96–98
The best rapids are in Section 10, but Section 9 is a good warm-up unless
you intend to spend a lot of time surfing in Section 10.
Little River (near Durham) Section
1–2, pages 272–273
Section 2 is very short, but has the feel of a Mountains
stream in the Piedmont. Section 1 provides a good warm-up but usually has
some downed trees.
Whitewater - Round Trips (no shuttle required)
Neuse River Section
1, pages 285–286
Play the rapids below Falls Dam.
Roanoke River Section
1, pages 399–400
Stay at the take-out and play in Weldon Falls.
Flatwater - Downriver Day Trips
Black River Section
6, pages 45–46
A popular run because of the blackwater, contrast between the wide beginning
and braided shallow channels (Narrows), and ancient cypress trees. For an
article about the area and the oldest living tree in eastern North America,
see: Searching for Methuselah
South River Section 3, page 150
There are many nice sections of the South River.
This section is a good example of the paddling possibilities on the South
River.
Waccamaw River Section
1, pages 223–224
The trip starts at the Lake Waccamaw dam and begins
as a narrow stream in Waccamaw State Park. The stream's blackwater flows
through a wildernesses with traces of old logging operations and historic
Crusoe Island.
White Oak River Section
3, pages 491–493
Depending on flow, there are a couple of small rapids
before reaching quarry lakes. The width of the stream changes quickly.
The White Oak is a good example of a coastal stream.
Flatwater - Round Trips (no shuttle required)
Gardner Creek Section
1, pages 390–391
This section takes Gardner
Creek to the Roanoke River at Jamesville, but the route can be changed.
Put in on Gardner Creek, paddle into Devil's Gut, and look for wildlife
and the camping platforms.
Merchants Millpond Sections
1–2, pages 181–183
Merchants Millpond State Park has canoe rentals. The
millpond is full of cypress and tupelo trees. It is possible to explore the
millpond's headwaters, known as Bennetts Creek/Lassiter Swamp.
Milltail Creek Section
2, pages 337–338
Take a trip down Milltail Creek to see its mouth
at the wide Alligator River. Return to the put-in or paddle parts of Section
1 and 3.
For an article about the area, see the following
link: Exploring
the Alligator River Refuge
Camping - Weekend
Meherrin
River Sections 1–3, pages 177–178
It is remote and there are high sandbars for camping when flows are moderate
to low. Pick one or more sections to give 5–34 miles of paddling/camping possibilities.
South River Sections
9–10, pages 152–153
The South River has many camping possibilities. These two
sections have plenty of water to paddle except during long droughts. There
is little
development
and occasional banks high enough to provide dry ground.
Lumber River Sections
14–15, pages 215–216
These sections offer trip distances of 5, 11, 16, or 28 miles. There are sandbars
when water is low.
Camping - Weekend (with public sites)
Lumber River Sections
12–13, pages 213–214
Two Lumber River State Park primitive camping areas are available in Section
12. Two additional camping areas are in Section 13, but they are near the beginning
and end.
Roanoke River Sections 9–10, pages 405–406
Camping platforms are in side streams off the Roanoke River, and one
platform is between Jamesville and Plymouth. Reservations are required.
Also see Gardner
Creek, pages 327–328.
White Oak River Sections
3–4, pages 491–493
Croatan Nation Forest has land on the riverbank available for primitive camping.
Outfitters and campgrounds have camping available at the put-in for Section
3 and the take-out of Section 4.
Camping - A week or more
Neuse River Sections
2–20, pages 286–297
From north of Raleigh to New Bern offers 193 miles of paddling and camping.
Although the Neuse flows through some towns, little development is seen. The
only dam to portage is Milburnie Dam (Section 3).
Roanoke River Sections
2–10, pages 400–406
From Weldon to Plymouth offers 119 miles of paddling and camping. Avoid camping
on sandbars because releases from Roanoke Rapids can cause large rises in water
levels. Only three bridges cross this route and there are no dams.
Tar River Sections
6–21, pages 451–459
From Louisburg to near Washington offers 135 miles of paddling and
camping. There are often high sandbars to camp on at low flows. Portage is
required at three
dams (Sections 8, 10, and 12).
Yadkin River Sections
6–20, pages 554–562
From W. Kerr Scott Reservoir near Wilkesboro to High Rock Reservoir near Salisbury
and Lexington offers 119 miles of paddling and camping. There are some public
camping areas available in several of these sections. Portage is required at
two dams (Sections 14 and 17).
Paddling
Eastern North Carolina
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