Paddling the Eno River

Paddling is a great way to explore the Eno River. Opportunities for both flatwater and whitewater paddling are available along the Eno. There are three flatwater sections of the river that maintain adequate river levels of between three and ten feet deep in all seasons. These quiet stretches of the Eno River provide the opportunity for gentle paddling, watching for wildlife and natural history meditation.

Photo by James Hill

West Point Point on the Eno Park - put in above the dam and paddle 3/4 mile upstream to the Sennett Hole.
Dimmock's Mill Dam - put in next to the bridge 1/4 mile up from the dam and paddle 1 mile upstream until water becomes too shallow.
Eno Ramp at Fall's of the Neuse Reservoir - put in at ramp and paddle (to the right) two miles upstream to the confluence with the Little River. You can also paddle two miles downstream (to the left) to the Flatt River and Knapp of Reeds Creek. In either direction you can easily paddle back to the boat ramp.
Pleasant Green Access - is no longer an option for flatwater paddling. Removal of the dam was begun in spring 2006 because of safety and environmental concerns.

The Eno River also provides an opportunity for whitewater paddling, but only after a period of significant rainfall. To enjoy paddling downstream requires an adequate water level. The best times are normally in the winter and spring. It is best to check the USGS streamflow websites before heading out (see the links below).

Trips and rentals

Canoeing and Kayaking: Frog Hollow Outdoors is located in the Eno River basin and offers day trips, rentals and instruction for both kayaks and canoes. Individual and group rentals are available as well as cutomized excursions. For more information on Frog Hollow Outdoors, click here.

Wafting: One way to paddle a part of the Eno is via a guided, natural history float trip in inflatable wafts, offered at West Point Park on the Eno River. Both daylight and nighttime trips allow you to explore the world around you and within. For more information on wafting on the Eno, click here.

Water Levels

To check Eno River levels click. on the links below:

USGS Roxboro Road - Durham

USGS Hillsborough

The Eno River State Park provides the following information on water levels:

"Eno River State Park staff maintain painted gauges on the Pleasant Green and Cole Mill Road bridges. The gauges are relative to canoeing conditions and do not reflect actual river depths. Normally these gauges indicate a river level of three inches or less, which is poor for canoeing. At three to six inches, canoeing is fair. Six to twelve inches is good, and one to three feet is excellent. When the bridge gauges exceed three feet, the river is dangerous. Above three feet, the river exceeds its banks, turning adjacent trees into strainers, and moves at a speed and force beyond the capacity of most people to self rescue."

"A correlation has been made between the bridge gauges and the river depth gauge maintained by the USGS for Roxboro Road. The USGS updates their gauge on an hourly basis, and it can be viewed at the USGS website (linked above). The correlation is to simply subtract two feet from the USGS gauge at Roxboro Road to get the approximate gauge reading found at the Pleasant Green and Cole Mill Road bridges. For example, if the USGS gauge shows a depth of three feet, you would expect the river level to be about one foot. Therefore, if you were viewing the USGS gauge at Roxboro Road, canoeing conditions would be as follows: less than 2.25 feet is poor, 2.25 to 2.50 feet is fair, 2.50 to 3.00 feet is good, 3.00 to 5.00 feet is excellent, and greater than 5.00 feet is dangerous."

Whitewater Paddling on the Eno

If you plan to paddle downstream there are several places where you can begin or end your Eno paddle trip. We've broken the Eno into six sections for access and description. We recommend that any trip have at least two boats for safety. In addition we encourage you to paddle safely--don't overestimate your abilities or underestimate the strength of the current. Respect the power of the river. The length of the paddling trip for any section will vary substantially depending on water flow.

Photo by Don Moffitt

Section 1: US 70 in Hillsborough to Few's Ford Access

Section 2: Few's Ford Access to Pleasant Green Access

Section 3: Pleasant Green Access to Cole Mill Access

Section 4: Cole Mill Access to West Point on the Eno City Park

Section 5: West Point on the Eno to Penny's Bend Nature Preserve

Section 6: Penny's Bend to Falls of the Neuse boat ramp

Photo by Don Moffitt

Maps

It is difficult to get lost on a river, but a map can help you know where you are and what's around you. The following maps are suggested:

US Geological Survey Maps:

Hillsborough Quadrangle (Highway 70 bridge to Pleasant Green Road) scale, 6 inches equals 1 mile.

Durham North Quadrangle (Guess Road to Old Oxford Highway) scale, 1 inch equals 1 mile.

N.C. State Highway Commission County Road Maps:

Orange and Durham Counties, scale 1 inch equals 2 miles.

These maps are available from the Highway Commission in Raleigh or the District Office, Stadium Drive, Durham.

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