Recreation

On The Water

Sound Rivers represents the interests of its thousands of members, as well as everyone who recognizes the waterways of eastern North Carolina as the amazing assets they are. We care about the future of our rivers, streams and waterways because they sustain us humans and the nature we so enjoy. 

They also support plenty of opportunities for recreation. From the Piedmont to the Pamlico Sound, here are some of the ways you can enjoy your rivers.

Wildlife Resources Commission

Explore our state’s beautiful wildlife and map out the best boat ramp locations for your next trip. The Wildlife Resources Commission is a wonderful place to begin researching your next journey.

Mountain-to-Sea Trail Guide

Explore how the Mountain-to-Sea Trail intersects with the Neuse River. Use these links to plan your next hiking adventure along our favorite rivers. The Mountain-to-Sea Trial Guide is a great resource, or you can also enjoy our convenient paddle map of the Neuse.

Tar-Pamlico Water Trail

Learn all about the hiking, campsites, camping platforms and fun activities in North Carolina’s Tar-Pamlico basin. The Tar-Pamlico Water Trail website is wealth of information. Owned and operated by Sound Rivers, these camping platforms provide overnight facilities to recreational users on the river (cost is $20 per night).

The goal is to build a continuous system of platforms approximately 8 to 15 miles apart, spanning from the headwaters of the Tar River in Granville County to the wide-open, estuarine waters of the Pamlico River in Beaufort, Hyde and Pamlico counties.

The platforms are open to the public. You can choose to sleep under the stars or in a screened-in enclosure along the scenic Tar River in the central and eastern part of the state. Enjoy white-water paddling in the headwaters and sea kayaking along the Inner Banks.

Recreational paddlers, boaters and fishermen are welcome to use the facilities year-round, though use is by permit only. All you need to do is reserve your spot.

Just want to take a walk along on the water? Sit a spell and watch the wildlife? Here’s a few places you can enjoy your waterways from land: 

In the Tar-Pamlico watershed: Joyner Park, Louisburg; River Bend Park, Louisburg; Battle Park, Rocky Mount; Bridge Tar River Trail, Rocky Mount; Riverfront Park, Tarboro; Town Common/Tar River Greenway, Greenville; Wildwood Park, Greenville; Festival Park/boardwalk, Washington; Havens Gardens Park, Washington; Goose Creek State Park, Washington; Belhaven Beach, Belhaven; Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, Hyde County.

In the Neuse watershed: Little River Park, Zebulon; Wake County — Rolling View State Recreation Area, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Beaverdam Lake State Recreation Area, Holly Point Campground State Recreation Area, Shinleaf Campground State Recreation Area, Blue Jay Point County Park, Forest Ridge Park, Falls Lake Dam Recreation Area; Neuse River Greenway; River Bend Park, Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve; Milburnie Park; Anderson Point Park; Capital Area Greenway, Robertson Mill Pond Preserve and Mitchell Mill State Natural Area, Little River Park; Clayton Riverwalk on the Neuse Greenway, Clayton; Smithfield Town Commons; 

Old Waynesboro Park, Goldsboro; Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Seven Springs; Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston; Glenburnie Park, New Bern; Town of Bridgeton Park, Bridgeton; Union Point Park, New Bern; Lawson Creek Park, New Bern; John Bond Town Beach, Oriental; Lou Mac Park, Oriental.