Meet the MULES

Lumber River

Two sections of the Lumber River have been designated Wild and Scenic by the National Park Service: from Black Swamp downstream to the South Carolina state line and the first...

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Contentnea Creek

Considering Contentnea Creek runs 100 miles, from northeast of Raleigh to the Neuse River in Craven County, it’s a surprisingly well-kept paddle secret. This despite the fact it has its...

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Bear Island

A highly popular paddle trip, for several reasons. One, it’s well marked. White posts lead the way across marshy Bogue Sound. Now, you might not think trail markers are a...

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Carrot Island / Shackleford Banks

This trip is as easy or hard as you want it to be. From the Wildlife Resources Commission boat ramp on Lennoxville Road it’s a short paddle across Taylor Creek...

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Oak Island/Holden Beach Paddle Trails

You get a beach house for a week over the summer. On Day 1, you sit in the sun. On Day 2, you sit in the sun. On Day 3...

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Milltail Creek

The 152,000-acre Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a wild island oasis between the North Carolina mainland and the Outer Banks. You will find all manner of wild critters here:...

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Roanoke River

The Roanoke begins its run in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, but doesn’t settle into flatwater mode until after one last hurrah of Class I-III rapids...

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Connecting Youth to Nature

Think back with me to that time when being outside changed you. My emancipation from pavement arrived on the back of my 1968 Schwinn Sting-Ray. I pedaled that banana seat...

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Patagonia's commitment to the MST.

For the first 10 days of May, Patagonia will donate $10 to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail for every pair of their footwear purchased through Great Outdoor Provision Co. That’s a generous...

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Dan River, Section 1 (Kibler Valley)

This dam-controlled river is most popular on Saturdays in July — the one time the minimum flow required (see “Minimum flow”) is pretty much guaranteed. There are other releases but...

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Foster Falls, New River State Park

Foster Falls on the New River in Virginia is another area to come and play in falls, drops and surrounding rapids. Say the avid paddlers in our Winston-Salem shop: “There...

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Wilson Creek: Section B

A certain degree of bragging rights goes along with paddling Wilson Creek, which forms on the east face of Grandfather Mountain and quickly tumbles down the Blue Ridge Escarpment through...

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Yadkin River, Section 13

First, there’s the fact that this stretch of the Yadkin it’s always runnable — can’t beat reliability in a playmate. And not only can you always depend on Section 13...

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Yadkin River, Section 14 (upstream)

Yup, you read that right: “upstream.” You got a problem with that? You won’t when you realize that this close-to-town option is a character builder. Or if not a character...

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Cape Fear: Section 2

There are several runs of rapids on this stretch of the Cape Fear, the first coming amid several islands less than a mile after the put-in. This run of Class...

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Haw River, Section 8 (from Wilmington)

A popular run, especially for intro classes. The stretch is popular for several reasons. For one, when water levels in the region start to drop it’s one of the last...

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Haw River, Section 10 (from Wilmington)

Look downstream as you pass over the US 64 bridge, even in the driest of times, and you’ll have no trouble seeing why this is the place the Triangle’s experienced...

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National Whitewater Center (from Wilmington)

If you’re gonna drive 4 hours you better get your money’s worth. With the price of admission ($25 for a one-day pass) to the National Whitewater Center that’s a pretty...

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