Whitewater
Kayaking & Rafting in
North Carolina
#1.
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is formed
by the confluence of the
Haw and Deep Rivers, near
Moncure and Haywood, 10
miles northeast of Sanford.
It flows through Lillington,
Fayetteville, Elizabethtown,
Wilmingto...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Eastern North Carolina"
Wilmington, NC - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 170.5 miles (About Top
Trails)
#2. Yadkin River
The Yadkin River begins
at an elevation above 3,600
feet near Blowing Rock,
on the eastern slopes of
the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It flows southeast toward
Lenoir, but near Patterson
and Happy Valley it ...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Eastern North Carolina"
Wilkesboro, NC - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 147.3 miles (About Top
Trails)
#3. Crabtree Creek
Crabtree Creek’s headwaters
include Crabtree Creek west
of Cary and several creeks
starting east of Research
Triangle Park. They flow
into Lake Crabtree, a 520-acre
flood-control lake in Cary.
Downstr...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Eastern North Carolina"
Raleigh, NC - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 22 miles
#4. Neuse River
The Neuse begins north of
Durham at the confluence
of the Eno and Flat Rivers.
This is close to the beginning
of Falls Lake. It is 24
miles to Falls Dam, northeast
of Raleigh. Below the dam,
the Neuse...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Eastern North Carolina"
Smithfield, NC - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 193 miles
#5. Dan River
The Dan River begins near
the Blue Ridge Parkway a
few miles above Meadows
of Dan, Virginia. It is
impounded by Talbott Reservoir
and its water used by the
Pinnacles Hydroelectric
Plant in Kibler Vall...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Eastern North Carolina"
Madison, NC - Whitewater
Paddling - 105.9 miles (About
Top Trails)
#6. Uwharrie River
The Uwharrie River begins
in northwest Randolph County
below High Point. It flows
south and passes 10 miles
west of Asheboro. Several
miles southwest of Asheboro,
the river enters Uwharrie
National Fo...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Eastern North Carolina"
Lassiter Mill, NC - Whitewater
Paddling - 29.1 miles (About
Top Trails)
#7. Wilson Creek:
Pisgah National Forest boundary
to Brown Mountain Beach
Due to its ease of access,
beauty, and demanding whitewater,
Wilson Creek Gorge has long
been one of the most popular
difficult water runs in
the southeast. Wilson is
a classic drop-and pool
creek in...
From the guidebook "Appalachian
Whitewater: The Southern
States"
Adako, NC - Whitewater Paddling
- 2.5 miles
#8. Nantahala River:
Public launch ramp to Nantahala
Outdoor Center
The course begins at Patton's
Pool and runs to the takeout,
below Nantahala Falls, with
continuous whitewater. A
bailer - make that a big
bailer - is a necessity
for the canoeist running
the Nantahal...
From the guidebook "Appalachian
Whitewater: The Southern
States"
Topton, NC - Whitewater
Paddling
#9. Nolichucky River:
Poplar, NC to Douglas Lake,
TN
The Nolichucky Gorge from
Poplar, NC to Erwin, TN
is a respected, challenging
piece of whitewater found
where this big drainage
forces itself through the
North Carolina - Tennessee
border where the ru...
From the guidebook "Appalachian
Whitewater: The Southern
States"
Poplar, NC - Whitewater
Paddling
#10. Tar River
Most historians believe
the Tar River was named
for its heavily forested
land of pines, an important
source of tar to early settlers.
The river begins in Piedmont
farmlands between Oxford
and Roxboro ...
From the guidebook "Paddling
Eastern North Carolina"
Louisburg, NC - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 164.7 miles
More whitewater
paddling and rafting in
North Carolina Running
the Rivers of North America
