Our Launch Locations

One of North Carolina's oldest towns, Beaufort sits on the edge of the Rachel Carson Reserve and Taylor's Creek. Paddle past wild horses on Carrot Island, watch dolphins play in the channel, and soak up the charm of a waterfront that's barely changed in 300 years.

• Wild horses on Carrot Island
• Dolphin sightings in Taylor's Creek
• Historic downtown waterfront

Harkers Island is the real deal — a tight-knit fishing community where wooden boats are still built by hand and the pace of life follows the tides. Paddle among working docks, crab pots, and classic Carolina skiffs with Cape Lookout Lighthouse in the distance.

• Cape Lookout Lighthouse views
• Working boat docks and crab pots
• Traditional boatbuilding heritage

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most remote and rewarding paddles on the coast. Miles of undisturbed salt marsh, teeming with herons, egrets, and migratory shorebirds. This is the tour for nature lovers who want to feel truly away from it all.

• National Wildlife Refuge
• Herons, egrets & migratory birds
• Pristine, undisturbed salt marsh

Just across Taylor's Creek from Beaufort, the Rachel Carson Reserve is a protected estuarine sanctuary named for the author of Silent Spring. Tidal flats, maritime shrub, and open water channels make this one of the most ecologically rich paddles on the coast.

• Protected estuarine sanctuary
• Tidal flats and maritime shrub
• Rich shorebird habitat

Ocracoke Island is one of the most unspoiled barrier islands on the East Coast. Paddle Silver Lake Harbor, explore Pamlico Sound, and discover the quiet creeks and marshes that have sheltered sailors and pirates for centuries.

• Silver Lake harbor paddle
• Pamlico Sound open water
• Historic creeks and marshes

Swansboro's historic waterfront sits at the mouth of the White Oak River, with easy access to Hammocks Beach State Park and the Intracoastal Waterway. A great family-friendly launch with calm water, interesting history, and plenty of wildlife along the river banks.

• Hammocks Beach State Park access
• Intracoastal Waterway paddling
• Calm, family-friendly water

Tucked where the Neuse River meets Greens Creek, Oriental is a beloved sailing town with a laid-back charm all its own. Paddle through calm creeks, past colorful sailboats, and into the broad open waters of the Neuse — one of the widest rivers in the country.

• Neuse River open water paddling
• Colorful marina and sailboat views
• Calm creeks and tidal channels

Founded in 1705, Bath is the oldest incorporated town in North Carolina and sits on a quiet creek off the Pamlico River. Paddle past colonial-era homes, centuries-old churches, and the same shoreline that once sheltered the pirate Blackbeard. History doesn't get more immersive than this.

• NC's oldest town, founded 1705
• Colonial-era waterfront and churches
• Blackbeard's former home waters

Washington, NC — the first city in the US named after George Washington — sits on the Pamlico River with a beautifully restored waterfront and easy access to miles of paddling. Explore the river, dip into quiet creeks, and enjoy the warm hospitality of a classic Carolina river town.

• First US city named after Washington
• Restored Pamlico River waterfront
• Miles of river and creek paddling

Cape Lookout National Seashore is one of the most spectacular destinations on the entire East Coast — a pristine, undeveloped barrier island with a iconic diamond-patterned lighthouse, wild horses, and miles of unspoiled beach. Launch from Beaufort or Harkers Island and paddle across to this breathtaking stretch of coast. Available for up to four people: a four-day sailboat package combining kayaking, beaching, and lighthouse tours. The perfect escape for those who want to truly get away.

• Iconic Cape Lookout Lighthouse tours
• Miles of pristine, undeveloped beach
• Four-day sailboat package — up to 4 people
• Kayaking, beaching & lighthouse tours included