Spotlight

Paddling pleasure and refreshing recreation in Washington

Washington, N.C., is the perfect place to kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard, or anything in between.

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By
Paula Stephenson
, Washington Tourism Development Authority
This article was written by our sponsor, Washington Tourism Development Authority.

Have you ever been paddling? Whether kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddle boarding, if you have, you know it can be a very relaxing, tranquil activity or it can be an all-weekend, workout adventure.

Washington is the perfect place to do either paddle activity. Or anything in between.

Russ Chesson, operations and programming specialist at the North Carolina Estuarium (located in Washington), started canoeing when he was in Boy Scouts at the age of 16. While he really enjoyed it, he said he felt he needed another person to properly weight it.

"One of the good things about kayaking is if you just want to go out for an afternoon on your own, you can get out there without any other folks to help out," Chesson said.

When asked how someone would get started if they want to kayak but haven't done it before, Chesson said he would recommend some kind of instruction or guide. He said there are several places in the area that can help.

"There's Inner Banks Outfitters right in Washington, Cotton Patch Landing in Blounts Creek and Knee Deep Adventures in Greenville," Chesson said. "The beauty of where we are is there are enough secluded and slow creeks that you can get out there and experience on your own without having to have a guide and that's fine, too. But if you were really looking at getting deeper into it like crossing the river and doing any longer paddles, I think it's nice to have a knowledge base that a guide can set you up with. What kind of safety equipment to take, what are some good routes, and that type of thing."

For the more experienced paddler, Chesson said it really depends on what they're looking for.

"We've got simple afternoon paddles on a creek to watch the sunset, to 30-mile treks downriver. The camping platforms through Sound Rivers are amazing. So we really do have something for everyone around here," Chesson said.

He added, "Washington is a great hub for a lot of other paddling destinations. So to be able to stay in Washington and enjoy that small town feel and experience the sights and sounds that we have to offer, but then we're an hour and a half away from being able to pop out to the sound and do a little day trip there and then come back and stay in Washington is fantastic. There's Lake Mattamuskeet, where there's all the bird watching. The Roanoke River is [also close] amazing to me. Washington is really a great center for some other awesome paddling destinations. You can really get the best of all worlds just based out of Washington."

Clay Barber, environmental projects coordinator for Sound Rivers, also started paddling in Scouts. He explained the difference between a kayak and a canoe.

"A canoe is a bigger boat designed for more than one person or for one person and a lot of storage space," Barber said. "You can fit more gear in them and you don't have to bend down so much and sit so low."

He said a kayak is a little smaller.

"They make single and two person [tandem] kayaks. Recreational kayaks are probably the most common type. They come in all different lengths and sizes. Some are designed for fishing; some are designed for just quick in and out paddle," Barber said. "For longer trips most people use what's called a touring kayak. Those are really long, slender boats."

Barber said he likes the increased mobility of a kayak for a single person. "It's a little easier to maneuver your own boat and you can go in shallower water."

Barber has been into paddle sports for many years and in many different roles.

"I have been a paddle instructor, a retailer, a river guide. Now with my position with Sound Rivers I do similar things with river cleanup, paddle instruction, river guide, and now I also head up the Tar-Pamlico River Water Trail, which is designed to give paddlers information on where to go and places they can stay overnight and where to launch on the river," Barber said. "Beaufort County has over 165 miles of river so depending on what the paddler is looking for there are some very different options."

Barber said the river is very different at the beginning in the head waters than it is at the end, in the Pamlico Sound.

Whether it's a local who wants to paddle for an afternoon or a visitor who wants a weekend of paddling, here you can for an hour or eight hours, and still end up back on land without any trouble.

One thing he recommends to anyone who is going to canoe or kayak is to have a reliable weather app or weather source. Barber said paddling is for everyone from kids to folks who are 90.

"My mother picked up stand up paddleboarding after having a hip replacement. I would encourage anyone that's thinking about it to do it. But do know your typical capabilities and plan accordingly," Barber said.

Barber said some of the best areas to paddle in and around Washington are Runyon Creek, the Washington waterfront/Havens Gardens, and Mason's Landing at Tranter's Creek. Other resources are the https://www.tarpamlicowatertrail.org/ which has a map that shows camping platforms and most of the boat accesses. Inner Banks Outfitters is also a great resource.

Barber added "Coming from a water quality and environmental stewardship position, I encourage paddling because it's a great exercise for people and it's a low impact form of recreation for our waterways."

Inner Banks Outfitters' owner Liane Harsh said not only do they rent kayaks, bikes and SUP's, but they sponsor events in the warmer months such as wine and cheese paddles, full moon paddles, sunset paddles, and stand-up paddle board yoga classes.

"We get people from all over for these [events]. They have been a big hit," Harsh said.

So whether you're a seasoned paddler or just want to try it for the first time, Washington is the perfect place to start your paddle adventure.

For more resources, go to visitwashingtonnc.com.
This article was written by our sponsor, Washington Tourism Development Authority.

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