Coast

Guided canoe trips are great. Sometimes, though, they can be a little staid: Now if we all raft up and be still, we might see the alligator gar surface to feed. Usually doesn’t take more than a half hour, again, provided no one moves or speaks … .”

Sometimes, though, you just need to let loose, to let go and have some good old fashioned water fun. And if you’re having that fun in a kayak, it only makes sense that the resulting activity would be funyaking. Which is just what they’ll be doing Saturday morning at 10 a.m. on the 11-acre lake at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park not too far from Goldsboro. You must be at least 10 years old to participate; no mention of an age restriction on the other end — woo hoo! Prepare to get wet playing games in your kayak.

Logistics: Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m., Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Seven Springs. Free, but space is limited and preregistration is required, by calling 919.778.6234.

Saturday forecast: High of 86, chance of thunderstorms.

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Planning ahead: Wellness Walk, Saturday, July 11, Smith Creek Park, Wilmington. These monthly walks (every second Saturday) are lead by registered nurses and are a great opportunity to introduce walking into your wellness regimen. More info here.

Piedmont

Here’s a trip that would make any adventure lover jump the weekend starting gun: Friday morning’s Canoe Trip on the Yadkin River at Pilot Mountain State Park. The stretch in question: the 6.5 miles through the Bean Shoals area to Donnaha Park.

An especially great opportunity for beginning river paddlers: canoe, paddle and pfd are provided, as is the guidance of a park ranger. The only things you need to bring to the paddle party: a hat, sunscreen, water, lunch and a way to get from the take-out back to your car (at the put-in).

Logistics: Friday, June 26, 10 a.m., South River Section canoe launch at Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. Free, but equipment is limited; RSVP in advance by calling the park at 336.325.2355.

Friday forecast: High of 94, sunny.

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Planning ahead: Every toyed with the notion of trying a triathlon? Fit & Able Production’s Plunge Pedal & Plod is the perfect opportunity to test your triworthiness. There’s the Tri A Bit option (50-yard swim, 4K bike, 1.6K run), Tri A Bit More (200 yards/8K/2.4 K) and Tri A Lot (400 meters/12K/3K). It’s Aug. 16 at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. More info here.

Mountains

Lake James may look like a big lake more subject to Piedmont heat than mountain cool, but located at the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and fed by the chill waters of the Linville River, its waters are refreshing, especially in the recent heat. And while the goal of paddling is not to become one with the water, worse things can happen.

Still, Lake James State Park Superintendent Nora Coffey promises a refreshing journey in the upright position on Saturday morning’s Canoe Excursion. Pushing off at 9 a.m. in the Paddy’s Creek area of the lake, Super Coffey will show you around the lake she calls home. BYOB, or call in advance for one of six loaner canoes available, for free, for this program. And if you do opt for a park boat, “ … be prepared to share your journey with a new friend if you are a single and space dictates.”

Logistics: Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m. Paddy Creek Area of Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free, but space is limited: 828.584.7728 to reserve a spot.

Saturday forecast: High of 85, chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

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Planning ahead: Looking for a mountain ride? Check out the Blue Ridge Breakaway on August 15 at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Routes of varying distances and difficulty. Investigate here.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

The post This weekend: Grab a paddle appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Last Thursday on a trip down east  was my first day on the water and it put me of a mind to spend more time paddling. The quiet, save for the birdsong and the occasional gal-lump of a turtle inelegantly abandoning sunny log for murky water. The wildlife, including an alligator that was even more distracted by the sun and warmth. The emergence of spring, with the pastel buds of green, white and crimson giving the world a soft focus field. The unique calm that only paddling flat water can offer.

Milltail Creek in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Dillard’s Creek tributary feeding the Chowan River north of Edenton are both on my list for return trips. But where to go next? That got me to thinking of some other great paddles in the state, places I’d like to get to this year, places you might like to explore as well.

Here are 10 such places. I’ve included a quick description and location. If you’re intrigued, click on “More info here” and you’ll find nearly everything you’ll need to plan a trip.

Charlotte area

1. Lake Wylie Dam
Rock Hill, S.C.

There’s a Jekyll-and-Hyde nature to the 31-mile stretch of the Catawba River below the Lake Wylie dam just over the South Carolina line. At nominal water flow, the stretch is friendly flatwater river paddling, a few rocks here and there, a Class I rapid but no more. But when the volume gets cranked up this stretch requires a whole ‘nother paddling skillset. What exactly do we mean by that? Click on More info here.
More info here.

Triad

2. Lake Brandt
Greensboro

Lake Brandt is one of three main watershed lakes rimming the north side of Greensboro. The lakes were created for drinking water, revered in these modern times for their vast recreational value. Brandt is the middling of the three lakes — Townsend is the biggest ( at 1,542 acres, Higgins the smallest at 226 acres. All are open for paddling.
More info here.

3. Yadkin River (Old 421 Park Access)
Winston-Salem

The 125-mile-long Yadkin River Trail includes 15 access points to help make exploring the river easier. It begins small out of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkes County and gains steam as it meanders past Pilot Mountain, Boone’s Cave Park and Tanglewood Park before giving it up to High Rock Lake. Forsythe County’s Old 421 Park Access 20 minutes west of downtown Winston-Salem is close, but it also affords easy access to an easy stretch of the river. This is a 5.4-mile run where a steady current takes you through typical Piedmont countryside.
More info here.

Triangle

4. Falls Lake (Beaverdam Recreation Area)
Wake Forest

There’s a bit of dues paying associated with this paddle. It’s big, open water for the most part, but that changes after you paddle under Old Weaver Dairy Road. You begin paddling amid reedy grass and rushes, and clumps of red maple and oak. You’ll paddle into what looks like a promising channel only to be rebuffed by downfall or a simple dead end. If the lake level is up you paddle another mile and a half and improve your chances of seeing the waterfowl known in the area, the wood ducks and mallards, the osprey and bald eagles.
More info here.

5. Haw River (Swepsonville River Park to Saxapahaw0
Swepsonville

This dammed 5.8-mile stretch of the Haw River is good, reliable paddling year round, but it may be best in summer. Put in at Swepsonville River Park, warm up with a 0.7-mile paddle downstream to the Puryear Dam, then portage — a portage made fun, funky and easy with a set of slides (for your boat, not you). The rest of the trip is on wide, slow-moving water. Take-out is river left, just above the dam above Saxapahaw, which makes for a great after-paddle visit.
More info here.

6. Neuse River (Falls Dam to Buffaloe Road)
Raleigh

Raleigh is often called a city within a park. But did you know there’s a navigable river within the city within the park? From the tailrace of the Falls Lake Dam, the Neuse River flows east and south to the Atlantic Ocean. Along those first 17 miles through Raleigh the city has installed 5 boat launches, divvying up the relatively peaceful Neuse into easily paddlable stretches. A favorite is the 10-or-so miles from the Falls Dam Access downstream to Buffaloe Road, where dense foliage along the river’s banks shields you from the civilization beyond.
More info here.

Coastal plain

7. Black River (Section 5)
Ivanhoe

The Black River may be the most beloved place to paddle in eastern North Carolina, and for good reason. It’s remote, making its way through the Down East farmland of Sampson, Bladen and Pender counties. Despite the fact it passes numerous hog farms, it also has some of the cleanest water in the state, earning Outstanding Resources Waters designation in 1994. And the blackwater swamps through which it passes have some of the oldest living trees in Eastern North America. I shouldn’t need to say more, but I can and will. Read on, by following the link below.
More info here.

8. Merchants Millpond
Gatesville

The 760-acre millpond is peppered with bald cypress and tupelo gum trees that make every stroke an adventure. Sidle up to a trunk and see what creatures might be living in this microclimate. Or, conversely, let the enormity of the swamp wash over you and, before you know it, you’ll have no idea where you are or how you got there. A great place to paddle with a compass and map, though there is a marked trail. Canoes available for rent as well, at $5 an hour.
More info here.

Coast

9. Brunswick River Trail
Wilmington area

Only at the coast could you do a loop trail — on a river. This 16-miler begins at the Davis Creek Estuarine Water Access Area on Cartwheel Branch. After just over a mile, hang a right at the Cape Fear River. At the four-mile mark the Northeast Cape Fear intersects; continue downstream and you’ll be paddling along the Wilmington waterfront. To finish the trip, follow the link below.
More info here.

10. Zeke’s Island (The Basin)
Wilmington area

You’ll find true exploring within the Zeke’s Island area, a lagoon surrounded by Zeke’s Island, North Island, No Name Island, a beach, a barrier spit and fringing marshes and tidal flats. This unusual combination results in a small area — the Zeke’s Island National Estuarine Research Reserve consists of 1,635 acres — with a variety of habitats, from tidal flats, salt marshes, shrub thicket and maritime forest to sand dunes and beach. Great paddling.
More info here.

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Need a boat? Check out our list of 51 places to rent a canoe or kayak in North Carolina.

The post Ten places for a spring paddle appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

It’s paddler’s choice this weekend in North Carolina. Don’t like to get wet? Then make a run for the hills.

Coast

Pine Knoll Shores is the place to be along the coast this weekend is you like to paddle or pedal. The weekend’s Kayak for the Warriors highlight is a 3.2-mile kayak and paddle board race that begins in Bogue Sound,  follows canals inland through town, then pops back out onto the sound at the finish. A little too intense for the kids? There’s a Family Fun Race that’s just “a few hundred yards” as well. For mellow cyclists — the beach cruiser crowd — there are family-friendly rides of 5K (3.1 miles) and 10K (6.2 miles). The event kicks off Friday evening with a reception at Town Hall, all races are Saturday. Proceeds benefit Hope For The Warriors, a non-profit whose goal “is to enhance quality of life for U.S. Service Members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty.”

Logistics: 3.2-mile kayak/paddle board race, 10 a.m., $45; Family Fun Race, 10:30 a.m., $20; 5K and 10K bike rides, 8:30 a.m.. All events are Saturday. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Clear, high of 82.

Piedmont

In case you missed Thursday’s report, the 18-day Tour de Yadkin is advancing down a 185-mile stretch of its namesake river. Saturday’s paddle is especially attractive, starting with breakfast and a one-mile hike on some of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail’s freshest tread, in Elkin, followed by a 5.7-mile paddle to the Carolina Heritage Winery for a tour, wine tasting and bluegrass concert.

Logistics: BYOB or make arrangements for a boat through SuperFly Outdoor Sports. Shuttle available for $10. For more on the Tour de Yadkin, check out the event’s Web site.

Saturday forecast: Clear to partly cloudy late, high of 86.

Mountains

Sunday’s your chance to get in on the first-ever N.C. Outward Bound Riverbound Trail Race in Asheville. Runs of 5K and 8K are planned on trail in and around the North Carolina Arboretum.

Logistics: Both races start at 8 a.m., $35 race day for the 5K, $40 for the 8K. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Overcast, high of 75.

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Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

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The post This weekend: On the trail of a paddle race, a river tour, a mountain run appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

• June 16, “First Annual Paddle-A-Thon” at Tabglewood Park in Clemmons. Raise a minimum of $50, paddle 10.8 miles of the Yadkin. Prizes awarded for raising the most money, soliciting from the most people, traveling the farthest for the day’s paddle, most creative dress and most creatively decorated boat. Prizes include helicopter rides and kayaks! Starts at 11 a.m., food and drinks provided.
• June 17, “Father’s Day Fish and Float,” from Tanglewood downstream to the Historic Hairston Plantation. 1 p.m.
• June 18-19, Overnight camping trip at Boone’s Cave Park. 22.3 miles of total paddling.
• June 23, Finale, with hiking and camping at Morrow Mountain State Park.

Learn more about these events and find out what’s happening on the other days of this 185-mile paddling party at the Yadkin Riverkeeper site.
And keep your eye on this site; We’re hoping to break out the paddle and spend a day or two on the Tour de Yadkin. We’ll report back.

The post Tour de Yadkin an 18-day paddling adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.