The 2017 Paddle Pamlico Event

Memorial Day Event, Paddle Pamlico

The Annual Paddle Pamlico is held every Memorial Day weekend. To learn about navigating your kayak through thick grass, read this article written by local creek keeper Bill Hines.

Saturday

This years Saturday paddles started from Paradise Cove with one group going out on Broad Creek to Green Creek in search of the Bald Eagles nest where three Eagles were fledged this year.

Only one for the young Eagles was sited and it was as large as its parents. We watched an active Osprey nest and explored the marsh edge where the canals cut into the waterfowl impoundments. Dolphins watched our progress.

Another group left from Paradise Cove and went to Spring Creek for a longer eleven mile paddle. Spring Creek has only two building that can be seen from the creek, so the paddle is through a very natural area.

The creek flows into the Bay River but the paddlers followed a canal that cuts out to the Pamlico Sound. This creek can be effected by winds and the paddlers had a good workout on their way back to the launch. Dolphins were also sited on this paddle. Several of the paddlers stop at the Silospaloosa to eat and hydrate.

Sunday

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On Sunday the paddle left from the new Wildlife Ramp in Vandemere. This new launch has tent camping available with showers and a beautiful picnic area. We went up Vandemere Creek and into Long Creek with a beautiful marsh area.

From there we went on up Vandemere Creek to Little Vandemere Creek where there is an old sunken work boat that now serves as a storage area for crab traps in the winter and the old wheel house is used as a duck blind in season.

The paddle is put on annually to attract paddlers to our county to discover the beautiful and varied paddling experience available on our 300 miles of paddling trails in the county. Twenty eight paddlers participated this year in Paddle Pamlico.

If you’re interested in more information and pictures on paddling in Pamlico County check out the group’s Facebook at Paddling in Pamlico and be sure to visit our paddle trails map.