Paddle responsibly: 6 NC Waterways to Explore
As temperatures shift throughout the year, North Carolina’s waterways come alive with changing sights and sounds. Along riverbanks and lake shores, eastern blue star blooms attract bees, hummingbirds, and coral hairstreak butterflies. Black bears wander toward cool mountain streams for a drink, while the call of birds, including buttercup-yellow prothonotary warblers, echoes through coastal cypress swamps and over Piedmont creeks.
North Carolina’s natural world is constantly in motion, and one of the best ways to experience it is out on the water. Whether you’re kayaking a stretch of the Coastal Plain’s 2,500 miles of paddle trail, spotting bald eagle nests while canoeing a quiet Piedmont lake, or chasing whitewater thrills on a Pisgah rapid, paddling offers a chance to awaken your senses and reconnect with the state’s diverse landscapes.
As we explore NC’s delicate aquatic ecosystems, we can practice stewardship to help native plants and wildlife thrive. Below, we’ll share a few special spots across the state for kayaking, canoeing, and rafting, along with tips for preserving the health of our waterways for years to come.
6 Waterways to explore through the old north state
The Nantahala River
Location: Bryson City
Rafting the Nantahala’s crisp rapids is a rite of passage for whitewater enthusiasts.The Nantahala National Forest bursts into life with a carpet of white bloodroot blooms and the calls of visiting neotropical birds. Sticking to designated raft put-ins, take-outs, and paths helps us minimize erosion’s impact on this vital ecosystem and protect native plants, including rare species growing in the river basin’s Southern Appalachian bogs. They’re some of the only such wetlands found on public NC lands, and they support equally rare animal life, like North America’s smallest turtle.
Lassiter Swamp
Location: Gatesville
At Merchants Millpond State Park, home to Lassiter Swamp and a historic millpond, you can tranquilly paddle through a moss-draped maze of old-growth cypress and tupelo trees while the world around you hums with activity. Watch beavers build dams and river otters play in the shallows. Above you, barred owls, second in size only to the great horned owl and seen in the daytime more than other nocturnal owls tend to nests. Paddling quietly reduces stress on these creatures while letting you listen for the owls’ distinctive eight-to-nine note calls. They famously sound a bit like, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” Before you go, check to see if park rangers are leading a paddle trip to the “Big Tree”, an ancient cypress and the second-largest tree in NC. It’s deep in the swamp, but you can see it safely with an experienced guide.
The Haw River
location: Saxapahaw
Paddling the Haw River will wind you through rolling hills, historic Alamance County mill towns, and stretches of both calm and whitewater. Water levels can fluctuate, so be sure to check conditions before launching. After time spent on the water, consider cleaning and drying all gear before heading home. Even mud or sand can carry invasive organisms and pathogens that aren’t visible to the eye, and careful cleaning helps prevent their spread.
The Davidson River
Location: Brevard
In Western NC, Joyce Kilmer’s old-growth poplar trees, some over 400 years old, tower above a rich cove forest filled with mosses, ferns and salamanders. With its short, shaded loop and gentle elevation, it’s a great place to for the entire family to understand how forests are layered, living systems, from canopy to forest floor.
After rain, you might spot a Blue Ridge Two-Lined Salamander crossing the trail or glimpse a Jordan’s Salamander near mossy roots. We can talk with kids about how many salamanders breathe through their skin — and how observing, not touching, helps protect their fragile bodies and habitats. Encourage slow steps, careful footing and a “look but leave” mindset. Even fallen branches and fungi support this ecosystem — and leaving things as we find them helps keep it thriving.
Lake Mattamuskeet
location: Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula
At the largest natural freshwater lake in NC, look for flocks of egrets and herons, while in the nearby wetlands, black bears, bobcats, and the world’s only population of wild red wolves roam. As showstopping as the area’s mammals are, the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge may be even more well known to birders. The lake, marsh, and woodlands provide a habitat to more than 240 bird species, and spring is a delicate nesting season for many. While paddling, using binoculars and keeping a respectful distance from waterfowl and wading bird colonies helps us avoid disturbances that could cause stressed parents to abandon their nests.
Lake Tillery
Location: Norwood
Nestled beneath the Uwharrie National Forest, this 5,000-acre lake offers stunning views of North America’s oldest mountain range. In tall trees you might spy an osprey or bald eagle nest. Head to a quiet cove and look up to see if you can spot one. When stopping to rest, land boats on designated pull-up zones or, when not possible, areas with minimal vegetation instead of tying them to trees helps us avoid damage to bark and tree growth.
Outdoor NC - Leave No Trace: Learning from the Experts
Family Fishing Tips from ONC Guide Danielle Ennis
Taking guidance from NC’s seasoned outdoor experts can help us learn how to savor our wild, natural world while safeguarding it for the future. That’s exactly why we wanted to hear from Outdoor NC Guide Danielle Ennis.
As Head Paddling Guide and Instructor at Headwaters Outfitters: a family-owned paddle sport and fly fishing outfitter that’s operated in Rosman, NC, for 32 years, we knew Danielle would have the inside scoop on paddling out with care. Below, she shared her top tips for keeping NC’s waterways wild while making the most of your paddling adventure.
1. Know before you go:
Following the Outdoor NC Leave No Trace principle “Plan Ahead and Prepare” means getting familiar with where we plan to paddle and gathering as much pre-trip information as possible. Before heading out on the water, we can set ourselves up for a safer and more rewarding experience by ensuring we have a map of the area, checking water conditions and anticipated weather forecasts, seeking local knowledge of any hazards or obstacles, and acknowledging our own skill levels.
2. Dress for the conditions:
Considering water and air temperatures when deciding what to wear is key. A rule of thumb for adventures out on the water is that the combined water and air temperature should add up to 120 degrees or greater; anything under that can significantly increase hypothermia risk in the event of capsizing and taking an unexpected swim. Another good rule of thumb is that it’s best to avoid cotton. Wearing moisture-wicking, quick-dry clothing and carrying extra layers in a waterproof dry bag helps us ensure a comfortable body temperature when dry or wet.
3. Pack your paddling essentials:
Like any good adventure, having our basic essentials and safety gear readily on hand will help contribute to a safe, comfortable, and successful trip. We can pack according to our paddling environment and duration of the trip, but at a minimum, it’s always best to have water and food as well as a map, whistle, first aid kit, sunscreen, sunglasses, headlamp, rain jacket, and extra layers in a dry bag. It’s good practice to bring along a cell phone, throw rope and extra paddle, too, for any unexpected incidents.
4. Paddle Responsibly:
Not only can we as paddlers practice safety on the water, we can act responsibly while off the water, too. Paddling safely and responsibly means following Outdoor NC Leave No Trace-informed tips like knowing and obeying any local rules and regulations for our paddling destination, using designated access areas, being considerate of others, packing out all the trash we pack in, and keeping a restful distance from wildlife.
5. Always wear your life jacket:
Regardless of age or experience, we should always wear life jackets, or Personal Floatation Devices (PFD), while on the water. Wearing a life jacket doesn’t mean you’re a bad swimmer — it acts as a floatation aid to assist and save energy in case you take an unexpected swim or need to self-rescue. It’s nearly impossible to put a life jacket on once you fall into the water! When paddling as a group, make sure everyone has a United States Coast Guard-approved Level 70 or Type III life jacket designed for paddling that’s well-fitted, comfortable, and in good working order.
Want to learn more ways to explore North Carolina’s natural world, from the High Country to the coast, while being a good steward of it?
Inside our Evergreen E-Newsletter you’ll find useful tips on how to responsibly enjoy all kinds of outdoor adventures, highlights from local guides, and recommendations on destinations to explore throughout North Carolina for adventurers of all abilities.
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