To celebrate Catawba Riverkeeper’s 25th anniversary this year, we invite YOU to explore YOUR basin with US! The Catawba-Wateree River Basin is fed by thousands of miles of tributary waters crossing two states, 26 counties, and dozens of distinct ecological zones. Hosted by a staff member of our Protect Team, come experience the headwaters near Lake James in North Carolina down through the river’s southern terminus at the Wateree River in South Carolina as it flows into the Congaree River. Each adventure offers a different experience whether kayaking on the water or hiking on land, for 1 hour or 7 hours, for beginners or experts, with your own equipment or rental gear from us. We look forward to exploring with you!
FREE Recover Brand Catawba Riverkeeper graphic shirt for those who attend for following Eco Tours: June 3, July 15, August 5, October 21
Saturday, March 11: 10am-2pm - Sparkleberry Swamp , Rimini, South Carolina
Enjoy a float on the southern terminus of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin in Sparkleberry Swamp on the Wateree River. This is where Wateree River flows into the Congaree River creating a 1,600-acre cypress swamp. Join Riverkeeper Brandon Jones, Southern Basin Watershed Manager Rachael Rosenstein, and Engagement Manager Greg Nance who will take you through dense forested black waters, towering moss draped cypress trees, and abundant wildlife hosting over 150 bird species. We may have a special guest join us – Jack Horan, the author of Paddling South Carolina: A Guide to Palmetto State River Trails (1996). This is a flatwater 3 to 5-mile paddle depending on the water level. We’ll meet at Sparkleberry Landing, have a picnic lunch in our boats along the way, and end back at the landing. Expect to be in your boat for the entire duration of the trip. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. This outing great for beginners who can be in their kayaks for an extended amount of time.
Cost: Rental - $30 / BYO - $25
Rain Date: Sunday, March 12
Saturday, April 22 : 10am-4pm - Birds, Bugs and Beavers on Bridgewater, Morganton, North Carolina
Come paddle the premiere section of the Catawba River in the Northern Basin on Earth Day with its Watershed Manager Grant Buckner! Along with Engagement Manager Greg Nance we’ll explore this 7.5-mile paddle through scenic forested shoreline home to Bald Eagles, Belted King Fishers and Great Blue Herons. Along the way you’ll learn how we’re using bugs and beavers to enhance the Catawba Riverkeeper mission to preserve, protect and restore the waters of this basin. We’ll meet at the Public Fishing Area in Morganton, enjoy a break on the shore with BYO picnic lunch, experience how we sample water quality with bugs, and end at the Watermill Road Bridge Access in the Town of Glen Alpine. We will provide a shuttle bus and kayak trailer to bring guests and boats from the take-out to the put-in. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. This outing is best suited for intermediate paddlers and for durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended).
Cost: Rental - $50 / BYO - $45
Rain Date: Sunday, April 23
Saturday, May 27 : 9am-12pm - Spider Lilies Kayak Tour and History Hike, Catawba, South Carolina
Paddle through the largest stand of rocky shoals spider lilies in the world and then hike through canal ruins! We’ll start our adventure at Landsford Canal State Park in Lancaster, SC. This park is home to well-preserved remains of the canal system that made the river commercially navigable in the 1800s. Led by Southern Basin Watershed Manager Rachael Rosenstein and Engagement Manager Greg Nance, we’ll launch from the park and paddle around an island before making our way through the spider lily blooms. The spider lilies usually bloom between mid-May and early June. The route is roughly 2 miles. We’ll take out just downstream from the spider lily stand where your boat and gear will be shuttled back to the park while we hike 1.5 miles on a section of the Carolina Thread Trail through the historic canal ruins with views of the river through Landsford Canal State Park. You are welcome to keep lunch in your car to enjoy at the park when we get back to our starting location. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. Your parking fee of $6 is included in the registration cost. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. While beginners are welcome, this outing is best suited for intermediate paddlers and durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended).
Cost: Rental - $40 / BYO - $35
Rain Date: Sunday, May 28
Saturday, May 27 : 1pm-4pm - Spider Lilies Kayak Tour and History Hike, Catawba, South Carolina
Paddle through the largest stand of rocky shoals spider lilies in the world and then hike through canal ruins! We’ll start our adventure at Landsford Canal State Park in Lancaster, SC. This park is home to well-preserved remains of the canal system that made the river commercially navigable in the 1800s. Led by Southern Basin Watershed Manager Rachael Rosenstein and Engagement Manager Greg Nance, we’ll launch from the park and paddle around an island before making our way through the spider lily blooms. The spider lilies usually bloom between mid-May and early June. The route is roughly 2 miles. We’ll take out just downstream from the spider lily stand where your boat and gear will be shuttled back to the park while we hike 1.5 miles on a section of the Carolina Thread Trail through the historic canal ruins with views of the river through Landsford Canal State Park. You are welcome to keep lunch in your car to enjoy at the park when we get back to our starting location. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. Your parking fee of $6 is included in the registration cost. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. While beginners are welcome, this outing is best suited for intermediate paddlers and durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended).
Cost: Rental - $40 / BYO - $35
Rain Date: Sunday, May 28
Saturday, June 3 : 9am-12pm - Spider Lilies Kayak Tour and History Hike, Catawba, South Carolina
Paddle through the largest stand of rocky shoals spider lilies in the world and then hike through canal ruins! We’ll start our adventure at Landsford Canal State Park in Lancaster, SC. This park is home to well-preserved remains of the canal system that made the river commercially navigable in the 1800s. Led by your Riverkeeper Brandon Jones and members of our Protect Team, we’ll launch from the park and paddle around an island before making our way through the spider lily blooms. The spider lilies usually bloom between mid-May and early June. The route is roughly 2 miles. We’ll take out just downstream from the spider lily stand where your boat and gear will be shuttled back to the park while we hike 1.5 miles on a section of the Carolina Thread Trail through the historic canal ruins with views of the river through Landsford Canal State Park. You are welcome to keep lunch in your car to enjoy at the park when we get back to our starting location. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. Your entrance fee of $6/person is included in the registration cost. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. While beginners are welcome, this outing is best suited for intermediate paddlers and durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended). FREE Recover Brand Catawba Riverkeeper graphic shirt for those who attend!
Cost: Rental - $40 / BYO - $35
Rain Date: Sunday, June 4
Saturday, June 3 : 1pm-4pm - Spider Lilies Kayak Tour and History Hike, Catawba, South Carolina
Paddle through the largest stand of rocky shoals spider lilies in the world and then hike through canal ruins! We’ll start our adventure at Landsford Canal State Park in Lancaster, SC. This park is home to well-preserved remains of the canal system that made the river commercially navigable in the 1800s. Led by your Riverkeeper Brandon Jones and members of our Protect Team, we’ll launch from the park and paddle around an island before making our way through the spider lily blooms. The spider lilies usually bloom between mid-May and early June. The route is roughly 2 miles. We’ll take out just downstream from the spider lily stand where your boat and gear will be shuttled back to the park while we hike 1.5 miles on a section of the Carolina Thread Trail through the historic canal ruins with views of the river through Landsford Canal State Park. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. Your entrance fee of $6/person is included in the registration cost. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. While beginners are welcome, this outing is best suited for intermediate paddlers and durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended). FREE Recover Brand Catawba Riverkeeper graphic shirt for those who attend!
Cost: Rental - $40 / BYO - $35
Rain Date: Sunday, June 4
Saturday, June 17 : 9am-3pm - Upstream, Down River: Environmental Justice with a Paddle, Rock Hill, South Carolina
Do you know where your water goes? The River Park to Catawba Nation section of the Catawba River in South Carolina is where the majority of Mecklenburg County run off finally reaches the river. Join Policy Manager Ryan Carter, Southern Basin Watershed Manager Rachael Rosenstein and Engagement Manager Greg Nance to discuss this forgotten section of the river and our impact on it. This 8-mile paddle provides an exciting immersive experience through rocky shoals, peaceful flats and plenty of waterfowl. We’ll meet at the Catawba Nation Kayak Launch in Rock Hill, SC and shuttle everyone to River Park where we will start our river expedition. Please bring your lunch to enjoy on an island and expect to be on the water for 6 hours. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. This outing is best suited for intermediate paddlers and durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended).
Cost: *Early Bird Special - $10 discount until Saturday, June 10 at midnight. After June 10: Rental - $50 / BYO - $45
Rain Date: Sunday, June 18
Saturday, July 15 : 10am-4pm - First of the Lakes, Marion, North Carolina
Get on the free-flowing river of the Upper Catawba as it flows into the mouth of Lake James. This paddle brings all of the elements of a river trip into one experience from rocky shoals, to gently flowing streams to a secret cypress swamp and into the first reservoir of our 11 lakes in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Let Northern Basin Watershed Manager Grant Buckner take you through the mountains on this 8-mile paddle. We’ll meet at the Upper Catawba River Trail where we will launch the trip, BYO lunch will be enjoyed along the banks, and we’ll end up at Burnett’s Landing in the Town of Marion where we will shuttle both guests and boats back to the launch. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. This outing is best suited for beginner paddlers and durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended). After the trip, everyone is invited to join the Catawba Riverkeeper staff to have dinner at Hillman Beer Brewery in the Town of Old Fort. FREE Recover Brand Catawba Riverkeeper graphic shirt for those who attend!
Cost: Rental - $50 / BYO - $45
Rain Date: Sunday, July 16
Saturday, August 5 : 2pm-5pm - The Confluence of Conservation and Recreation, McAdenville, North Carolina
Meet the first ever South Fork Watershed Manager Ambar Molinari! We’ll meet at Catawba Riverkeeper’s Boathouse and shuttle up to the start of our trip in Spencer Mountain. We’ll paddle through 3-shoreline miles of conserved land that is home to the endangered Big Lead Magnolia and threatened Schweinitz's Sunflower. We’ll pass a historic hydroelectric power station and remnants of the Pinhook Mill while enjoying short sections of possible Class 1-2 rapids. Learn a bit about this area’s history and current efforts to restore the natural environment and recreation destination. This 5-mile paddle will last approximately 2.5 hours. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. This paddle will have small rapids in a shallow rocky environment. This outing is best suited for adventurous beginner paddlers and durable kayaks (carbon/Kevlar or other fragile vessels are not recommended). After the trip, everyone is invited to join the Catawba Riverkeeper staff at The Boathouse for a beer, beverage, or frozen treat! FREE Recover Brand Catawba Riverkeeper graphic shirt for those who attend!
Cost: Rental - $40 / BYO - $35
Rain Date: Sunday, August 6
Saturday, September 30 : 1pm-4:30pm - Taping into Your Tap Water, Stanley, North Carolina
Do you know where your water comes from? If you live in or around the greater Charlotte region, your water is pulled from the Catawba River at Mountain Island Lake. Meet Policy Manager and kayak enthusiast Ryan Cater on this 4-mile paddle though Stanley, NC by water from Cowens Ford Access to Luica Access. We’ll meet and launch from Cowens Ford Access, stop in Duck Cove and explore the lily paddle trail to Lucia Access. Learn a about policies around water quality and what Catawba Riverkeeper is doing to help ensure clean and plentiful water for all. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. We will provide a shuttle bus and kayak trailer to take guests and boats back to Cowens Ford Access. This outing is ideal for beginner paddlers and does not include whitewater.
Cost: Rental - $50 / BYO - $45
Rain Date: Sunday, October 1
Saturday, October 21 : 1pm-4pm - Leaf Peepers, Morganton, North Carolina
‘Tis the season for welcoming fall with its cooler weather and wonderful colors! Join Catawba Riverkeeper’s chief scientist and advocate Brandon Jones for this 3-mile gently flowing paddle along the greenway in downtown Morganton. We’ll enjoy the changing colors of the many different tress and vibrant wildlife that live in this part of the Northern Basin. We’ll meet at the takeout at Rocky Ford Access in Catawba Meadows Park in Morganton and shuttle both guests and boats up to Greenlee Ford Access where we will start our paddle at the of the foothills of North Carolina. You may choose to bring your own kayak and equipment or rent a single sit-on-top kayak and accompanying gear from us. We will provide a shuttle bus and kayak trailer to take guests and boats to the starting location. This outing is ideal for adventurous beginners as this trip features gently flowing water and some small shoals or rapids. If you plan to bring your own boat, please note that there will be some shallow rocky areas. FREE Recover Brand Catawba Riverkeeper graphic shirt for those who attend!
Cost: Rental - $50 / BYO - $45
Rain Date: Sunday, October 22
Saturday, November 11 : 1pm-3pm - HIKE through Great Falls' Past, Present, and Future, Great Falls, South Carolina
From a sleepy mill town to a recreational destination is the hopes of the Town of Great Falls. Thanks to the dreams and passion for access to the outdoors, Chester County, Duke Energy, American Whitewater, Carolina Thread Trail and many other partners joined together to create an exciting area for hiking, biking, kayaking and exploring in the heart of Great Falls, SC! Join Catawba Riverkeeper’s Southern Basin Watershed Manager Rachel Rosenstein for a 3-mile walk on Rocky Creek Trail through this diverse and healthy wildlife habitat along Rocky Creek. Learn about this area’s rich history, current developments, and future plans to reinvent the town into a vibrant outdoor lifestyle community. We’ll meet at the trailhead and parking area for Rocky Creek Trail and end back at the trailhead. This is an easy natural surface trail and perfect for adults and kids alike! We welcome youth at least 8 years of age.
Cost: $20 per person
Rain Date: Sunday, November 12
Restrictions:
Must be 12 years of age to participate with an adult, expect for on the November 18 program which is 8 years.
Must be 18 years of age to purchase tickets.
Ticket sales will close at 12noon the day before each scheduled date.
Weather Policy:
Our policy is to host this program rain or shine EXCEPT in the case of forecasted severe rain, thunderstorms or lightning in the area as well as dangerous water level. Each tour has a rain date. If we must cancel both the scheduled date and rain date due to weather or water level, we will provide a refund to all ticketed guests. We will do our best to notify guests of the reschedule or cancellation by 5pm the day before via email and phone call.
Refund Policy:
You may cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before your scheduled tour for a full refund. If we must cancel both the scheduled date and rain date due to weather or water level, your ticket will be fully refunded once notice is sent, and you will see the refund 3-10 business days after the refund is submitted.
Presented By
Date & Time
Mar 11 - Nov 11, 2023
Venue Details
Various
McAdenville, North Carolina 28101
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
We educate and advocate to protect the Catawba-Wateree River Basin’s lakes, rivers and streams for everyone who depends on and enjoys them.
Thank you for your interest and support of the Catawba Riverkeeper, a 501c3 organization.
The Catawba-Wateree River Basin encompasses 26 counties, 8900 miles of waterways, 5000 square miles of land and a 225 mile stretch of continuous river from Lake James in NC to Lake Marion in SC.
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