Welcome to Bearolina’s Paddling Paradise!
Kayaking on Lake Phelps.
Paddling the extensive rivers, creeks, and shorelines of the Albemarle Sound and Lake Phelps in Washington County consists of easy, flat water paddling with no rocks or rapids. You cannot get lost, except in the beauty of nature that surrounds you.
Plymouth, NC is base camp for perhaps the most extensive paddling opportunities in North Carolina. The town of about 3,000 inhabitants is perched on the banks of the Roanoke River, which is known as NC’s Amazon and is the state’s longest river. The Roanoke is also a designated State Paddle Trail in which the Roanoke River Partners (roanokeriverpartners.org) maintains and rents camping platforms along almost the entire length of the river in NC. The Lower Roanoke Basin is the largest bottomland forest east of the Mississippi River and drains over 5 millions acres. As it approaches Plymouth, the Roanoke forms a delta, creating over 50 miles of shoreline within 5 miles of Plymouth—and that is just the beginning of this extensive estuary. Plymouth is not only the gateway to the Roanoke River Basin, but also to the beautiful Albemarle Sound six miles downstream.
Besides paddling the Roanoke River Delta, there are other unique paddling experiences in Washington County, such as visiting “The Cypress of the Shallows” which can be thought of as an open-air 3D art gallery consisting of thousands of cypress trees standing in the giant reflecting pool of the Albemarle Sound. It extends from the mouths of the Roanoke River Delta six miles to the community of Mackeys. Paddling through ancient cypress trees in an unforgettable experience. The best time to visit is when winds are predicted to be “light and variable” or at sunrise and sunset, when daytime winds subside.
The Town of Creswell on the east end of the county and accessed via Hwy 64, offers paddlers two unique experiences. You can paddle the clear waters of Lake Phelps, launching at Pettigrew State Park, or for a longer, truly wilderness adventure, paddle the Scuppernong River 12-1/2 miles from Creswell to the town of Columbia. The prize at the end of the paddle are the wonderful restaurants and shops in Columbia. It is only a 15-minute drive back to you starting point. So, come along and discover the beauty of the waterways of Washington County—with the stroke of a paddle!
“Shallow or narrow passages into Nature’s most private cathedrals are often only accessible with the stroke of a paddle. These enchanted waters provide a rare peak behind Nature’s curtain, seldom seen by man.” - Tom Harrison, Local Guide