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Canoeing & Kayaking

  

Ocracoke Island, NC
This page Copyright 1999 Alfonso Vazquez-Cuervo - See Terms of Use

Our Route Summary

  • Submitted by: Al Vazquez
  • Date Submitted: 5/99
  • Email: kayak@easyposter.com
  • Location: northwest corner of Ocracoke Island
  • Class: Ocean and Tidal Creeks
  • Distance Paddled: 6 miles round trip
  • Water: saltwater
  • Wildlife: Many types of sea birds, fish, salt marsh grasses

Entry and Exit

  • Directions: National Park Service public ramps (beside the Ferry Terminal ) on Water Plant Road north of Silver Lake Road (the road around Silver Lake))
  • GPS: N 35 deg 07.089 - W 075 deg 59.130
  • Fee: none
  • Description: paved boat ramps
  • Parking: Adjacent
  • Facilities: Restrooms at the National Park Service Visitor Center

What We Saw

Traveling southwest from the entry into Pamlico Sound, we passed the main commercial boat channel clearly indicated with channel markers leading into Silver Lake Harbor (pictured at left). Stay well clear of the channel when the regularly scheduled ferry from the mainland is underway nearby. It's fun to enter Silver Lake and paddle around Ocracoke Village sightseeing.
Continue past the channel and head more southward past a few homes. Beware of rock that can lie just below the surface near the shore. Continue until you round a small rock bar that juts into the surf. You'll see the tidal creek opening shown at left at GPS N 35 06.127 W 075 59.257. Proceed into the creek as far as you like. It eventually ends in canals behind homes, but the tidal marshes on the way are serene and teeming with life.
We took the trip as the sun began to set so we saw contrasting colors and beautiful reflections on the water. Not too far from the mouth of the creek was the barnacle covered dead tree.

It was a relaxing paddle during a calm day, beautiful at sunset.