The Haw River Trail Back
Official Trail Access
Point Descriptions
Hwy 62 to the Town of Haw River
This is possibly the best run in Alamance county for the whitewater folks...that is when the water is up. This area is best at water levels between 3 and 4 feet. Below this level the water slows up and rocks become an obstacle. Above 4 feet the water smoothes out somewhat related to the increased distance form the water's surface to the rocks below. This is compensated for in a small way by the increased speed of the water and therefore you. At levels from 1.8 to 2.5 feet this can be a difficult area due to the many rocks. For example, the trip from Hwy 62 (Picture) to Copland takes 45 minutes at 3.5 feet but may take 2 hours at 2.2 feet. Choose your craft wisely on low water days.
The first four rapids are best taken on the right side of the river. At water levels over 4 feet more opportunities exist.
Carolina falls is good at all water levels but best at 3-4 feet. There are convenient rocks that make running the fall over and over possible. When the water level is 4-5 feet be sure to not miss the rapids in the main river adjacent to the falls. To get to the fall take the second right at the big stump not the first branch off the main river...this area is blocked by logs and rocks. If you miss this turn go through the rapids and take an immediate right into the fall area. Click for picture.
One of the proposed river access points will be on your left in this area.
Just below the falls in the main river is a very fun rapid that is long and provides many waves which can often splash over the bow and onto you. Take this rapid on the left.
The rock garden provides many paths left, right and center.
Below the rock garden are several fine rapids that are probably more fun than the ones found in the stretch above from Hwy 62 to the rock garden.
At Goat Island both paths left and right are good. Many prefer the right fork.
Below Goat island is a long flat stretch of deeper slow moving water. Watch for the City of Burlington's waste water runoff on the right bank.
The rapids above the City of Haw River bridge can be quite fun at adequate water levels and un-passable at lower levels. There is a lot of rebar from the center to the right bank left from the old Cone Mills wooden damn.
You can exit the river to the left just before the bridge up a steep bank to a non-official parking area at the end of the bridge. Above the rapids you can exit on the right bank...this path requires traversing several backyards with dogs and a farmed area so it is not recommended.
I-85/40 to the Graham Access Point
In times of low water there is a flat run that is appropriate for an exercise run or a casual paddle. The run starts at the Graham access point, follows the Haw upstream to the I-40 bridge and returns downstream to the Graham river access. This covers 2 miles of river roundtrip. For an exercise run the upstream portion of the trip will take about 40 minutes and 25 minutes back at a water level of 1.8 to 2.2 ft. From bridge to bridge at this pace you must average 160 paddle strokes per arm every 5 minutes. This computes to about 2100 strokes per arm. To this total you must also add the energy needed to propel yourself and your boat up two areas of fast moving water. Hornet rapids requires about 90 strokes to travel upstream from the bottom to the top of the section. Click for picture.
This section can be covered in two hours at a leisurely pace that any family member can tolerate. Click for picture.
For the person looking for as strenuous of a workout as possible you don't have to leave sight of the Graham access point. Just downstream of the access are two areas of fast moving water. The area in the center is essentially impossible to paddle up. You can hold you own however as long as you can tolerate it. This makes for a treadmill like area on the river. The area that is passable is to the south side of the river. This is no easy feat either! The beauty of this area is that this applies to a water level of 1.8 feet...the level that the whitewater guys hate to see...so this area is usable all year round for this purpose. Click for picture.
