The Haw River and its tributaries are enjoyed by those who love to hike, paddle, swim, fish, picnic, or simply sit by the water and experience its magic. The Haw River Assembly offers lots of ways that you can appreciate the beauty of the river and share that experience with others.
See Events for a calendar of activities including paddle trips, hikes along the Haw, river monitoring, and much more.
Volunteering to be part of our Projects is also a wonderful way to experience river magic and enjoy the fun and satisfaction of working with others to help protect and restore our river.
Caution To Paddlers
Current USGS Water Level
Outfitters in the Triangle
Boating, Hiking, and Fishing on the Haw
Guidebook
Paddling Organizations
Trip Guides and Rentals
CAUTION to PADDLERS: The Haw River is very dangerous at high flow. Go to the USGS gauge at Bynum on this website to check the current river level. Open boats such as canoes should not put in when the water is above 5.7 feet on the Bynum gauge. When the river is between 5.1 and 5.7, experience in controlling a boat in whitewater is necessary. Novices with little white water experience should stay out when the gauge is above normal flow -about 4.7 feet. ALWAYS WEAR A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE! Helmets are recommended in whitewater.
Current U.S. Geological Survey Water Levels
Current Haw River flow and height at Bynum
Current Haw River flow and height at Town of Haw River
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Outfitters in the Triangle
Townsend, Bertram & Company, Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro, NC, (919) 933-9712
Get: Outdoors , 9745 Fonville Rd. (facing Falls of Neuse Rd.), Wake Forest NC, 27587, 1-888-794-4459
Great Outdoors Provision Co. , Raleigh: Cameron Village, 2017 Cameron Street, Raleigh, NC 27605, (919) 833-1741
Chapel Hill: 1800 E Franklin St Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 933-6148
REI , Cary: 255 Crossroads Blvd (Crossroads Plaza), Cary, NC 27511, (919) 233-8444
Durham: 6911 Fayetteville Road, Suite 109, Durham, NC 27713, (919) 806-3442
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Boating, Hiking, and Fishing on the Haw
Haw River Trail
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoir Recreational Opportunities
Guidebook
Paddling Eastern North Carolina by Paul Ferguson covers eight sections of the river from Altamahaw to Jordan Lake.
Paddling Organizations
The Carolina Canoe Club offers many paddling activities. Members of this paddling club (most of whom live in the Triangle) are familiar with the Haw River, and frequently run the sections from Chicken Bridge to Jordan Lake when there is enough water. Boaters plan both scheduled and unscheduled trips. The club offers spring paddling clinics, safety courses, newsletter, river clean-ups, a cruise schedule and an e-mail list.
Triad River Runners provides paddling classes, safety courses, a newsletter and river trips. Most members live in the Triad.
Central Carolina Paddlers promotes interest and fellowship in canoeing and kayaking activities, and provides information, education and training services to increase the safety, enjoyment, and skills of those paddling. The group meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm at the Lee County Library in Sanford.
American Whitewater, a national paddling organization, maintains an online database of rivers in the United States, including three sections of the Haw:
1. Route 1545 (Chicken Bridge) to US 15-501 (Bynum)
2. US 15-501 (Bynum) to US 64
3. US 64 to Jordan Lake
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The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. offers instruction in basic and whitewater canoeing, guided canoe trips along Alamance County stretches of the river, and canoe and recreational kayak rental on the Alamance County stretches. info@hawrivercanoe.com (336)260-6465.
Frog Hollow Outdoors provides residents and visitors of the Triangle Region and North Carolina a resource for canoe & kayak education, the exploration of nature, relaxation, adventure, self-discovery, and a greater overall connection with the outdoors. info@froghollowoutdoors.com 919-416-1200
Crosswinds Boating Center offers pontoon boat rentals, kayak rentals, and fishing boat rentals. With our convenience store on-site, we’re your one-stop place for fun on Jordan Lake. Our public boat ramp, ethanol-free gas, and public restrooms make our marina your home whether you have your own boat or need a boat rental. crosswindsboatingcenter@gmail.com 919-387-7011