North Carolina is a paddler’s dream: Take your pick of navigating between knobby cypress stands in serene blackwaters, following the flow of a mountain river’s current, or exploring the most remote corners of the state through parkland. In our November issue’s installment of the Murphy to Manteo series, one writer escaped to Jamesville’s Roanoke River Trail for a long-overdue dose of nature. If you, like her, enjoy prolonging your time in our state’s great outdoors, check out these eight remote locales where you can paddle in and camp out.
The French Broad Paddle Trail curves like a crescent through 140 miles of North Carolina, starting in Rossman and continuing into Tennessee. With more than 40 access points, the route ranges from flat sections, like in Brevard, to exciting (but navigable) rapids. You can paddle your way past mountain towns (where you can pick up additional gear from local outfitters), campgrounds, and waterfalls. Choose from more than 40 campsites (available by advance registration) in places like Asheville, national forests, game lands, and private farmland. Click here to see the map of the trail’s locations.
With more than 240 miles of shoreline to explore, Fontana Lake is an ideal western destination to dip your paddle into serene mountain waters. Photography courtesy of Explore Bryson City
At the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, pitch your tent with a view of Fontana Lake. It’s home to several campsites that you can paddle or hike to, including Backcountry Campsite No. 8 on a teensy island. Launch your boat from the ramps at Fontana Village Marine or Cable Cove and paddle out into the wilds of the park, where you can immerse yourself in the mountain backdrop, red clay shoreline, and turquoise waters. For backcountry camping, you’ll need a reservation and permit in advance. Make your preparations at the National Park Service website.
Northeast of Boone, the New River State Park is home to five primitive campsites you can paddle to along the river. Launch your kayak at the Wagoner Access and explore the scenic South Fork of the New River, or beach your kayak at the access, lace up your hiking shoes, and explore the Riverbend Trail. When the sun gets low, set up camp and take in the sounds and scenes (like the hellbender salamander) of nature.
Located in Burke and McDowell counties, this state park is home to paddle-in campsites by the Catawba River and Paddy’s Creek. The Long-Arm Paddle-In Campground provides restroom facilities, and you can also paddle or drive and hike to sites at the Catawba River Campground, which offers bathhouse facilities, firewood, water spigots, and handicap-accessible sites. Fed by cold water from the Catawba and Linville rivers, Lake James is a natural spot for fishing for largemouth bass and walleye during the spring through fall, so bring a rod and reel in addition to your paddle and backpack.
Triangle-based paddlers can drive 40-or-so miles southwest of Raleigh to kayak and camp in this state park, located along the Cape Fear River. Surrounded by rhododendron bushes and forests, these primitive campsites range from those perfect for solo campers to large groups. Make a reservation at Raven’s Rock Canoe Camp, where the six sites can each accommodate up to six people. Paddle in via the Cape Fear River Canoe Trail and camp by the Little Creek Loop Trail, near Raven Rock’s 150-foot-tall bluff.
Cozied against the Virginia state line, this state park in Gates County is lush with cypress and beech trees, aquatic vegetation, and dense forests. Paddle through the 760-acre millpond and follow the color-coded buoys to the three different paddle-in campgrounds. Bennetts Creek, a 4.5-mile journey from the boat ramp, offers six primitive campsites in an assortment of raised platforms and those on higher ground. Since the paddle trip to Bennetts Creek takes some time, make reservations in advance and give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the journey.
Pause your paddling and look up — and marvel at the majestic cypresses overhead. photograph by Chris Rogers
Spanning six counties from the Roanoke River to the Albemarle Sound, this waterway is home to campsites all accessible to paddle-in campers (and some to those who prefer to drive in). Whether you want to explore near Weldon, Scotland Neck, Jamesville, or Edenton, you can find an access and campsite for your adventures. Follow in the steps of our writer, who pitched a tent at Barred Owl Roost, a raised campsite supported by pilings about three miles away from Jamesville. Also nearby is the Beaver Lodge platform (keep an eye out for the eponymous residents).
Paddle between islands of marshland at Hammocks Beach State Park. Photography courtesy of Onslow County Tourism
Enter this beach-front state park near Swansboro and paddle out to explore the soundside archipelago between the mainland and Bear Island. You can bring your own kayak or rent one from the park office and paddle through the marshland to the islands where you can go shelling and look for shark teeth. Your destination is Bear Island, where you can camp in primitive sites between the dunes. If you prefer a more cushy camping experience, you can drive up and park your RV or pitch a tent overlooking the water at the mainland campground.
After a visit to the Newbold-White House, extend your journey into Perquimans County by exploring local history and downtown shops and finding tasty treats.
From pocosins to hollows, black bears shape North Carolina’s wild places — with persistence, silence, and strength.
To save her beloved holiday casserole from a Tupperware fate, one chef dared to reimagine a family classic.
This month, we give thanks to the men and women who devote their lives to keeping safe the people, places, and traditions we hold dear.
