We provide a canoe or kayak, paddles, PFDs (personal floatation devices), shuttle service and at least one experienced guide/naturalist for all guided trips. These trips are good for paddlers of all skill levels who enjoy paddling with others to share the adventure. The guide will give a brief paddling and safety talk before each trip and can help you along the way. Advance registration is required for all guided trips.
The Roanoke River originates in the Virginia mountains. As the river crosses the Virginia-North Carolina boundary, it flows through rolling hills and flat land. It then empties into Albermale Sound near Plymouth, NC. As it cuts its way across the Coastal Plain, the Roanoke River spreads out over a very large floodplain creating one of the largest swamp ecosystems in the eastern United States. The swamps are habitat to many common wildlife species such as turkey, deer, bobcat, raccoon, opossum, squirrel and barred owls and rare species like the black bear, bald eagles and the many species of Neotropical migratory birds that are declining in number. The quality of the swamp forests is itself rare.
This weekend paddle trip begins at 9:00 a.m. on the first day as participants meet at Roberson’s Marina on Gardner Creek near Jamesville, NC. After meeting and having introductions, we will run a shuttle to Jamesville, NC. From the put-in on Gardner Creek, our paddle trip will take us down Gardner Creek, through Devil’s Gut swamp, down the Roanoke River and on to Jamesville. Our accommodations for the evening are a bed & breakfast establishment.
The next day, we will paddle one of two other swamps near Williamston, NC or Plymouth, NC; either Sweetwater Creek swamp or Conaby Creek swamp. Our canoe trip will end in mid to late afternoon so participants can begin their journey home before it gets to late.
Fees: The trip fees are $208.00 per person (double occupancy), $235.00 per person (single occupancy) and $187.00 per person for those providing their accommodations and breakfasts. A canoe or kayak, PFD, paddle, lunch both days, breakfast the second day in the bed and breakfast establishment, lodging one evening and an experienced guide/naturalist are provided.
Guests are responsible for transportation to and from the put-ins, dinner, appropriate clothing for the time of year, a waterproof bag for extra clothes and gear, hat, sunscreen, water bottle, light-weight rain gear and foot wear that can get dirty and/or wet.
Need to get away for the weekend, but don’t want to go too far from home? Spirit Island, on the Haw River, is an ideal place to shed the stresses of an urban lifestyle and enjoy isolation, beautiful scenery and plenty of birds and wildlife.
Beginning at Saxapahaw, we paddle 4.5 miles to the island on a river section free from rapids, but home to great blue herons, Canada geese, cormorants, muskrats, beavers, turtles, ospreys, red-tail hawks, belted kingfishers and an occasional bald eagle.
At the island, we set up tents on one of two camping platforms and soak up the surroundings before an evening meal. After breakfast the next day, we paddle back to Saxapahaw and arrive by noon.
Fee: $75 per person – canoe, dinner and breakfast provided, $65 per person with your own boat.
