Blog
Wilmington: Kayak surfing
We say Fort Fisher because it tends to be a little less crowded than beaches to the north, something you (not to mention fellow beach-goers) will appreciate as you learn...
Haw River, Section 9
One of the more fun sections of the Haw: this stretch epitomizes the islands and braids that characterize the Haw as its banks widen and it works its way to...
Little River: Section 1
You encounter a good drop over the first mile — 40 feet — but Paul Ferguson says there are no big drops, just a consistently descending run of Class I...
Neuse River: Section 4
Until a whitewater park gets developed at the base of Falls dam, the one-two punch of the 3.5-mile stretch of the Neuse between Old Milburnie Road and Poole Road will...
Rocky River: Section 4
A good stretch of Class I and II rapids just over a half mile in is followed by a Class III near the US 15/501 bridge. More Class Is and...
Tar River: Section 3
According to Paul Ferguson (see More info, below), there’s 182 miles of paddling on the Tar River between Oxford in the Piedmont and Washington (N.C.) on the cusp of the...
Little River, Section 7
A good sign of possibly mountainlike waters in the coastal plain: mountain laurel can be found along some of the banks along this incarnation of the Little River (Paul Ferguson...
Uwharrie River, Section 1
A small river at this point with high banks on either side you get your first action less than a half mile in at a boulder dam where a two-foot...
Neuse River: Section 7
Truth in advertising: This is not a stretch of river that will thrill a whitewater enthusiast. You don’t even need a whitewater boat. Heck, a sit-on-top would do. Rather, it’s...
Roanoke River, Section 1
This is as far east as you’ll find good whitewater in North Carolina, and good whitewater it is. For one, it’s dependable: flow is controlled from a hydroelectric plant in...
Tar River: Section 12
What makes Rocky Mount a white water destination (when there’s water) is the presence of Rocky Mount Mills, the second oldest cotton mill in the state, dating back to 1818....
Contentnea Creek, Section 2
This may be one of the only whitewater runs you do that also spends time in a swamp. Only on the cusp of the Coastal Plain. Just below where Contentnea...
Mayo River, Section 1
Here’s the scoop from our paddle experts: “This largely Class II river has a few Class IIIs and a tight course. It’s not uncommon for a downed tree to go...
Upper Haw River, Section 3
It’s on this stretch where you witness the Haw transform from an intimate stream where you can seemingly touch both banks simultaneously to sprawling river. The stretch begins tight, with...
Dan River: Section 4
A good stretch of river for the new whitewater paddler. Much of the Class I action is the result of widely spaced gravel bars, according to Paul Ferguson in his...
Wilson Creek: Section C
This is drop-dead gorgeous terrain with killer whitewater. Killer? Poor choice of words. But there are sections of Wilson Creek that are for experts only. Those would be sections A...
Lower Greene section of the Greene River
Say the Benners (see “A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Carolinas” below): “Next to the Nantahala, this section of the Greene is paddled more than any river in North...
National Whitewater Center
Granted, running the same Class I-III water day after day after day could get old after a while, but wouldn’t it be great to have the opportunity to find out?...