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Trent & Neuse Rivers
Launch from Union Point Park, where the Neuse and Trent rivers meet beside historic downtown New Bern, NC’s first state capital. Ease into a flatwater paddle with broad river views, marshy edges and plenty of birdlife. And if you need any gear, Stillwater Kayaks has your back. After you dock, restaurants, shops, waterfront strolls and hotels are just steps away.
Tar River
Head an hour north for your next adventure. Set off from Greenville Town Common for a 3.5-mile Tar River paddle to Port Terminal Boat Access, following a slow-moving stretch lined with old-growth trees, shifting sandbars and wildlife habitat. You can rent gear or book a guided trip locally, then stroll through downtown Greenville’s coffee shops, restaurants and breweries. Extend the route with an overnight stay on one of Pitt County’s camping platforms along the Tar-Pamlico Water Trail.
Roanoke River
Northeast of Greenville at Moratoc Park, paddlers can launch directly onto the Roanoke River from an 18-acre county park built around the town’s original wharf. The site offers a practical starting point for a flatwater outing, with a river overlook, fishing pier and renovated event space. A nearby riverside camping platform offer a scenic overnight stop along the Roanoke River State Trail. It’s also less than a mile to quaint downtown Williamston, where The Tea Room on Main is a charming stop before or after a paddle.
Cashie River
In downtown Windsor, the Cashie River Boardwalk gives paddlers easy river access near the Roanoke Cashie River Center, where canoe and kayak rentals and guided boat tours are available to meander through tight cypress corridors. Rachel’s Bakery and Cafe is there for a post-paddle snack. Make it an overnight trip at the Cashie River Treehouses, with elevated walkways, river views and a convenient base for paddling, fishing or exploring this underrated gem in Bertie County.
Phelps Lake
At Pettigrew State Park, paddlers can launch from Cypress Point Access onto Lake Phelps, one of North Carolina’s largest natural lakes. The route offers blackwater scenery framed by bald cypress, Spanish moss and rare old-growth Atlantic white cedar, with chances to spot bald eagles, wintering tundra swans and other wildlife. Nearby camping includes bathhouse facilities and hot showers.
Albemarle Sound
Launch from Mackey’s Marina (you can order food at onsite restaurant The Landing at Mackey’s) in Roper and paddle Kendrick Creek toward the Albemarle Sound, where the Cypress of the Shallows rise from brackish water like a living shoreline gallery. Centuries of wind and water have shaped each bald cypress into something distinct, from knobby knees to twisting trunks, creating a quiet, memorable route near Plymouth.
Alligator River
At Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, paddlers can explore more than 15 miles of color-coded trails through pocosin wetlands, swamp forest and marsh on the Albemarle Peninsula. Choose a short route like Sandy Ridge Loop or Sawyer Lake, or paddle Milltail Creek toward the Alligator River while watching for black bears, river otters, wintering waterfowl and sunning alligators.
More paddling in Eastern NC
The above itinerary is just a starting point. Check out these other waterways for more kayaking and canoeing adventures across Eastern NC.
- Hammocks Beach State Park and Bear Island, Swansboro
- Lumber River State Park, Orrum
- Nags Head Woods Preserve, Nags Head
- Queen Anne Creek, Edenton
- Lake Waccamaw State Park, Lake Waccamaw
- White Lake, Elizabethtown
Visit Outdoor NC for additional tips on how to connect with nature and help preserve the natural beauty of our state.