Paddling Trips on the River
The Catawba Riverkeeper encourages everybody to get out and paddle on the River. We are sponsoring periodic family paddling trips on different sections of the Catawba River and its tributaries and we we have guided trips for youth throughout the summer. Come out and canoe or kayak with the Catawba Riverkeeper. In the alternative, get out and paddle on your own.
Although the Catawba River and Wateree River have 11 major lakes, there are still a lot of great places to paddle. For new paddlers, we recommend participating in a guided trip, such as one of our family Eco Tours. You can also learn to paddle by renting a kayak or participating in one of the programs at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, which is located on the Catawba River between Charlotte and Gastonia (link to National Whitewater Center web site). If you are comfortable paddling on your own, but lack experience, we suggest starting on one of the lakes, or the 31-mile long "free flowing" section of the Catawba between Lake Wylie and Great Falls, South Carolina. This section includes the world's largest grove of spider lilies, which bloom between mid-May and early June. A map showing put-in and take-out locations on this section of the river is available on the Duke website at http://www.duke-energy.com/lakes/catawba-river-canoe-trail-map.asp?sec=content.
Some sections of the South Fork River and the Upper Catawba River Canoe and Kayak trail are also a great choice for beginning paddlers. Even the most advanced paddler will find a challenge in the Wilson Creek Gorge, or during periodic recreational releases on the Great Falls of the Catawba. Links to information about most of the places to paddle on the Catawba are included below. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT EVEN THE EASIEST SECTIONS OF THE RIVER CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS DURING PERIODS OF HIGH WATER FLOW.
It is strongly recommended that you check the release schedule for the dam above the section that you are paddling before starting the trip because water levels can increase quickly on the Catawba. For example, if the release from Lake Wylie is 80 cubic feet per minute (cfm) or less, the water may be too low for this section to be enjoyable, and if the release from Lake Wylie approaches 11,800 cfm, Class I rapids become transformed into Class III rapids suitable for experienced paddlers only. Information about scheduled releases and the impact on downstream flow is available at the Duke Energy website or by calling 800-829-5253. A website that is specifically devoted to the release schedule from the Bridgewater Dam (Lake James) is at http://www.boatingbeta.com/releases/bridgewater.
We generally host guided paddling events open to the general public at least three times each year: our Spider Lily Eco-Tour in late May or early June, a Fall Leaf Eco-Tour on Lake James, and early spring eco-tour. Please watch our website for additional information about paddle trips. Information about the Spider Lily Eco-Tour is at Spider Lily Eco-Tour. Information about the Fall Leaf Tour is at Fall Leaf Tour. Information about the Youth Kayak River Expedition program is available by clicking here.
Information about Access Points and Trails
(organized from the lower part of the basin to the upper part of the basin):
- Landsford Canal Park map - map showing the location of the put-in and take-out as well as the major shoals in the River. The trip through the spider lilies typically takes 1-3 hours. There is a put-in and take-out in the park.
- Catawba River Trail from Lake Wylie to Landsford Canal - Description of access points and points of interest on the 31-mile long "free-flowing" section of the Catawba below Lake Wylie. The first section from the Lake Wylie dam to River Park in Rock Hill is about 6 miles long. The next section from River Park to Landsford Canal State Park is about 18 miles long. The final section, from Landsford Canal State Park to the Hwy. 9 bridge access is about 7.4 miles long. If the release from Lake Wylie is 80 cubic feet per minute (cfm) or less, the water may be too low for this section to be enjoyable. If the release from Lake Wylie approaches 11,800 cfm, Class I rapids become transformed into Class III rapids suitable for experienced paddlers only.
- South Fork River access points - There are various sections of the South Fork of the Catawba that can be paddled, but the easiest section to paddle is a section between the Spencer Mountain access point and I-85. This section is about 5.5 miles long.
- Riverbend Park in Catawba County (Lookout Shoals Lake)
- Upper Catawba River Trail brochure - page 1 (large PDF file)
- Upper Catawba River Trail brochure - page 2 (large PDF file)
- Wilson Creek Gorge - Wilson Creek Gorge is spectacular, but only appropriate for the most experienced paddlers (unless you just want to look at the scenery and watch the paddlers).
- Upper Catawba River Basin Map - including locations of access points
- Lower Catawba-Wateree River Basin Map - including locations of access points.
- Catawba Basin Whitewater Information compiled from American Whitewater site - This information includes information about tributaries of the Catawba including the Johns River, Linville River, and Wilson Creek. Most of the sections described in this summary are serious whitewater for skilled paddlers only.
To get additional information about access points on the various lakes, click here. For information about paddling other rivers in South Carolina, click here.
Video of Paddling Trips
Are you wondering what the water is like on the Catawba? To check out video of paddling trips to see if it looks like it fits your abilities, CLICK HERE.
Document Actions
- Upcoming Events
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Women's Only Kayak
Landsford Canal State Park,
May 19, 2012 -
Lake Hickory Covekeeper Meeting
320 Mauney Hall, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, NC,
May 21, 2012 -
Mountain Island Lake Covekeepers Monthly Meeting
TBA,
May 21, 2012 -
Hearing in SCE&G Coal Ash Lawsuit
Charleston Courtroom #6, U. S. Court House, 85 Broad St, Charleston, SC,
May 22, 2012 -
Lake Norman Covekeeper Mtg
East Lincoln Fire Department, 406 S. Pilot Knob Road, Stanley, NC,
May 24, 2012
- News
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May 07, 2012
2012 Mecklenburg State of the Environment Report
How’s the air out there? Is the water getting better? Are we recycling as much as we could be? According to an online Mecklenburg County survey, the verdict on all of the above, the answers are mixed, but encouraging. -
May 04, 2012
Gaston County QNRC Cancels Coal Ash Forum
The Gaston County Quality of Natural Resources Commission (QNRC) cancelled a public forum and information session about the potential threats to drinking water from coal ash, which had been scheduled for May 3. The reasons for cancelling the forum are unclear.
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May 03, 2012
State Farm - Cause An Effect
Please vote for our Cleaning Our Water Basin Initiative The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation has been selected as one of the top 100 finalists in Cause An Effect, a State Farm crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative which lets communities determine where grant funding is awarded, exclusively through Facebook. We need you to rally behind our Cause,cast your vote and help us earn a $25,000 grant for educational events, cleanup's and marketing. It’s simple to support our cause and vote – visit the State Farm Facebook page by clicking here: http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CatawbaRiverkeeperFo/afce1688d6/4474900b1a/5c7b2bee27/app_data=Cleaning-Our-Water-Basin , then click on the “Vote” button to show your support for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. You may vote 10 times per day!
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Apr 26, 2012
Coal Ash Provision Added to Transportation Bill
Republicans in the House of Representatives added a rider to the Transportation Bill that would prevent EPA from protecting us from the dangers of coal ash. Please let your Congressional representative know that you want the EPA to be able to regulate coal ash waste.
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Apr 04, 2012
Is It Sewage Spill Season?
The rash of recent reports of sewage spills is alarming. During the past week, sewage spills were reported in Tega Cay, south Charlotte, and various other locations. A copy of CMUD's press releases and links to other news reports about the problems are included below.
- Alliances
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The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare North Carolina, River Network, the North Carolina Conservation Network, and the Waterkeeper Alliance. EarthShare North Carolina makes it possible for employees to support the environment through workplace giving programs. River Network’s mission is to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain the health of our country. The NC Conservation Network supports, trains and coordinates diverse groups and directly advocates to achieve equitable and sustainable solutions for our environment. The Waterkeeper Alliance is a worldwide network of advocates for protection of our water resources. For more information about these organizations or to inquire about enrolling your employer in EarthShare NC, please contact CRF@catawbariverkeeper.org.
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Your River needs you as much as you need the River
- Fish Advisories
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Fish advisories have been issued throughout the Catawba-Wateree River basin for various types of fish. Many of these fish advisories are the result of testing initiated by Catawba Riverkeeper and confirmed by state and local officials. For a chart identifying fish types with the applicable adisories for the Charlotte area, click here. For more information about the fish advisories, click here.
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- Report Pollution in the Catawba River
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Help protect your River!
Tell your Riverkeeper if you see:
- Sewage Overflows
- Failure to control sediment from construction sites
- Illegal clearing of buffer areas
- Fish kills
- Invasive aquatic species
- Exceeding Pollution Limits
- Discharges exceeding allowable limits
- Unpermitted discharges
- Other issues that concern you
Click here to fill out a pollution report or
Call 1-888-679-9494 or 704-679-9494 (ext. 3)
- How to contact your NC Legislator
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Sometimes you just can't get the action that is needed to protect our water without contacting your legislator. To find out who represents you in the North Carolina legislature and how to contact them, click here.
