Rental Trips

Canoeing from Red Slide Park by SilenteyeRental trips include a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard, paddles, PFDs (personal floatation devices) and shuttle service. Visit the Choosing a Trip page for guidance in deciding which trip would be best for your group. We add trips to our Paddle Calendar as they are requested on a first come, first serve basis. Walk-ins are welcome but it is always best to register in advance to reserve your boats. Trip availability also depends on current river levels.

All Rental trips are also available as guided trips with an additional fee of $5 per person. (4 person minimum)

Register for a trip

Bynum Downriver Paddle

4.0 miles, 2.5 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 3.5′ Bynum gauge (340 cfs)
Access points – easy
$40 per single sit-on-top kayak

This whitewater stretch of the Haw River flows through the Lower Haw River State Natural Area which is approximately 1,000 acres in size and extends on both sides of the river from Bynum to Highway 64 in Chatham County.  Long popular with hikers and canoeists, the Lower Haw River State Natural area is remarkable for its steep slopes, large trees and rock outcrops.  Preservation of the natural area aids in the protection of water quality which is critical to at least two endangered species, the Cape Fear shiner and Septima’s clubtail dragonfly.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Bynum Upriver Paddle – short trip

3.0 miles, 1.5 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none above 15-501 dam
Access points – moderate
$30 per single kayak or stand up paddleboard, $40 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

An easy, short paddle for beginners and experienced paddlers upriver of the dam at Bynum.  This is a great introductory experience particularly for parents paddling with small children. This is a loop trip ending at the same place where you begin.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Bynum Upriver Paddle – half day

4.0 miles, 2.5 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none above 15-501 dam
Access points – moderate
$40 per single kayak or stand up paddleboard, $50 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

Flat-water upriver of the dam in Bynum is especially well suited for both beginner paddlers and anyone interested in nature. Parents paddling with small children find the experience particularly gratifying.  This is a loop trip ending at the same place where you begin.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Chicken Bridge Rd. to Hwy. 15-501

6.5 miles, 4 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 2.5′ Haw River gauge (280 cfs)
Access points – moderate
$40 per single sit-on-top kayak

Comprised of numerous class I rapids and at least 2 miles of consistent class II rapids, this is a popular whitewater stretch of the Haw River.  It is also remote and scenic and offers many opportunities to watch birds and wildlife.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Glencoe River Park to Graham Landing

8 miles, 4.5 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 2.5′ Haw River gauge (280 cfs)
Access points – easy
$50 per single sit-on-top kayak

The first half of this trip offers exciting class I and class II rapids as the river flows through urban and industrial areas. The second half of this trip offers a more remote paddling experience with gently, flowing water and lots of birds and wildlife.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Glencoe River Park to Red Slide Park

4.7 miles, 2.5 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 2.5′ Haw River gauge (280 cfs)
Access points – easy
$40 per single sit-on-top kayak

Numerous class I and class II rapids make this a particularly challenging stretch of river. Although the river flows through both urban and industrial areas, the rapids are fun to negotiate and there are enough remote sections with birds and wildlife to observe.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Glencoe River Park to Swepsonville River Park

10 miles, 5 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 2.5′ Haw River gauge (280 cfs)
Access points – easy
$50 per single sit-on-top kayak

This paddling experience offers class I and class II rapids during the first third of the trip, remote flatwater for the second third of the trip and ends with class I and class I+ rapids during the final third of the trip.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Graham Landing to Saxapahaw Lake

8 miles, 4.5 hours
Class I+ rapids
Min. river level – 2′ Haw River gauge (200 cfs)
Access points – easy, portage – easy
$50 per single kayak, $60 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

This trip is best for those with previous paddling experience who want more time on the water. Paddlers maneuver through both natural and man-made objects and enjoy opportunities to watch birds and wildlife. There is one easy portage around the Puryear Dam in Swepsonville on this trip.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Graham Landing to Swepsonville River Park

2.1 miles, 1 hour
Class I+ rapids
Min. river level – 2′ Haw River gauge (200 cfs)
Access points – easy
$30 per single kayak, $40 per tamdem canoe or tamdem kayak

This trip is best for those interested in a little excitement. Class I and class I+ rapids cause the paddler to negotiate both natural and man-made objects.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Greater Alamance Creek Paddle

2.7 miles, 1.5 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none above Puryear dam
Access points – easy
$30 per single kayak, $40 per tamdem canoe or tamdem kayak

Great for beginning paddlers and anyone who likes the feel of a remote, intimate river, this trip offers gentle flowing water, steep wooded slopes and unsuspecting birds and wildlife.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Greater Alamance Creek to Saxapahaw Lake

6.5 miles, 4 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none between Puryear dam & Saxapahaw dam
Access points – easy, portage – easy
$40 per single kayak, $50 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

Greater Alamance Creek offers paddlers a remote setting with lots of birds and wildlife. An even greater variety and abundance of birds and wildlife is available to see as the paddler continues downriver to Saxapahaw Lake. There is one easy portage around the Puryear Dam in Swepsonville on this trip.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Old Greensboro Rd. to Chicken Bridge Rd.

5.5 miles, 3 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 2.3′ Haw River gauge (250 cfs)
Access points – easy
$40 per single sit-on-top kayak

There are many class I rapids and enough class II rapids to make this remote section of river both relaxing and exciting. Like the area upriver of the put-in, the river is particularly beautiful with lots of birds and wildlife to observe.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Red Slide Park to Graham Landing

3.2 miles, 1.5 hours
Class I+ rapids
Min. river level – 2′ Haw River gauge (200 cfs)
Access points – easy
$30 per single kayak, $40 per tamdem canoe or tamdem kayak

Great for beginning paddlers and anyone interested in nature, this trip features easy paddling and opportunities to watch birds and wildlife.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Red Slide Park to Saxapahaw Lake

11 miles, 6.5 hours
Class I+ rapids
Min. river level – 2′ Haw River gauge (200 cfs)
Access points – easy, portage easy
$50 per single kayak, $60 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak
$30 per kayak or canoe for second day
$10 per person per night camping fee or $50 per platform for up to six people

This trip is best for anyone wanting a weekend overnight canoe camping trip that offers different river conditions, including class I and class I+ rapids, different forests and landscape types, solitude, an isolated campsite on Spirit Island and many opportunities to watch birds and wildlife. This trip can also be done in a day if started early in the day. There is one easy portage around the Puryear Dam in Swepsonville on this trip.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Red Slide Park to Swepsonville River Park

5.2 miles, 2.5 hours
Class I+ rapids
Min. river level – 2′ Haw River gauge (200 cfs)
Access points – easy
$40 per single kayak, $50 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

This trip is best for those with some previous paddling experience. Class I and class I+ rapids add to the excitement of paddling this stretch of river. Birds and wildlife are easy to observe.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Saxapahaw Lake & Upriver – short trip

3 miles, 1.5 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none above Saxapahaw dam
Access points – easy
$30 per single kayak or stand up paddleboard, $40 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

A leisurely short paddle awaits beginner and experienced paddlers alike upriver of the dam in Saxapahaw. This is a great introductory experience particularly for parents paddling with children. This is a loop trip ending at the same place where you begin.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Saxapahaw Lake & Upriver – half day

5.5 miles, 3 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none above Saxapahaw dam
Access points – easy
$40 per single kayak or stand up paddleboard, $50 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

A leisurely day of paddling awaits beginner and experienced paddlers alike upriver of the dam on Saxapahaw Lake. This is a great introductory experience particularly for parents paddling with children. This is a loop trip ending at the same place where you begin.

Next dates:
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Saxapahaw Lake & Upriver – full day

9 miles, 5 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none above Saxapahaw dam
Access points – easy
$50 per single kayak or stand up paddleboard, $60 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

A leisurely day of paddling awaits beginner and experienced paddlers alike upriver of the dam on Saxapahaw Lake. This is a great introductory experience particularly for parents paddling with children. This is a loop trip ending at the same place where you begin.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Saxapahaw Mill Race to Chicken Bridge Rd.

11 miles, 6 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 2.3′ Haw River gauge (250 cfs)
Access points – moderate
$50 per single sit-on-top kayak

This trip is perfect for anyone wanting a longer and exciting whitewater experience coupled with beautiful, remote scenery and lots of birds and wildlife.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Saxapahaw Mill Race to Old Greensboro Rd.

5.5 miles, 3 hours
Class I-II rapids
Min. river level – 2.3′ Haw River gauge (250 cfs)
Access points – moderate
$40 per single sit-on-top kayak

The many class I rapids and the long, beautiful class II rapid make this section of the river both fun and exciting, while surrounding mature floodplain forests make it a particularly beautiful stretch of river, rich with birds and wildlife.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Shallow Ford Natural Area to Indian Valley

5.2 miles, 2.5 hours
Class I rapids
Min. river level – 2′ Haw River gauge (200 cfs)
Access points – easy, portage – easy
$40 per single kayak, $50 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

Originating from the 192-acre riverside park in northeastern Alamance County, this river trip is good for the beginner paddler and anyone who enjoys a remote, intimate river experience. Near the end of the trip, paddlers must carry around, not paddle over, the low-head dam at Indian Valley.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Spirit Island Campout

9 miles, overnight camping
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none above Saxapahaw dam
Access points – easy
$60 per canoe for the first day, $30 for the second day
$10 per person per night camping fee or $50 per platform for up to six people

Need to get away for the weekend, but don’t want to go too far from home? Spirit Island, reached by a segment of river without rapids, is an ideal place to shed the stresses of an urban lifestyle and enjoy isolation, beautiful scenery and plenty of birds and wildlife.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.

Swepsonville River Park to Saxapahaw Lake

4.7 miles, 2.5 hours
Class A flat water
Min. river level – none between Puryear dam & Saxapahaw dam
Access points – easy, portage – easy
$40 per single kayak, $50 per tandem canoe or tandem kayak

Enjoyed by inexperienced and experienced paddlers alike, this trip offers a variety of flatwater river conditions and landscapes, along with the opportunity to watch birds and wildlife. There is one easy portage around the Puryear Dam in Swepsonville at the beginning of this trip.

Next dates: This trip is not currently scheduled.