Basin Overview
A wild-gem in northeast
North Carolina, the Lower Roanoke River and its tributaries offer a
unique wilderness experience for kayakers and canoeists. The camping
trail presents not only another way to appreciate the beauty of the
area, it provides opportunities for the development of businesses
geared to the needs of eco-tourists.
Unique Territory
Meandering through the
Coastal plain to the Atlantic Ocean, the Roanoke spreads out through
the largest intact bottomland hardwood swamp forest east of the
Mississippi. Mistletoe and Spanish moss decorate majestic cypress
trees and towering tupelos. Blossoms of cardinal flowers blaze in
shafts of sunlight underneath.
The area is home to black bear, river otter, white-tail deer,
bobcat, beaver and mink. Over 200 bird species have been identified
including bald eagles, barred owl, osprey, and anhinga. Coupled with
the hundreds of great egrets and great blue herons nesting in the
region, it is a birdwatcher's paradise. The River is renowned for
its abundance of striped bass, largemouth bass, black crappie,
lunker catfish, gar and bowfin. Just above the waterline, turtles
sun on logs near the banks.
For thousands of years, dugout canoes have been the ultimate vehicle
to explore these amazing waters. In this spirit, RRP volunteers and
contractors have constructed trails and camping platforms in the
Roanoke River backwaters offering a swamp
experience unlike any to
be found in the Mid-Atlantic—a 200-mile wilderness eco-adventure for
people of all ages. The Trail System features a series of
water-bound camping structures that allow paddlers to overnight in
some of the amazing water jungles of NC's coastal plain. Although
the trail facilities are developed, built and managed by Roanoke
River Partners, many are located on environmentally sensitive
wetlands owned by The Nature Conservancy. This partnership is an
excellent example of how RRP can bring together different interest
groups for the benefit of all. Another is on land owned by
Weyerhaeuser Company. Others are under construction or being
planned.