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Lower Neuse Region 4 contains the following counties:
Carteret (CA), Craven (CR), Pamlico (PA)
Coastal Region Paddle Trails Map with county names.
The trail names can be broken down as follows:
"region letter"-"County/ies the trail is in"-"trail number".
More detail on the Trail Naming Convention is available on the map list page.
Trail Descriptions
Pittman Creek is located on the north side of Broad Creek, approximately 2.5 miles from the boat ramp located in Whortonsville and approximately .5 miles east of Burton Creek. Pittman Creek offers a two mile paddle, exploring the headwaters of the creek. By combining the Pittman Creek Trail with the lower portion of the Maw Point Kayak Trail, the paddler can enjoy an approximate 7 mile outing.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Slade's Grocery, Whortonsville |
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Burton Creek is located on the north side of Broad Creek, approximately 2 miles from the boat ramp located in Whortonsville. Burton Creek offers a two mile paddle from its mouth and exploring both forks of the creek. By combining the Burton Creek Trail with the lower portion of the Maw Point Kayak Trail, the paddler is able to enjoy an approximate 6 mile outing.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Slade's Grocery, Whortonsville |
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This trail begins at Slade's Grocery in Whortonsville. As you leave the boat ramp, head northwest up Brown Creek. It is approximately 2 miles up Brown Creek to its headwaters. On the way out, Spice Creek offers a nice side trip. You can return to the boat ramp at Slade's Grocery after exploring Brown Creek, for a nice half day trip. If you desire a longer outing, as you approach the mouth of Brown Creek, turn southwest and head up Broad Creek. You will arrive at the headwaters of Broad Creek at the approximate 7 mile point along the trail. Returning back to the mouth of Broad Creek, turn south and paddle up Gideon Creek, to the small fishing community of Pamlico. There you will find commercial fishing boats mixed with the waterfront homes in the community. Return back to the mouth of Gideon Creek, turn east, paddle across Bulah Point to the mouth of Tar Creek. Paddle up Tar Creek, return to the mouth and paddle across Broad Creek to Slade's Grocery and the boat ramp. These small creeks can be utilized to fit your paddling outing to your schedule.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Slade's Grocery, Whortonsville |
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This paddle is exposed to easterly winds and should not be attempted when winds from the east are over 10 to 15 knots. There are a few small beaches for rest stops, but do not land at wooded beaches as old roots and stumps abound just under the surface of the water and can be dangerous. Large portions of this shore are lined with rocks or old bulkheads, but landing spots can be found in between.
Put in at Slade's Grocery in Whortonsville, after paying a small launching fee. Exit Coffee Creek and turn left into Broad Creek. Paddle to the mouth, rounding Tonney Hill Point to the right. Pass, or explore Cedar Creek on the right and continue to Gum Thicket Creek, also a nice side trip. In this stretch, you will encounter an old "pound-net" fish trap, which is usually just under the surface but may be partially above water. Use caution when crossing, especially with a rudder, or go around the end at the shore if there is room.
Continue to Old House Creek, where there is a small, protected cove for a rest, past Orchard Creek and Upper McCotter Bay, to Pierce Creek. These two creeks are lined with private dwellings and docks. Continuing south, when you first encounter Whittaker Point, there is a long sandy beach that makes a nice lunch stop. There is an interesting, natural sand causeway here, awash at high water.
Cross Whitaker Creek, watching for traffic in and out of this busy sailing harbor, and admire the old homes on the Oriental waterfront. Paddle to the red light, marker #8, and head toward the bridge. Watch for harbor traffic, and do not take a shortcut through the hole in the jetty. Turn right after the bridge, watching out for old pilings just under the surface near the shore, and take out at the Wildlife Ramp.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Slade's Grocery, Whortonsville |
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| 2) Wildlife Boat Ramp, Oriental |
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Paris Creek is located on the south side of Broad Creek, approximately 1.5 miles from the boat ramp located in Whortonsville. Paris Creek offers an approximate 1.2 mile outing on the creek. The Paris Creek Trail is accessible off the Neuse River Kayak Trail, and offers an approximate 4 mile outing, if you return to Slade's Grocery after paddling up Paris Creek.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Slade's Grocery, Whortonsville |
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Gum Thicket Creek is located southeast of Whortonsville, along the open waters of the expansive Neuse River. Since the creek is located adjacent to such open waters, this trail should only be utilized by more experienced paddlers in boats designed for open waters. Gum Thicket Creek is located adjacent the Neuse River Kayak Trail which begins in Whortonsville.
Beginning at the ramp in Whortonsville, paddle out Broad Creek, following the route of the Neuse River Kayak Trail, round the point at Tonney Hill and continue southwest along the shoreline. At the approximate 4 mile point, you will enter the mouth of Gum Thicket Creek. Paddle up the creek which is approximately .75 miles long and explore its tree lined banks. Your return trip can be to retrace the trail back to Whortsonville, or continue along the Neuse River Kayak Trail southwesterly to Orchard Creek where you can paddle up Bright Creek to the Bright Creek Access located on SR 1317. Both options are approximately the same distance.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Slade's Grocery, Whortonsville |
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| 2) Bright Creek Access, SR 1317 |
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| 3) Wildlife Boat Ramp, Oriental |
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Orchard Creek and its two tributaries, Bright Creek and Pasture Creek, offer varied terrain for a short exploration, or an entrance to the Neuse River close to Oriental. Orchard Creek is about 2 miles in length.
Put-in is at the head of Bright Creek on SR 1317, 1.5 miles from Straight Road (SR 1321). Paddle down the narrow channel bounded by marsh grasses. At a sharp turn to the right, the creek begins to open and widens further after the next, sharp left, where there are houses on both sides of the creek.
At the mouth of Bright Creek, Pasture Creek is directly ahead and the head of Orchard Creek is toward the right. The mouth of Orchard Creek at the Neuse River is to the left.
Paddling up Orchard Creek, past a sharp right turn with a small tributary on the left, and a sharp left turn takes you into a narrow channel through natural woodland with good birdwatching. Near the head of the creek is a beaver dam which you can drag across and continue paddling.
The mouth to Orchard Creek is located at the 7 mile point along the Neuse River Kayak Trail, and can be accessed from either Slade's Grocery in Whortonsville or the Wildlife Boat Ramp in Oriental for a longer outing.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Slade's Grocery, Whortonsville |
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| 2) Bright Creek Access, SR 1317 |
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| 3) Wildlife Boat Ramp, Oriental |
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Greens Creek and its tributaries, Smith Creek and Kershaw Creek, are accessible from the NC Wildlife ramp at the end of Midyette Street, one block NE of the bridge in Oriental. This almost 16 mile network of creeks offers hours of scenic, protected paddling close to the town. Pelicans and other waterfowl frequent these creeks. The Neuse River shore can also be reached by paddling under the high bridge. Canoe and kayak rentals are available in Oriental.
Dewey Point, directly across from the ramp, is the site of the legendary Teach's Oak, now fallen, where many dug hoping to fine one of Blackbeard's hordes. Paddling up Greens Creek, Otter Creek, the first on the left, is the site of an excavated, 19th century shipwreck. Continuing up Greens Creek, there is a small marina and summer village on the right. Kershaw Creek soon enters from the right followed by a number of small tributaries. After curving to the right, the creek splits into two arms, both worth exploring.
Paddling up Kershaw Creek leads to an extensive area of marsh all the way to SR 1005 and the tiny village of Kershaw, where small steamboats once visited this community.
Back at Dewey point, the more settled Smith Creek and its major branches, Morris Creek and Camp Creek, are also worth exploring.
Trail map for printing (Adobe .pdf file)
| Access Name/Description: |
Latitude: |
Longitude: |
| 1) Wildlife Boat Ramp, Oriental |
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