Activities

Locations mentioned on this page are noted on our map.

State Natural Areas like the Lower Haw River are a different type of unit within the NC State Park system, focusing more on conservation than recreation so facilities are more limited than in state parks. The Lower Haw River State Natural Area is considered undeveloped by State Parks, and there are no official or maintained State Parks land trails or paddle launches at this time. There is a Lower Haw Trails Plan that was completed in June 2018 to help guide future development of this state natural area.

While visiting, practice good stewardship by following these State Park rules for the Lower Haw River State Natural Area:
  • Dogs must be kept on leash at all times
  • Damage to or removal of any plant, animal, rock or artifact is prohibited
  • No campfires or camping allowed
  • No bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, or horses allowed
  • Alcohol, firearms, hunting and trapping are not permitted
  • Swimming and boating are at your own risk 
View NC State Parks rules at this link and NC State Parks Safety and Respect rules at this link. 

Hiking
There are no authorized State Parks trails at this time, but there are multiple unofficial footpaths you can hike along the lower Haw.  Enjoy this beautiful area, but please do not trespass on private property.  Dogs should be kept on leash at all times.
  • Bynum Dam parking lot on US 15-501
    A footpath goes upstream along the east side of the Haw.

  • Old Bynum Bridge (Bynum Rd) and Bynum Mill Access (Bynum Church Rd) parking lots
    A footpath goes downstream along the east side of the Haw.

  • US 64 and the Haw River
    There are three places to park where the Haw crosses US 64.  A very small gravel parking lot on the south east side, a large gravel parking lot on the south west side at 348 River Access Road, and some roadside parking on a service road on the north west side.  From all parking lots, you can hike upstream and downstream the Haw.  The footpath from the service road on the north west side is not directly adjacent to the river.

  • Robeson Creek Canoe Access parking lot on 2505 Hanks Chapel Road
    A footpath goes upstream along the west side of the Haw, eventually all the way to US 64. 

Kayaking / Canoeing

There are multiple places where canoes and kayaks can put in along the lower sections of the Haw River.  A good reference guide to consult is Paddling Eastern North Carolina by Paul Ferguson (3rd Edition 2018) for detailed information and maps of each section of the Haw River.  Brief descriptions for Section 8 above the Bynum dam, Section 9 from below the dam to US 64, and Section 10 from US 64 to Robeson Creek are available on these Great Outdoor Provision Company web site links.  More detailed descriptions may be found on the American Whitewater website (see our Links page for specific sections).

Caution:  please check the USGS river gauge near Bynum for water level height in feet, and flow in cubic feet per second, before your trip since water levels and flow can be dangerous.  Also check the 3 and 7 day forecasts for potential river levels near Bynum on the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (near bottom of web page) to evaluate whether current conditions are likely to remain stable. Flood stage is 11 feet on the Bynum gauge.
  • Bynum Dam parking lot on US 15-501
    Canoes and kayaks can be put in above the dam, and the river is generally flat for about a mile upstream.

  • Old Bynum Bridge parking lot (east side of Bynum Rd), Bynum Mill Access parking lot (Bynum Church Rd), and Bynum Beach Canoe Access (Bynum Beach Rd)
    For intermediate to advanced skill levels only, going downstream to US 64 or beyond.  Note: parking at Bynum Beach Canoe Access is extremely limited.  Do not park along Bynum Beach Road!  Park on east side of Old Bynum Bridge and walk across bridge to Bynum Beach Canoe Access.

  • US 64 Haw River Canoe Access parking lot on 348 River Access Road
    For experts only, going downstream to the Robeson Creek Canoe Launch or beyond

  • Robeson Creek Canoe Access parking lot on 2505 Hanks Chapel Road
    Canoes and kayaks can be put in on the Haw (despite the location's name "Robeson Creek", this is on the Haw River), and the river is generally flat for a bit upstream, and quite a bit more downstream, all the way to Jordan Lake.

  • Robeson Creek Boat Ramp
    This boat launch is maintained by NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and has a full boat launch, not just for canoes and kayaks.  From here, you can take Robeson Creek about a mile to the Haw, and then go up or downstream.

Birding and Other Wildlife Viewing

The Lower Haw River State Natural Area is a great place for wildlife observation and nature photography. Resources for species information include the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Species Guides, the NC Natural Heritage Program NatureServe Explorer, and NC State Parks Natural Resources Inventory Database.  

Some of the birds and other wildlife that you can see along the Haw River include:

Fishing

For information on freshwater fishing regulations, see the current North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest or visit www.ncwildlife.org.  Fishing spots along the Haw River include:
  • Robeson Creek Canoe Access (GPS Coordinates 35.7164, -79.0965) for Catfish, Largemouth bass, Sunfish, White bass
  • US 15-501 Canoe Access (GPS Coordinates 35.7767, -79.1459) for Catfish, Largemouth bass, Sunfish
  • US 64 Canoe Access (GPS Coordinates 35.7309, -79.1069) for Catfish, Largemouth bass, Sunfish