Kayak-topia: Water You Waiting For?

I stood on the boat ramp at Mackey's Marina, giving my kayak one last glance-over before heading upstream. The sun had come up about an hour ago, and the day was clear and warm, a perfect day for a trip up Kendrick's Creek in my kayak. I climbed into my kayak, swung the bow around, and started paddling. The water was like green-black glass, and silence surrounded me with the exception of a few songbirds calling out to each other. Kendrick's Creek offers calm, flat water, making it a great spot for recreational kayakers and beginners seeking a serene, low-stress experience. You will enjoy picturesque rural views and abundant natural dappled light. Launching your kayak is done through convenient access points like Mackey's Marina. A day on the creek will reward you with a day of peacefulness, offering a rare escape into nature.

Washington and Tyrrell counties offer some of the best kayaking conditions you could ever hope for. Lake Phelps offers cypress-lined shorelines and shallow, clear waters. Kayaking on Lake Phelps in North Carolina will reward you with a "hidden gem" experience. 16,000 acres of crystal-clear, shallow water (averaging 4.5 feet) surrounded by lush, undeveloped forest. As the state's second-largest natural lake, it provides a quiet atmosphere for paddling past ancient bald cypress trees, viewing bald eagles, and enjoying intense solitude.

The Scuppernong River is another quiet, slow-moving river with deep, dark water that flows through Columbia, offering a very calm paddling experience. Quiet and rustic, the river flows through undeveloped swamp forests and is often surrounded by lush greenery. As a blackwater river, it is generally slow-moving, flat, and calm, making it ideal for beginners. It can become wider and more exposed to wind, and therefore rougher near its mouth. It is common to see turtles, white-tailed deer, river otters, and various birds like bald eagles and ospreys. The visitors center in Columbia offers a nice, safe launch area with parking, though the river is wider and shared with more powerboats here. Morning or late afternoon is ideal, as it is cooler and wildlife is most active. One of the best things about the Scuppernong River is that it is less crowded and offers a peaceful alternative to larger waterways, providing 2-4 hour trips, or longer, depending on your pace.

Further east on Milltail Creek, you will find a highly scenic 7.1-mile stretch of river providing access to remote wetlands. It feels remote and wild, often described as navigating a botanical garden, with lush swamp scenery and calm, mirrored, dark water. The river is easy, flatwater paddling, with common sights including turtles, egrets, and herons, with a high likelihood of spotting alligators. The launch is at the end of Buffalo City Road, within the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. There are marked, color-coded paddling trails of varying distances, with options for both short trips and longer explorations. This area is known for being very buggy, so high-strength bug spray is essential. While accessible most of the year, spring and fall offer the best, most comfortable weather.

I paddled up Kendrick's Creek slowly and quietly, not wanting to disturb any wildlife that I might happen across. I was not disappointed. I didn't see any Black bears that day. Washington County is famous for its black bears, but I did see two Bald Eagles and a six-point deer on my short three-mile trip to the Guinea Hole. The legend of the Guinea Hole dates far back into Washington County's history and involves the landing docks of what was once the Buncombe Plantation, just off the Crossroads. You can drop into Mackey's Marina anytime and ask for "Chuck". I will be happy to regale you with a bit of the history of this area before you set out on your own adventure up the creek.

There are abundant opportunities on our waterways along the Southshore. The lakes, rivers, and swamps all along the Southshore offer you an experience that you will not soon forget, a nature experience of a lifetime. Rent or buy yourself a kayak and get out on the water this spring and summer; you will not be disappointed.